Four Los Angeles police officers were involved in a high-speed car chase following an intoxicated driver on the I-210 highway. Once the officers were able to stop the car, the driver, Rodney King was pulled from the car and beat nearly to death by the officers. George Holliday was staying in a nearby apartment and witnessed the entire situation. Holliday recorded the entire event and sent it out to local television stations. The video was sent to CNN who played it on national television. This would make the FBI investigation on the four officers. All four of the officers were found guilty of using excessive force.
The LA riots started on April 29, 1992, and lasted until May 4th. At the start it was nothing more than a peaceful protest. As night came things started to get out of control. People began looting stores, setting buildings and cars on fire, and destruction of property. Citizens began to confront and press the police. Soon the cops couldn’t handle the riots on their own and the National Guard was deployed.
Law enforcement used less-lethal weapons including tear gas, rubber bullets, bean bag rounds and fire truck hoses. No law enforcement was killed, but 63 citizens were killed because of the riots. More than 2,300 people were injured and there were over two thousand arrests. The riots caused damage to 1,100 buildings, amassing 1 billion dollars in property damage. This would be one of the worst civil revolts in American history.
On May 1st President Bush would deploy over 3 thousand Army and Marine troops, accompanied by a thousand riot trained officers. This would help to suppress the issue but didn’t end it. The next day Los Angeles would be declared as a federal disaster area. A dusk-dawn curfew was placed on the entire city of Los Angeles until May 4th. Rodney King called for peace and asked, “can we all get along?” on national television. The curfew was lifted, and the riots ended, but the city was still almost completely destroyed.
The LA riots play a big part in American history, because it helped us to realize out fatal flaws in our government system. We were able to get officers the proper training and teach them how to respond to certain situations. In doing this we also create a more equal and just law enforcement for everyone in the country. The riots also brought tons of the youth into wanting to fight for equality. Our youth needs to be educated and be able to understand how to speak up for yourself, the riots may have been ugly, but taught the youth a good lesson.
