92' L.A. Riots

LA was held hostage; not by any foreign terrorists, not by a splinter cell organization, or even by some fundamentalist group. But by its own citizens, the people who live their lives and settle themselves in LA: storeowners, office workers, construction workers, gang members, people who were on welfare, and even middle class whites were involved in the Siege of LA. It affected everyone, it didn't discriminate, and it didn't care what race you were or what your financial status was. All of that was a moot point.

LA has always been a diverse and distinct city: sun, fun, entertainment, glitz, glamour, celebrities but also one of smog, gloom, poverty, ghettos, gangs, and violence. But regardless LA has been looked upon many as the city to restart and begin afresh. The 90s had just barely started a new decade with some new trends and some old. A war had already been waged in the Middle East. Then the second major event in the decade's young existence was about to begin. LA was a highly volatile place due to the circumstances of how many people lived. The economy was in a slump, and people were turning to less than favorable ways to make a living. LAPD was not liked by many due to the fact that many people saw their tactics and methods as questionable at best. Also because of what's happened in the past with law enforcement such as Watts during the 60s as well as Kent State shooting. So when you add this together you get one very explosive and deadly combination and to make matters even worse it's not like LAPD or any other agency had made attempts to mend past errors and mistakes. So what you get when all of these elements were mixed together was the worst riot in U.S. history.

March 3, 1991 Rodney King was pulled over for reckless driving and while being arrested was beaten by police in order to put him in custody. It was said at the time that he was under a pain-numbing drug such as PCP. He was shocked twice by 50,000 volt tasers which is enough power to put any man down. But then was repeatedly hit by batons or night sticks. He was struck a total of 56 times before they stopped. (Wikipedia 1). But as this was occurring a bystander just happened to have a video camera and capture one of the most famous films in history.

What followed was massive public outcry and demand for justice. Many thought that the police had taken too extreme of measures in responding to the situation. The public took notice and so did the courts. On March 15, 1992 four officers of the LAPD were indicted on charges of "assault by force likely to produce great bodily injury" and with assault "under color of authority." The trial was moved from Los Angeles County to Ventura County due to the reason that the officers wouldn't receive a fair trial. The defense laid out their evidence and a jury of 10 Caucasian, one Hispanic and one Asian acquitted three of the four offices of all charges and couldn't agree on a verdict for the last remaining officer. (Wikipedia 1). People all over the country were outraged and couldn't believe that these officers were not found guilty of any crime but were acquitted to boot. Many people knew that there would be consequences from the acquittal but I don't think anyone knew just how bad it would be. Many people were in shock and awe due to the verdict, The President of the United States, George H. W. Bush, made a rare statement on a trial, saying that the verdict "has left us all with a deep sense of personal frustration and anguish." (Wikipedia 1). The Mayor of Los Angeles, Tom Bradley, said; "We must express our profound anger and outrage (at the acquittal), but we also must not endanger the reforms that we have made by striking out blindly". He continued, "We must demand that the L.A.P.D. fire the officers who beat Rodney King and take them off the streets once and for all". (Staten emergency report paragraph 6)

Shortly after the verdict was announced people simple lost it. All the elements for something terrible were there. Poverty leads to despair, despair leads to violence and this incident wasn't the cause of the insurrection but it was the trigger. ("Poor are coming to your town" paragraph 3 line 1-3). Things boiled over and it led to a disastrous result. At first cases of arson and looting were reported in predominately black neighborhoods but soon it spread throughout the entire city like a deadly virus with no vaccine, it wouldn't stop until it consumed all of Los Angeles and everything in it. Chaos spread throughout the whole city nothing was spared for this event. Havoc was wreaked in many parts of LA. The first reports mostly came out of South-central Los Angeles where gun fire erupted and fires were started.

As the day of April 29 came to a close 13 people had lost their lives and 192 people were injured during the night. Police were spread too thinly; EMS and firefighters had more calls then people to attend to the fires. 40 major fires still burned uncontrollable as the sun rose over a scene that looked like it was taken straight out of a sci-fi movie. The mayor Tom Bradley had to declare a State Of Emergency and "Dusk till Dawn" curfew was put in place in order to try and quell the rioters. People were in upheaval and everybody knew it was only going to get worse before it got better. Soon there was no choice but to bring in the military to try and restore order to the city. Over 13,000 troops were deployed all throughout Los Angeles to try and settle down the most violent of behaviors, many street gang members saw this as a chance to get back at the police and conduct violent acts with justification. The army's light infantry unit was dispatched and had orders to fire in fired upon.

End result: 38 people dead and over $900 million dollars in property damage. Businesses destroyed, homes dismantled, whole neighborhoods ravaged as if they were in the middle of a war zone. The riot had spared no one except the rich who were behind their gates in Beverly Hills. It affected all though it discriminated against no one. If didn't care who you are or what you do this riot touched every single person in that city on way or another. This riot changed the way police deal with these situations more so than any other incident. They now will try to prevent an escalating mob from doing massive damage on to an area rather then "letting the fire burn itself out." Once the dust had settled, people tried to resume their lives as best as they could. But rebuilding would be required on a massive scale. Many people believe that this riot was and wasn't justified but wither or not it was indeed right or wrong it still

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