OralHistorySummary

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The worst civil disturbance to hit the city of Los Angeles since the Watts riots of 1965 happened on April 29, 1992. The riots lasted until May 5 of 1992 and are known as the "Rodney King riots" or the "Los Angeles riots of 1992."

The roots of the riots lie in an event that occured over a year before the actual riots. According to ABC-CLIO, "In March 1991, an African-American motorist named Rodney King attempted to escape being stopped by police for a traffic offense, which led to a high-speed car chase in Los Angeles. Cornered, King got out of his car and, according to several police officers present, moved forward as if to assault them. However, before he could do so (if that was his intention), the police attacked him.

As recorded on a videotape taken by a bystander who the police did not know was nearby, the police quickly subdued King. Several white policemen then proceeded to kick and club him while he lay helpless on the ground, watched by several other police officers who had been drawn to the scene by police radio. The videotape, which was shown over national television, caused a sensation." This sensation touched a nerve in both white and black communities. While both communities were shocked and appalled, the black community saw this event as evidence of police brutality towards African-Americans.

"Largely as a result of the videotaped evidence, four white officers were charged in California state court for their parts in the beating. The defendants sought and won a change of venue to Simi Valley, an almost entirely white southern California community. As a result of that change, they were tried by a jury that contained no African-American members and that acquitted them all.

The verdict angered many Americans of all ethnic backgrounds. The evidence of the videotape, which most people had seen, appeared so clear and indisputable that they could see no other explanation for the verdict but racism." says ABC-CLIO. The verdict of the Rodney King case can be seen as the beginning of the Los Angeles riots.

The riots spread quickly from south-central Los Angeles to the rest of the city and involved people of many ethnicities. "Of the 10,000 people arrested, 51% were Latino men and 36% were African-American men. Looters seen on television were of all races and sexes." claims ABC-CLIO. Eventually, "The National Guard, federal troops, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and border patrol agents were called in to stop the looting and put out fires."

In the end, the riots killed a total of 55 people, injured 2,300 others, and damaged 1,100 buildings (at a total cost of $785 million) in areas of Long Beach, Hollywood, West Los Angeles, and (especially) Koreatown.

"Los Angeles riots of 1992." __American History__. 2009. ABC-CLIO. 31 May 2009 <[|http://www.americanhistory.abc-clio.com]>. "Rodney King case." __American History__. 2009. ABC-CLIO. 31 May 2009 <[|http://www.americanhistory.abc-clio.com]>.

media type="youtube" key="ROn_9302UHg" height="364" width="445" Video of Police Officers beating Rodney King (Microsoft Encarta)^

media type="youtube" key="KYnJiiLGwjY" height="364" width="445" Rioting^

media type="youtube" key="LhOS8Q2V1LY" height="364" width="445" LA Riots - Opening Night^

media type="youtube" key="quNEzN0_toc" height="364" width="445" LA Riots - Koreans Prepare for Showdown

media type="youtube" key="BKTw-UHalZc" height="364" width="445" =LA Riots - Gunfight In Koreatown= Linda Mour reporting on Los Angeles Riots 1992^