The Golden Fortress

"The Golden Fortress" recounts the dramatic efforts of Los Angeles police chief James "Two-Gun" Davis in 1936 to restrict access to California at the state borders, as thousands fleeing poverty and the Dust Bowl were turned away. The book explores how law enforcement was politicized and used against the poor, with Davis’s aggressive tactics creating conflicts across rural and remote communities. It sheds light on the broader impact of these border policies during a turbulent period of economic recovery and social tension.