Watts Riots Facts
Watts Riots Facts
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Interesting Watts Riots Facts: |
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Although California didn't have the Jim Crow laws of the southern states during the era, laws and attitudes kept most blacks in southern California in the Watts neighborhood and some surrounding towns, such as Compton. |
California Proposition 14 was passed in 1964, which effectively allowed landlords and realtors to deny applicants on the basis of race. |
The Los Angeles Chief of Police at the time was William H. Parker (1905-1966). Parker became notorious for letting his officers bend and even break the rules, which was fairly effective at not allowing many organized crime groups from getting a hold in L.A. |
Although Parker was viewed by many as racist, and his policies certainly were tough on criminals in black and Hispanic neighborhoods, he ordered the desegregation of the police department in 1962, three years before the Watts Riots. |
The original incident and the riots began at the intersection of Avalon Boulevard and 116th Street. |
The riots took on a racial tone early when the overwhelmingly black rioters attacked and looted non-black businesses. The rioters also attacked white and Hispanic motorists who were unfortunate enough to be driving through the area during the riots. |
The state of California conducted an official study on the causes and results of the riots, known as the McCone Commission. The commission ruled that the roots causes of riots were a combination of factors, including unemployment. |
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