Why did a riot happen in los angeles in 1992?

Answer 1

It happened in a lot of things. First when Rodney King was beat senseless by a six white and one Latino LAPD officers in March of 1991. Second is when a group of blacks and Hispanics were the subjects of police brutality in the 1980s and early 1990s which build up loads of trouble. What also add tensions to the factors of LA riots was between the Blacks and the Koreans. Koreans began immigrating to America and set up shops in South Central LA where it had the high crime rate thanks to the majority of blacks and Latinos living in the area. Many of them were known to threatens, theft and steal their things from Korean stores. Many Korean owners began owning guns in cased their businesses and life was threatened.

On the night of March 2, 1991, Rodney King was in DUI leading a high speed chase away from the LAPD police cars. After King finally stopped, he then resisted arrest. A group of police, thought he was on PCP(Which was a superhuamn drug) then beat him senseless and then it looks like as if Rodney King was cleary on the ground and pose no threat but despite this he was constantly continued to get beated by the LAPD officers. The videotape by an nearby apartment resident George Holliday and send the video to a nearby news station.

One incident finally add fuel to the fire between Koreans and Blacks in South Central LA. In March 16, 1991, a 15 year old Black girl name Latasha Harlins was entering a store that was owned by Soon Ja Du, a 51 year old Korean woman. When Du saw Larlins put a $1.50 Orange Juice in her backpack, she mistakenly concluded that she was about to steal it. Du then grab Harlin's backpack which cause Harlins to strike back. Harlins throw the juice back in her counter and Soon then pulls out her gun and shot her in the back of the head, killing her instantly. Soon was then put into Federal court but then served no prison time when Judge Joyce Karlin reduced the sentence to probation of five years, four hundred hours of community service, and a $500.00 fine.

The officers that were involved in the beating of Rodney King were also tried but after a year of trial, the officers were acquitted and many felt as if the beating was justified. This added fuel to the fire that led to one of the worst riots in American history since the New York Draft Riots of 1863.

Hours after the officers acquittal of the Rodney King beating, the worst had began. Blacks and Latinos began banding together and targeted innocent bystanders. Then later, they began attacked Korean stores and other business in random. Just like it had been in the New York Draft Riots of 1863, the police was too outnumbered by a the entire angry Black and Latino population armed with guns and weapons which had 60,000 of them. The random attacks, looting businesses, burning them, and killing raged up for five more days, leaving 53 people dead and million dollars in damages. Korean owners began arming themselves since the police wasn't always there for them due to them retreating back to the station. President George Bush Sr then send in 5,000 Federal and California National Guard troops, armed with tanks, guns, and military technology to restore Law and Order in the city. The LAPD also follow them as well and finally the riot was over.

After that, the trial was restarted(Which was supposed to be illegal) and in 1993, they finally charged two cops involved in the beating of Rodney King but other two were acquitted. The two cops that were charged went to 30 months in prison.

The LA Riots did nothing to solve the problem but only add stereotypes many already had for blacks and latinos.

Answer 2

The los angeles riots in 1992 was caused by an african american named Rodney King. He demonstrated a violent protest after a korean store owner shot an african american teenage girl who stole from his shop.

Answer 3

The riots were triggered by the acquittal of the police officers who had beaten Rodney King.

Answer 4

Rodney King was beaten by police.