Watts riots

Watts riots. The Watts riots were a major civil disorder that erupted in the South Los Angeles neighborhood of Watts in August 1965. The six days of violence, which required the deployment of the California Army National Guard, resulted in 34 deaths, over a thousand injuries, and widespread property destruction. The uprising became a pivotal symbol of urban unrest and racial inequality during the Civil Rights Movement.

Background and causes

The underlying conditions in Watts were characterized by severe economic inequality and systemic racial discrimination. The neighborhood, predominantly African American, suffered from high unemployment, substandard housing, and pervasive police brutality under the leadership of Los Angeles Police Department Chief William H. Parker. Frustration was amplified by the recent passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which had done little to alter daily realities of poverty and segregation. Tensions between the LAPD and the community were chronic, with organizations like the NAACP frequently citing incidents of misconduct. The broader context of the Civil Rights Movement, including events like the Selma to Montgomery marches, informed a growing impatience with the pace of change.

The riots

The immediate catalyst occurred on August 11, 1965, when California Highway Patrol officer Lee Minikus pulled over Marquette Frye, an African American motorist, for suspected drunk driving near 116th Street and Avalon Boulevard. A crowd gathered as Frye's mother, Rena Price, arrived, and a physical altercation ensued after Frye resisted arrest. The situation escalated rapidly into rock throwing and violence against other officers. Despite attempts at community mediation, widespread looting and arson began the following night. The LAPD, overwhelmed, requested the assistance of the California Army National Guard from Governor Pat Brown. For several days, sections of South Los Angeles resembled a war zone, with snipers engaging law enforcement and firefights occurring in the streets. The National Guard established a perimeter and enforced a curfew to quell the disturbance.

Aftermath and legacy

In the wake of the violence, Governor Brown appointed an investigative commission chaired by former CIA director John A. McCone. The resulting McCone Commission report identified root causes like poor schools and unemployment but was criticized for overlooking systemic racism. The riots directly influenced the political career of Tom Bradley, who later became Mayor of Los Angeles. They also spurred the creation of federal programs like Model Cities Program and informed the findings of the Kerner Commission. The event marked a shift in the Civil Rights Movement, highlighting northern urban unrest alongside southern nonviolence. It permanently altered the demographic and economic landscape of Watts, with many businesses never returning, and remained a reference point during later uprisings like the 1992 Los Angeles riots.

In popular culture

The Watts riots have been depicted and referenced across various artistic mediums. Musician Charles Mingus composed the piece "Once Upon a Time, There Was a Holding Corporation Called Old America" in response. The event is central to several novels, including Thomas Pynchon's The Crying of Lot 49 and Walter Mosley's Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned. It features prominently in films like Heat and the HBO production The Tuskegee Airmen. The riots are also the subject of the documentary Watts: The Lost Years and are referenced in the music of artists such as The Beach Boys and Gil Scott-Heron. The Watts Towers arts center became a symbol of community resilience in the aftermath.

Category:1965 in California Category:History of Los Angeles Category:Riots and civil disorder in the United States