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Abdullah Aleid

Professor Zapata

Eng-1b

24-November 2014.

Introduction

1992 riots were drastic in nature. There were masses and mobs of people involved in this riot process. These riots are also known as Rodney King riots and these are considered as important riots of Southern region of America. This incident is the one, which depicted the police brutality, and there were masses of people who showed dissatisfaction from the police force. The tapes of police showed that there are massive destructions done by police. One of the largest riots was observed in New York. However, the Southern regions of the America were more affected but on the other hand, it is also evident that no part of the region was free from its affects. However, these riots were started in Los Angeles but it did not take a week to spread these riots nationwide. Rodney Kind were beaten brutally by the police force, Smith in her book-covered lot of incidents and provided the views on emotions and response of the affected people. The basic cause of these riots was the racism and lack of people’s rights. The police agendas are controversial now days, as per blacks, the police arrest them more for minor reasons and Obama’s opponent government is involved in this act of police. The secondary status with Black Americans is more suitable for black Americans as per police point of view. The riots were no doubt there because of extreme biasness, oppression and lack of freedom of minorities. Smith has debated the consequences of these riots; the various injured persons who were either physically injured or financially injured were suffering badly, (Smith 5).

Facts of Riots

According to the facts of these riots, there were more than 1000 buildings, which were destroyed during riots. 9800 national California troops were required to handle such an intense situation. Not all people who were arrested were directly associated with rioting, the number of arrested people were 12000, no doubt this is again a proof of police brutality that it captured those people as well who were not involved in these riots. The victim was beaten by the police batons for more than 50 times in 19 seconds. King had not less than 11 fractures on his body other than the injuries. The incident happened in presence of 20 police officers but only three were sentenced. One March 7, 1991 Rodney King came out of the prison without any charge. Thus, minorities were severely affected by the police’s brutality and it was completely biased to beat minorities and ignore their rights. However, in civil war, 1964 African American got many rights but still they feel as if they are placed to prison in case of drug usage but there are various other white Americans who use drug but they are not arrested. On June 17, 2012, Rodney King was found dead in the swimming pool of his home. His home was situated in Rialto California; no doubt, not these all incidents depict the insecurity that African Americans are going through, (CNN Library 1).

Jury’s Verdict

The charges were made against four people, these four police officers were accused on using brutal force against the balk men, and in video, and it was shown that the black man is becoming aggressive on the police officers but later 19seconds video claimed that the police officers used extensive force on him. The jury was composed of all white peoples but one other person who was biracial and was sharing two different ethnicities. The jury has not blamed one police officer and set all three remaining to the sentence. There were so many riots present against this single member who was set free by the jury. The riots were made against jury because according to the minorities the jurors have become unresponsive after watching the video with so many times with various intervals and slow down motions. This has decreases sensitivity the jurors and reduced their emotions.

Major Cause of the Riots

The minorities were severely affected and thus it was not evident that if they will receive justice from judicial department or not. The purpose of executives, judicial and legislative departments is to make sure that each person in the country is getting his rights, but when minorities feel that their rights are not secured by government officials and in fact the government officials are the ones who breached rights of the minorities then riots are inevitable. No doubt, Rodney was having a black background due to which the police force showed him severe brutality and dealt him as if he is inferior or some culprit. Smith has also mentioned such cases in her book in which women are fed up of minor inspections of police that why are you walking like this or that, (Smith 8). In short, the active and major cause of riots was lack of civilian rights of minorities in America. Minorities were suppressed al around the US due to which the riots became national very soon and none city of US was free of these riots.

Consequences of Riots

The property, which managed during these riots, was not less than $1 billion whereas lot of murders also occurred. Lot of looting and lot of assault were also there, the marines and soldiers were required to end the riots so that losses can be further avoided. In these riots 53 people were killed whereas more than 2000 people were injured, no doubt these people were belonging from minorities, people from black ethnicities an Korean ethnicities were there. According to Smith in her book, the Korean woman Mrs. Young Hoon was thinking that if she deserved loss of her liquor shop because she is a minority. She is not only a Korean but also a woman due to which she has to go through extensively racism. In these riots, Latinos, Blacks and Koreans were al together.

Various Causes

The other various causes, which contributed to this riot, were the unemployment rate of African Americans. There was a feeling of deprivation present in African Americans; they were struggling for their rights of all kinds. The urban neglect and government failure were prominent in these riots. Too much aggression was stored in the persons that government could not realize it earlier. It was fault of government, which had, became as a cause of these riots. Higher unemployment rate in African Americans resulted in such an anger, which has caused loss of$1 billion. The unemployment rate of African America was 45 percent. The police brutality was there in Olympics held in 1948. In this the South Central and Eastern Los Angeles were protected from minorities, Ronald Reagan was given special privilege, and police brutality was so much common that no one expect executive could contribute in this Olympics. It was like a military occupation in the country. The African Americans were always considered as some criminals as if city has to be protected from them. From 1984-89 there were plenty of police officers who were asked for using the brutal severe force against people. Thus, the other reason besides the African American deprivation was the lack of training of police officers. People instead of feeling the police as their friend and security were afraid of the police. The image of police was quite native. 33 percent citizens of Los Angeles claimed against the police brutality during 1984-89. Until 1990 more than fourteen hundred police officers were asked and judged for using brutal force, number of suspected police officers was really large, (Zirin 1).

Union was ended in the working sector, thus union was also there in these riots. The Olympic does had the economical affect, it generated 70,000 jobs but on the other hand, the jobs were given to selected open. Temporary unemployment was terminated. Mike Davis wrote in his book that Los Angeles was cheated by the government at each level. Thus, wrong intentions of government and lack of well wishing attitude of government brought such aggression in the people, (Klotkin & Freidman 7).

Conclusion

Thus, the main cause of this riot was nothing else but the lack of security provided to African Americans by the government officials. The government was bias in Olympics at that time moreover, the Africans were afraid of further unemployment. They went against the rage of government.

References

Chandler. Rodney King Riots In Los Angeles Began On This Day In 1992. Newsone. 2013.

CNN Library. Los Angeles Riots Fast Facts. 2014. Web.

Klotkin, Joel & Freidman, David. The Los Angeles Riots: Causes, Myths, and Solutions. 1993. Web.

Smith, Anna Deavere. Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992 - Acting Edition. Dramatists Play Service, Inc. 2002.

Zirin Dave. Want to Understand the 1992 LA Riots? Start with the 1984 LA Olympics. 2012. The Nation. 2012.