The 1992 Los Angeles Riots

Otherwise known as the Rodney King riots

53 people died

Over 2000 injured

Damages in excess of $800m

Lasted 6 days

How did it start?How did it start?

Rodney King resisted arrestedRodney King resisted arrested

Led the police on a high speed pursuitLed the police on a high speed pursuit

When he pulled over and was When he pulled over and was apprehended, police alleged he was apprehended, police alleged he was

violently resisting arrestviolently resisting arrest

A nearby eyewitness started recording A nearby eyewitness started recording the arrestthe arrest

The Arrest

When the video started, the police were already beating and kicking

Rodney King

He was also tasered and clubbed with batons for over a minute

Public viewed it as police brutality

When the video started, the police were already beating and kicking

Rodney King

He was also tasered and clubbed with batons for over a minute

Public viewed it as police brutality

Became an international media

sensation

Was broadcastedand published

hundreds of times

The media saw it as a tragedy

Became an international media

sensation

Was broadcastedand published

hundreds of times

The media saw it as a tragedy

Assault charges were brought against the four officers in question

Jury consisted of 10 Whites, 1 Asian and 1 Hispanic

Assault charges were brought against the four officers in question

Jury consisted of 10 Whites, 1 Asian and 1 Hispanic

Jury could not agree on a verdict

Officers were acquitted of all charges

Jury based their decision on officer’s testimony that King had acted violent

and dangerous before the camera began rolling

Jury could not agree on a verdict

Officers were acquitted of all charges

Jury based their decision on officer’s testimony that King had acted violent

and dangerous before the camera began rolling

Unrest started immediately after the verdicts were announced

Reginald Denny, a white truck driver, was beaten repeatedly by a group of local black

residents

Stole $2000 from him

Was hit with a concrete block to the head

Police were called off for their own safety

Unrest started immediately after the verdicts were announced

Reginald Denny, a white truck driver, was beaten repeatedly by a group of local black

residents

Stole $2000 from him

Was hit with a concrete block to the head

Police were called off for their own safety

Denny was rescued by an unarmed black civilian, Bobby Green

Drove him to the hospital

Denny never fully recovered from the attack

Has speech and mobility problems

Denny was rescued by an unarmed black civilian, Bobby Green

Drove him to the hospital

Denny never fully recovered from the attack

Has speech and mobility problems

More beatings continued through the night

Arsonists targeted buildings and shops

Firefights between the public and police started breaking out

By the second day, situation escalatedKorean shopkeepers were targeted and

had to protect their stores with guns

More beatings continued through the night

Arsonists targeted buildings and shops

Firefights between the public and police started breaking out

By the second day, situation escalatedKorean shopkeepers were targeted and

had to protect their stores with guns

Police were helpless

National guard were called in

Were only able to enter the city on the third day

Riots only ended 6 days later and after 4000 soliders were poured into the city

to maintain order

Over 3,600 fires were started

Police were helpless

National guard were called in

Were only able to enter the city on the third day

Riots only ended 6 days later and after 4000 soliders were poured into the city

to maintain order

Over 3,600 fires were started

Why did it happen?Why did it happen?

The Rodney King incident was only the spark for the riots

For many years, Blacks felt that they were targeted by the police and were

constantly subjected to racism

They felt they did not have equal opportunity as everyone else and had

difficult time finding jobs

Poverty inside the city and lack of jobs caused unrest within the community

The Rodney King incident was only the spark for the riots

For many years, Blacks felt that they were targeted by the police and were

constantly subjected to racism

They felt they did not have equal opportunity as everyone else and had

difficult time finding jobs

Poverty inside the city and lack of jobs caused unrest within the community

Korean-American and African-American relations were strained because of

economic competition

As the money moved out of the city to the larger corporations, smaller shops

had less market share and had to compete with each other

Blacks felt that Korean-American shop owners were taken money out of their community and would not give them

jobs in their shops

Korean-American and African-American relations were strained because of

economic competition

As the money moved out of the city to the larger corporations, smaller shops

had less market share and had to compete with each other

Blacks felt that Korean-American shop owners were taken money out of their community and would not give them

jobs in their shops

A Korean-American shop owner had shot and

killed Latasha Harlins, an African American girl

Was killed a few months before the King verdict

Korean shop owner was given five years

probation for killing Latasha

Black community felt it was not enough time for

a murder