The Los Angeles Riots of 1992

1335 Words3 Pages

“April 26th, 1992, there was a riot on the streets, tell me where were you!? You were sittin' home watchin' your TV, while I was paticipatin' in some anarchy,” these are the lyrics Sublime uses in their song ‘April 26, 1992’ to describe what happened during the Los Angeles Riots of 1992. “First spot we hit it was my liquor store. I finally got all that alcohol I can't afford. With red lights flashin' time to retire, And then we turned that liquor store into a structure fire,” people ,running through the streets, had no pity when demolishing small businesses and taking what ever they may want from them. The streets, neighborhoods, businesses were destroyed by angry protesters. Their reasons were clear, all they wanted was some justice. A video tape of four L.A.P.D police officers brutally beating a male (Rodney King) without any sympathy was made public, which started the bomb track. “Let it burn, wanna let it burn, wanna let it burn, wanna wanna let it burn,” says the song when describing the riots. Throughout these days there was an estimate of more than 50 killed, over 4 thousand injured, and 12,000 people arrested. The damage caused in the city was about one billion dollars, damage that is believed was never fully repaired. The riots and destruction that went on for about a week that showed the people’s rage and that they were not going to tolerate the injustices committed by the authorities.

It all begun one year before (March 3, 1991) when Rodney King and two friends were detected to be speeding in the 210 freeway in Los Angeles. He was driving under the influence of alcohol. King, scared because he was already in probation, went on a high speed chase. Eventually King was surrounded by police cars and had no ch...

... middle of paper ...

...ter it was pretty much all over, except of coarse all the cleaning and rebuilding of the city.

Later Rodney was awarded 3.8 million dollars in the case. Most of the money went to his attorneys. Rodney spent the remaining of his money starting a hip hop music label, Straight Alta-Pazz Recording Company.

The riots ended, but The City of the Angels would never be the same. As a matter of fact many things changed because of it, many people blame these riots for today‘s poverty in the city. No one would every forget the violence and rage that hit the city on April 29, 1992. Many lives were lost and hundreds were injured. The damage in the city was over one billion dollars. Thousands of people were arrested. As for the city, it was destroyed. Everyone should fight for what they believe in but rioting the way it happened in this situation it never right.

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