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What Is The Significance Of The Watts Riots Significant To The Civil Rights Movement?

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The Watts Riots of 1965 marked a significant turning point in the Civil Rights Movement, as they highlighted the deep-seated racial tensions in America and underscored the need for comprehensive social, economic, and political reforms to address the systemic injustices faced by African Americans (NPR). Leading up to the riots, a young African American man named Marquette Frye and his brother Robert Frye were pulled over by a white police officer named Lee W. Minikus, who suspected young Marquette of drunk driving (PBS). As the traffic stop ensued, a group of people began looking on. Marquette began to panic at the thought of going to jail. He became slightly aggravated. Officer Minikus reacted and threw Marquette into the car. The tension between …show more content…

The riots were a stark reminder that African Americans were still facing systemic injustices and discrimination, even after the passage of civil rights legislation. The events in Watts underscored the need for comprehensive social, economic, and political reforms to address these issues. The riots also brought national attention to the ongoing struggle for civil rights and paved the way for further progress in the movement. The Watts Riots are connected to current ongoing civil rights issues because African Americans are still discriminated against and subjugated by police officers all around the United States. Most notably, on May 25, 2020, George Floyd, an African American man, was pulled over by Derek Chauvin, a white police officer. An altercation began, and Floyd ended up losing his life, sparking the BLM movement (Black Lives Matter) and years of protests and marches (CNN). The Watts Riots had a significant impact on American society. The riots brought national attention to the ongoing struggle for civil rights and highlighted the deep-seated racial tensions in America at the …show more content…

The Watts Riots of 1965 are considered a significant turning point in the Civil Rights Movement, as they brought national attention to the ongoing struggle for civil rights and highlighted the deep-seated racial tensions in America at the time. The riots underscored the need for comprehensive social, economic, and political reforms to address the systemic injustices faced by African Americans. They resulted in significant changes in law enforcement practices, including the establishment of community policing and increased training for police officers to understand better and address the needs of the communities they serve (Smithsonian). The Watts Riots also paved the way for further progress in the Civil Rights Movement, including the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the Fair Housing Act of 1968 (History Channel). In conclusion, the Watts Riots of 1965 served as a wake-up call for American society, revealing the deep-rooted racial tensions that existed in the

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