The Los Angeles Riots of 1992 Essay - 1341 Words

â€Å"April 26th, 1992, there was a riot on the streets, tell me where were you!? You were sittin home watchin your TV, while I was paticipatin in some anarchy,† these are the lyrics Sublime uses in their song ‘April 26, 1992’ to describe what happened during the Los Angeles Riots of 1992. â€Å"First spot we hit it was my liquor store. I finally got all that alcohol I cant afford. With red lights flashin time to retire, And then we turned that liquor store into a structure fire,† people ,running through the streets, had no pity when demolishing small businesses and taking what ever they may want from them. The streets, neighborhoods, businesses were destroyed by angry protesters. Their reasons were clear, all they wanted was some†¦show more content†¦That was not enough for some officers they believed King was resisting arrest. Due to their belief some cops shot Rodney with a taser gun. Shortly several officers started to fiercely beat King w ith their batons. â€Å"We won that game didn‘t we,† says officer Laurence Powell to his mates. George Holliday, a men standing near the scene, video tapped the action. Rapidly this video was broadcasted not only across America but around the world. It would not be ignored by its viewers. Everyone who tuned in and watched was shocked. Justice was expected to be made towards the heartless cops who savagely bet Rodney King. When the judge, Bernard Kamins, who was Caucasian declared three of the four (also white) officers not guilty the public saw his decision very racist. The riots began in the evening after the judgment, and grew over the next two days, but they would continue for several days. Angry Los Angels residents went out to the streets to show their fury. â€Å"These people are angry and they have every right to be!† said a man to the news cameras during the destruction. Authorities failed miserably to control the people. As time went by the madness did not decrease but enlarged. The second day (Thursday, April 30, 1992) of rioting, the storekeepers did not stay put, but fought back to protect their shops. News channels televised store owners fighting back with arms and other weapons to protect what was theirs. Their attempts wereShow MoreRelatedThe Los Angeles Riots Of 19921524 Words   |  7 PagesThe Los Angeles riots of 1992, the worst civil disturbance in America, brought to light the deepening racial and class divisions that were growing in the U.S. The division of between the rich and the poor, the immigrants and natives, and majority and minority produced an atmosphere of fear, distrust, and hopelessness. Due to the struggle to gain power by racial and ethnic groups, the aftermath of the Los Angeles riots was clouded with racial and ethnical conflicts. However, the riots did increaseRead MoreThe 1992 Los Angeles Riots Essay1587 Words   |  7 Pagesfirst five days in south central Los Angeles after the Rodney King verdict . History In 1992 the city of Los Angeles was one of our nation’s largest cities. It had an estimated population of over 9 million.1 The city had been in a deteriorating state for several years. There also had been tension growing between the citizens and the police for nearly the last 30 years. This had a lot to do with riots that occurred in Los Angeles back in the 1960’s.2 In 1965 riots in L.A. occurred after a routineRead More The 1992 Los Angeles Riots Essay2045 Words   |  9 PagesThe 1992 Los Angeles Riots April 26th, 1992, there was a riot on the streets, tell me where were you? You were sittin home watchin your TV, while I was paticipatin in some anarchy. First spot we hit it was my liquor store. I finally got all that alcohol I cant afford. With red lights flashin time to retire, and then we turned that liquor store into a structure fire. Next stop we hit it was the music shop, it only took one brick to make that window drop. Finally we got our own p.a. whereRead More The Watts Riots Essay1381 Words   |  6 Pagesthen have a mob of people with built up tension and anger, ready to crush and destroy whatever stands in their way of their demonstration. Central Los Angeles, California was blown away by one of those demonstrations. It was the worst urban riot since the 1943 disturbance in Detroit (Bradley 896). According to reports, the Los Angeles riot all started on the evening of August 11, 1965: Two white California Highway Patrol Officers pursued a weaving automobile for six blocks before stoppingRead MoreChaos Of Los Angeles Riots / Civil Disturbance1482 Words   |  6 PagesEnglish 1A 23, September 2016 Chaos in Los Angeles Many people believe the cause of the 1992 Los Angeles riots/civil disturbance was due to the acquittal of four LAPD officers who had been charged with the use of excessive force in the videotaped arrest and beating of Rodney King, following a high-speed police chase. Many believed the verdict was unjust, that in fact excessive force was used in the arrest. As a result, many feel this injustice caused the riots. When people take the time to doRead MoreJustice Is One Of The Most Important Moral And Political Concepts898 Words   |  4 Pagesfrom the Latin jus, meaning right or law. Since the beginning of time, injustice has been an issue each individual has experienced during his or her daily lives. Even today we still are experiencing riots and protests from African American in order to achieve justice. In Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992 by Anna Deavere Smith we see an example of injustice through the Rodney King case and the shooting of Latasha Harlins. Rodney King and Latasha H arlins experienced racial injustice, which can be definedRead MoreCivil Rights And Social Integration Of African Americans1409 Words   |  6 Pagesthe 20th century there were numerous riots, protests, and boycotts fighting for the equality and social integration of African-Americans. Some of the stories of individuals endeavoring for their freedom have gone down in history—resulting in laws being altered, regulations being revised, and unimaginable boundaries being broken. Sadly, in order to establish justice in this world, violence and death usually occur due to conflicting ideals. In Southern Los Angeles, even after African-Americans were issuedRead MoreTwilight : Los Angeles, 1992, By Anna Deavere Smith Essay1235 Words   |  5 PagesTwilight: Los Angeles, 1992, is a one-woman performance piece written and originally performed by Anna Deavere Smith, who was commissioned to transcribe regarding the 1992 Los Angeles riots corresponding with individual’s experiences , outlooks, and concerns that contributed to those who were exacerbated by the abominable and nerve racking riots. For her production, Smith interviewed hundreds of Los Angeles’ residents who were present during the occurrence of the riot. The entire script consists actualRead MoreHistorical, Social and Political Issues in the Movie Freedom Writers998 Words   |  4 Pagesbelonging. In the film, the Freedom Writers were made following the Rodney King trial in 1992 and the OJ Simpson murder case in 1994. These trials brought out the sensitive issues about injustices experienced by people of different ethnic origin. The Rodney King trial provided the film’s background and was presented by showing footages of the 1992 Los Angeles riot. The riot that started April 29, 1992 was triggered by the public announcement over the decision to acquit the LAPD officers chargedRead MoreThe La Riots : Perception Vs. Reality1845 Words   |  8 PagesTrillo EN 101-40 Prof. Grace von Moritz Due: 04/17/2016 The LA Riots: Perception vs. Reality The Los Angeles riots of 1992 was one of the largest scale riots in American history. Though the riots started just hours after the infamous not guilty verdict in the Rodney King trial, there were many factors that contributed to the anarchy created by certain members of the Los Angeles community. The media’s coverage of the trial and riots focused on the concept that the black community had reached their