Essay On The Los Angeles Riots 1992

Los Angeles in 1992 was one of the largest cities in the United States. It had a population of more than 8 million people. With the city growing, cultural diversity was spreading throughout the area. However, this rapid growth was not all favorable towards the city. Tensions were growing with citizens and the police. Social injustice was being perceived by the citizens, which lead to tensions rising for several years. What finally reached the tipping point was the verdict of Rodney King. The aftermath of the Rodney King verdict was the main cause of the Los Angeles Riots of 1992, and it is important in portraying the social injustice and economic inequality the citizens faced. It all started one evening in 1991, through the streets of Los Angeles County. Rodney King led police on a chase for going over the speed limit. Once he was pulled over, he surrendered uncooperatively, due to being intoxicated. His actions would initiate, what would ultimately be the start of the impending

They felt that the trial was unfair to Rodney King and the officers should have been punished. In 1993, the U.S. Jury took action against the officers involved in the case. This was due to them violating the constitutional rights that Rodney King had. With a federal trial, the jury convicted Sergeant Stacey Koon and Laurence Powell for violating King’s constitutional rights due to there unreasonable use of force and later sentenced to two and a half years in prison. Officer Timothy Wind and Theodore Briseno were acquitted. Though not all four officers involved were punished, it was still accepted as a small victory for social injustice and economic inequality the citizens of Los Angeles