Los Angeles Riots 1992 Research Paper

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In 1992 a tragedy happened which we call the Los Angeles riots. You might ask why did there become riots? Well, it all started with a male named Rodney King. He was severely beaten by four white officers by the name of Stacey C. Koon, Theodore J. Briseno, Timothy E. Wind and Officer Laurence Powell. Only two of the four were found guilty. Rodney had been pulled over for driving while intoxicated; he was then beaten by a baton as the officers tried to get him to comply with orders to lay down. Due to this series of events, the Los Angeles riots were created. Once the verdict was released for the officers, thousands of people began rioting over the course of six days. The majority of people who riot were African Americans and Hispanics. A total of …show more content…

One thing we don't often talk about is what they did to their city. Approximately 3,600 fires were set, destroying 1,100 buildings in LA. Looting was also a part of the rioting. The rioters targeted Korean stores, which caused conflict between the African Americans and them. The total property damage was about $1 billion. There was also a bunch of assaults going on. The local police officers had a hard time controlling this craziness. Crowds threw rocks at the police headquarters, liquor stores were looted, and gas stations were set on fire. In total there was, protesting, looting, arson, shoot outs, and vandalism. Delving into the aftermath of the Los Angeles riots, one realizes the enduring legacy of social upheaval and the resilience of the communities in the face of adversity. It took the California National Guard, the United States military, and several police departments to release more than 10,000 armed first responders to assist in the end of the violence and unrest. After the riot was over, ultimately it led to the end of the LAPD’s police chief, changes in how they trained police officers, and an addition of civilian oversight. The Los Angeles riots were a moment in our history that will never be

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