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Top 5 Facts: 1992 LA Riots


often referred to as a Los Angeles

often referred to as a Los Angeles uprising the LA riots of 1992

uprising the LA riots of 1992

uprising the LA riots of 1992 represented a brief hiatus from civility

represented a brief hiatus from civility

represented a brief hiatus from civility and the rule of law welcome to

and the rule of law welcome to

and the rule of law welcome to watchmojo.com and site full facts about

watchmojo.com and site full facts about

watchmojo.com and site full facts about a famous historic event the LA riots of

a famous historic event the LA riots of

a famous historic event the LA riots of April 1992 we’ve all seen the pictures

April 1992 we’ve all seen the pictures

April 1992 we’ve all seen the pictures of Los Angeles police officers beating a

of Los Angeles police officers beating a

of Los Angeles police officers beating a man they had just pulled over like all

man they had just pulled over like all

man they had just pulled over like all things race related in America this

things race related in America this

things race related in America this event is complex and multi-layered and

event is complex and multi-layered and

event is complex and multi-layered and to fully understand it would take a lot

to fully understand it would take a lot

to fully understand it would take a lot more than just a few minutes

more than just a few minutes

more than just a few minutes nevertheless we hope that this video can

nevertheless we hope that this video can

nevertheless we hope that this video can at least serve as an overview and

at least serve as an overview and

at least serve as an overview and introduction to this tragic chapter in

introduction to this tragic chapter in

introduction to this tragic chapter in history Los Angeles Police Chief Daryl

history Los Angeles Police Chief Daryl

history Los Angeles Police Chief Daryl gates looked at the tape

gates looked at the tape

gates looked at the tape and said he thinks assault with a deadly

and said he thinks assault with a deadly

and said he thinks assault with a deadly weapon will be one of the charges number

weapon will be one of the charges number

weapon will be one of the charges number five the riots were sparked by the

five the riots were sparked by the

five the riots were sparked by the outcome of the Rodney King trial we are

outcome of the Rodney King trial we are

outcome of the Rodney King trial we are not sure that the police is there to

not sure that the police is there to

not sure that the police is there to protect us on the evening of March 3rd

protect us on the evening of March 3rd

protect us on the evening of March 3rd 1991 26 year-old Rodney King was pulled

1991 26 year-old Rodney King was pulled

1991 26 year-old Rodney King was pulled over after a high-speed chase with

over after a high-speed chase with

over after a high-speed chase with police along the foothill freeway in Los

police along the foothill freeway in Los

police along the foothill freeway in Los Angeles we the jury in the

Angeles we the jury in the

Angeles we the jury in the above-entitled action find the defendant

above-entitled action find the defendant

above-entitled action find the defendant Stacy C Koon not guilty a confrontation

Stacy C Koon not guilty a confrontation

Stacy C Koon not guilty a confrontation with officers followed when King

with officers followed when King

with officers followed when King resisted arrest he was punched kicked

resisted arrest he was punched kicked

resisted arrest he was punched kicked stomped on and brutally attacked with

stomped on and brutally attacked with

stomped on and brutally attacked with tasers and batons by four members of the

tasers and batons by four members of the

tasers and batons by four members of the LAPD the beating was caught on tape by

LAPD the beating was caught on tape by

LAPD the beating was caught on tape by local resident aula de whose footage

local resident aula de whose footage

local resident aula de whose footage would then be broadcast on national

would then be broadcast on national

would then be broadcast on national television sparking outrage across the

television sparking outrage across the

television sparking outrage across the country in fact footage of the attack

country in fact footage of the attack

country in fact footage of the attack created such a media circus in LA County

created such a media circus in LA County

created such a media circus in LA County that the ensuing trial of four officers

that the ensuing trial of four officers

that the ensuing trial of four officers led by the Los Angeles District Attorney

led by the Los Angeles District Attorney

led by the Los Angeles District Attorney was moved to neighboring Ventura County

was moved to neighboring Ventura County

was moved to neighboring Ventura County a jury of nine white one Latino one

a jury of nine white one Latino one

a jury of nine white one Latino one Asian and one biracial male resident

Asian and one biracial male resident

Asian and one biracial male resident acquitted all four officers of assault

acquitted all four officers of assault

acquitted all four officers of assault one number of the crowd at the Simi

one number of the crowd at the Simi

one number of the crowd at the Simi Valley courthouse equated the verdict to

Valley courthouse equated the verdict to

Valley courthouse equated the verdict to quote lighting the fuse to a bomb by

quote lighting the fuse to a bomb by

quote lighting the fuse to a bomb by having this verdict what these people

having this verdict what these people

having this verdict what these people done they let live the cheers to a bomb

done they let live the cheers to a bomb

done they let live the cheers to a bomb number for much of the Korean community

number for much of the Korean community

number for much of the Korean community was left to fend for themselves

was left to fend for themselves

was left to fend for themselves the riots following the King verdict

the riots following the King verdict

the riots following the King verdict escalated so quickly and aggressively

escalated so quickly and aggressively

escalated so quickly and aggressively that LA County Police were unable to

that LA County Police were unable to

that LA County Police were unable to contain the violence this lack of

contain the violence this lack of

contain the violence this lack of resources combined with the complex

resources combined with the complex

resources combined with the complex socio cultural and racial issues of the

socio cultural and racial issues of the

socio cultural and racial issues of the early 90s in LA left Korean communities

early 90s in LA left Korean communities

early 90s in LA left Korean communities in in

in in

in in vulnerable position when I saw that the

vulnerable position when I saw that the

vulnerable position when I saw that the LAPD did not get their act together on

LAPD did not get their act together on

LAPD did not get their act together on the second day and that they were

the second day and that they were

the second day and that they were telling Korean American merchants in

telling Korean American merchants in

telling Korean American merchants in Koreatown to evacuate that’s when I

Koreatown to evacuate that’s when I

Koreatown to evacuate that’s when I decided to go and ask the

decided to go and ask the

decided to go and ask the korean-american lurches to to defend

korean-american lurches to to defend

korean-american lurches to to defend themselves according to the LA Times the

themselves according to the LA Times the

themselves according to the LA Times the perception of this ethnic group as a

perception of this ethnic group as a

perception of this ethnic group as a quote unquote model minority fueled

quote unquote model minority fueled

quote unquote model minority fueled attacks from mobs of other minority

attacks from mobs of other minority

attacks from mobs of other minority groups for their own part some Korean

groups for their own part some Korean

groups for their own part some Korean business owners took matters into their

business owners took matters into their

business owners took matters into their own hands and armed themselves with

own hands and armed themselves with

own hands and armed themselves with rifles and handguns to defend their

rifles and handguns to defend their

rifles and handguns to defend their livelihoods

livelihoods

livelihoods although lives and businesses were lost

although lives and businesses were lost

although lives and businesses were lost Koreans now look at the riots as a

Koreans now look at the riots as a

Koreans now look at the riots as a turning point for Asian American

turning point for Asian American

turning point for Asian American communities in Los Angeles is this

communities in Los Angeles is this

communities in Los Angeles is this America we came this country to whoa no

America we came this country to whoa no

America we came this country to whoa no hey blossom Kerava established you some

hey blossom Kerava established you some

hey blossom Kerava established you some American dream the violence prompted the

American dream the violence prompted the

American dream the violence prompted the formation of activist organizations such

formation of activist organizations such

formation of activist organizations such as the association of korean-american

as the association of korean-american

as the association of korean-american victims

victims

victims what’s more the isolation they felt

what’s more the isolation they felt

what’s more the isolation they felt throughout the riots forced an expansion

throughout the riots forced an expansion

throughout the riots forced an expansion of Koreatown geographically and

of Koreatown geographically and

of Koreatown geographically and culturally for many Korean Americans

culturally for many Korean Americans

culturally for many Korean Americans their identities in America were reborn

their identities in America were reborn

their identities in America were reborn in April of 1992 number three the riots

in April of 1992 number three the riots

in April of 1992 number three the riots cost the city over 1 billion dollars in

cost the city over 1 billion dollars in

cost the city over 1 billion dollars in damages the LA riots began just minutes

damages the LA riots began just minutes

damages the LA riots began just minutes after the king verdict was announced

after the king verdict was announced

after the king verdict was announced from the LA County Courthouse to

from the LA County Courthouse to

from the LA County Courthouse to downtown looters destroyed storefronts

downtown looters destroyed storefronts

downtown looters destroyed storefronts and burned businesses to the ground this

and burned businesses to the ground this

and burned businesses to the ground this chaos would continue for five more days

chaos would continue for five more days

chaos would continue for five more days before the US Marines and National Guard

before the US Marines and National Guard

before the US Marines and National Guard were brought in to restore order by this

were brought in to restore order by this

were brought in to restore order by this time there had been 55 deaths two

time there had been 55 deaths two

time there had been 55 deaths two thousand people injured and over eleven

thousand people injured and over eleven

thousand people injured and over eleven thousand arrests made for assault

thousand arrests made for assault

thousand arrests made for assault looting and arson resulting in a

looting and arson resulting in a

looting and arson resulting in a combined total of over 1 billion dollars

combined total of over 1 billion dollars

combined total of over 1 billion dollars in property damage it was the most

in property damage it was the most

in property damage it was the most costly right to date by over 600 million

costly right to date by over 600 million

costly right to date by over 600 million dollars while the city’s coffers were

dollars while the city’s coffers were

dollars while the city’s coffers were taking a beating gun shop owners were

taking a beating gun shop owners were

taking a beating gun shop owners were seeing more people walk into their

seeing more people walk into their

seeing more people walk into their stores than ever before more than three

stores than ever before more than three

stores than ever before more than three months after the pandemonium ended gun

months after the pandemonium ended gun

months after the pandemonium ended gun sales were still at an all-time high as

sales were still at an all-time high as

sales were still at an all-time high as first-time gun owners worried about

first-time gun owners worried about

first-time gun owners worried about another riot situation developing number

another riot situation developing number

another riot situation developing number two

two

two King’s second trial had two black jurors

King’s second trial had two black jurors

King’s second trial had two black jurors people um I just want to say you know

people um I just want to say you know

people um I just want to say you know can we can we all get along the state

can we can we all get along the state

can we can we all get along the state led prosecution of the officers who

led prosecution of the officers who

led prosecution of the officers who aggressed King was controversial from

aggressed King was controversial from

aggressed King was controversial from the outset and not just because of the

the outset and not just because of the

the outset and not just because of the sensational video evidence the lack of

sensational video evidence the lack of

sensational video evidence the lack of any black

any black

any black jurors in the trial just added to the

jurors in the trial just added to the

jurors in the trial just added to the public’s perception that systemic racism

public’s perception that systemic racism

public’s perception that systemic racism had prevented justice from being served

had prevented justice from being served

had prevented justice from being served in February of 1993 the United States

in February of 1993 the United States

in February of 1993 the United States Department of Justice responded to this

Department of Justice responded to this

Department of Justice responded to this outrage by seeking grand jury

outrage by seeking grand jury

outrage by seeking grand jury indictments of the four officers for

indictments of the four officers for

indictments of the four officers for violations of King’s civil rights in the

violations of King’s civil rights in the

violations of King’s civil rights in the ensuing trial there would be two black

ensuing trial there would be two black

ensuing trial there would be two black jury members it had only been one year

jury members it had only been one year

jury members it had only been one year since the riots and the city of LA was

since the riots and the city of LA was

since the riots and the city of LA was still recovering severe property damage

still recovering severe property damage

still recovering severe property damage and turmoil there was no way in the

and turmoil there was no way in the

and turmoil there was no way in the world that any jury would acquit all of

world that any jury would acquit all of

world that any jury would acquit all of the defendants again two of the four

the defendants again two of the four

the defendants again two of the four officers were found guilty and sent to

officers were found guilty and sent to

officers were found guilty and sent to prison in a subsequent civil suit

prison in a subsequent civil suit

prison in a subsequent civil suit against the city of Los Angeles King was

against the city of Los Angeles King was

against the city of Los Angeles King was awarded three point eight million

awarded three point eight million

awarded three point eight million dollars in compensation for his injuries

number one the riots exacerbated

number one the riots exacerbated tensions between other minorities the

tensions between other minorities the

tensions between other minorities the relationship between African American

relationship between African American

relationship between African American and Korean American community it hasn’t

and Korean American community it hasn’t

and Korean American community it hasn’t improved as much we would like cases of

improved as much we would like cases of

improved as much we would like cases of police brutality and excessive use of

police brutality and excessive use of

police brutality and excessive use of force usually create a rift between

force usually create a rift between

force usually create a rift between civilians and law enforcement in the LA

civilians and law enforcement in the LA

civilians and law enforcement in the LA riots however

riots however

riots however the rift will split a number of ways a

the rift will split a number of ways a

the rift will split a number of ways a mob of black people were reported to

mob of black people were reported to

mob of black people were reported to have dragged white truck driver Reginald

have dragged white truck driver Reginald

have dragged white truck driver Reginald Denny out of his truck at an

Denny out of his truck at an

Denny out of his truck at an intersection and beat him to within an

intersection and beat him to within an

intersection and beat him to within an inch of his life my right window broke

inch of his life my right window broke

inch of his life my right window broke and that time and I was extremely

and that time and I was extremely

and that time and I was extremely frightened Guatemalan immigrant Fidel

frightened Guatemalan immigrant Fidel

frightened Guatemalan immigrant Fidel Lopez was also pulled from his vehicle

Lopez was also pulled from his vehicle

Lopez was also pulled from his vehicle robbed beaten and spray-painted with

robbed beaten and spray-painted with

robbed beaten and spray-painted with black paint elsewhere in LA before the

black paint elsewhere in LA before the

black paint elsewhere in LA before the riots started a 15 year old black girl

riots started a 15 year old black girl

riots started a 15 year old black girl named Latasha Harlin’s was shot and

named Latasha Harlin’s was shot and

named Latasha Harlin’s was shot and killed by a Korean store owner who

killed by a Korean store owner who

killed by a Korean store owner who suspected Harlan’s trying to steal a

suspected Harlan’s trying to steal a

suspected Harlan’s trying to steal a bottle of orange juice upon trial the

bottle of orange juice upon trial the

bottle of orange juice upon trial the store owner was found guilty of

store owner was found guilty of

store owner was found guilty of manslaughter but was handed a reduced

manslaughter but was handed a reduced

manslaughter but was handed a reduced probationary sentence that further

probationary sentence that further

probationary sentence that further exacerbated tensions between Blacks and

exacerbated tensions between Blacks and

exacerbated tensions between Blacks and Korean Americans 65 percent of all the

Korean Americans 65 percent of all the

Korean Americans 65 percent of all the stores vandalized in the riots were

stores vandalized in the riots were

stores vandalized in the riots were Korean owned according to estimates from

Korean owned according to estimates from

Korean owned according to estimates from the LA mayor’s office analyses of the

the LA mayor’s office analyses of the

the LA mayor’s office analyses of the entire event have concluded that wal

entire event have concluded that wal

entire event have concluded that wal Kings verdict is what sparked the riots

Kings verdict is what sparked the riots

Kings verdict is what sparked the riots the inner city conditions of segregation

the inner city conditions of segregation

the inner city conditions of segregation economic despair and lack of

economic despair and lack of

economic despair and lack of opportunities had been fueling a deep

opportunities had been fueling a deep

opportunities had been fueling a deep frustration among minorities for some

frustration among minorities for some

frustration among minorities for some time

time

time so what do you think the legacy of this

so what do you think the legacy of this

so what do you think the legacy of this chapter has been and what do you find

chapter has been and what do you find

chapter has been and what do you find most fascinating about these events for

most fascinating about these events for

most fascinating about these events for more systematic toptenz and probationary

more systematic toptenz and probationary

more systematic toptenz and probationary top fives published every day be sure to

top fives published every day be sure to

top fives published every day be sure to subscribe to watchmojo.com Rodney King

subscribe to watchmojo.com Rodney King

subscribe to watchmojo.com Rodney King says the mistakes of his past have

says the mistakes of his past have

says the mistakes of his past have taught him some tough lessons a history

taught him some tough lessons a history

taught him some tough lessons a history he does not want to repeat

”

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