Radio Rootz' This Day in History

• produced by Sidra Khatkhatay
• in

Large-scale race riots broke out in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles after growing crowds of people witnessed tense conflict between white LAPD officers and two black community members. The Watts Riots ensued for five more days, filled with violent encounters between the LAPD and black citizens along with destruction of city property.  By the end of the riots, some 4,000 people had been arrested, yet the City and the Police Department continued to criminalize the Watts community well into following months.