The+Watts+Riot

The Watts Riot occured in a neighborhood known as Watts in Los Angeles. The riot was sparked on August 11, 1965 when an African American boy and his family got into a fight on the street. The Los Angeles Police were called in, making matters much worse. The LAPD had been known for its blatant brutality against blacks, and many citizens of Watts were angered. The three family members were carried off to jail and people began to riot.

Over the course of 7 days, the entire neighborhood was destroyed. 34 African Americans were killed by violence in the streets, and many homes and public buildings were burned to the ground. The revolt caused $200 million in property damage.

Since World War II, African Americans had been treated unfairly and experienced firsthand the effects of severe racism. By 1965, the black community was backed into a corner and forced to lash out. They fought hard, with the vivid memory of everything from the past. [|1]. Recently after the event, the Civil Rights Act was passed by president Johnson. Marshall Law was imposed, meaning that the military took temporary control over the area. The main lesson that the whites learned from the Watts Riot is that the blacks were willing to fight to the death for their rights, and to not take anything lightly. The event also proved to African Americans that the whites would take intense measures to supress the revolt, even call in the military. This only increased tension between the two races, reducing all aspects of trust and eliminating the hope of any civil rights movements. media type="youtube" key="SRDvY_anJdc" height="315" width="420"