The Watts Riots were a series of violent confrontations that took place in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, from August 11-17, 1965. The riots were sparked by the arrest of Marquette Frye, an African American man, on suspicion of drunk driving. The arrest, which escalated with the involvement of his mother and brother, led to a crowd gathering and ultimately to six days of unrest, marked by looting, arson, and clashes with police. The riots resulted in 34 deaths, over 1,000 injuries, nearly 4,000 arrests, and over $40 million in property damage.
The Watts Riots are considered a significant event in the Civil Rights era, highlighting racial tensions and socioeconomic disparities in urban areas. The unrest began after a routine traffic stop escalated into a violent confrontation. A white California Highway Patrol officer pulled over Marquette Frye for suspected drunk driving. When Frye resisted arrest, a crowd gathered, and the situation quickly devolved. The crowd, fueled by years of frustration with police brutality and racial discrimination, began to riot, targeting white-owned businesses and clashing with law enforcement.
The riots lasted for six days, with the National Guard eventually being called in to restore order. The violence resulted in widespread destruction, with numerous buildings being burned and looted. While the immediate cause of the riots was the Frye arrest, the underlying causes were deeply rooted in systemic issues such as poverty, unemployment, inadequate housing, and a lack of educational opportunities for Black residents in Watts.
The Watts Riots had a lasting impact, prompting investigations and reports that highlighted the underlying social and economic issues that contributed to the unrest. While the riots were condemned by some, including Martin Luther King Jr., who advocated for non-violent protest, they also served as a catalyst for change, prompting discussions about racial inequality and the need for social and economic justice.
https://www.google.com/search?q=watts+riots
Individuals
were held accountable for crimes, including property damage, during the Watts
Riots in 1965.
Accountability
during the Watts Riots:
· Arrests: Nearly
4,000 arrests were made during and after the riots for various offenses,
including looting and vandalism.
· Convictions: While
many arrested residents were never charged, some individuals were indeed
convicted for crimes related to the riots, such as Marquette Frye, whose arrest
initially sparked the unrest, who was convicted of battery and malicious mischief.
He received jail sentences and probation.
· Focus on Property
Damage: The response to the Watts Riots, according to one source, showed a
greater focus on investigating and assessing property damage compared to
concerns about loss of life or police misconduct, which some argue was
reflected in the orders given to law enforcement and the National Guard.
Important
Notes:
· Systemic
Issues: While individuals were held accountable for specific criminal
acts, the McCone Commission, formed to investigate the riots, concluded that
underlying systemic issues, including unemployment, poor housing, and
inadequate schools, were major contributing factors to the unrest.
· Scope of
Charges: Although thousands were arrested, a relatively small percentage
faced serious felony charges, and many arrests did not lead to convictions.
· Broader Context: The Watts Riots, despite their destructive elements, are seen by many as a significant turning point in the Civil Rights Movement, highlighting the racial tensions and inequalities that existed in the United States.
Accountability
in the Watts Riots:
· Arrests: Thousands
of people were arrested during the six days of unrest in Watts. Charges ranged
from looting, setting fires, and causing property damage, to murder. Over 4,000
arrests were made in total.
· Property Damage and
Restitution: The riots resulted in significant property damage, exceeding
$40 million. While the immediate focus was on restoring order and investigating
the broader causes, some individuals who participated in the rioting and caused
property damage would have faced legal consequences, including potential
criminal charges and restitution requirements.
· Context of the Riots: It's important to remember that the Watts Riots were a response to deeply rooted social and economic injustices. The McCone Commission, established to investigate the riots, identified systemic issues like high unemployment, inadequate housing, and poor living conditions as contributing factors. While individuals were held accountable for their actions, the riots also highlighted larger societal failures.
https://www.google.com/search?q=was+anyone+held+accountable+for+property+damage+in+the+watts+riots
Comments
There
was no coverage of the arrests or convictions of the Watts Rioters. The Media
focused on their inequality.
Accountability
for all crimes were blamed on “society”. This marked the beginnings of
lawlessness we continue to see in 2025. Now, after 65 years of eroding Personal
Responsibility, we are still dealing with this hoax.
The new target for the Sociopaths is “Free Speech”. Criminals continue to be coddled with claims insisting on “due process”. Now the courts are jammed with cases.
In the 1960s, most US citizens were able to afford houses and cars and were busy working at their jobs and thought the Watts Riots were dumb. Who would burn down their own neighborhood ?
The US culture included personal responsibility, but was beginning to shift to the “Nanny-State to placate the “poor”. Government Spending was headed up. Inflation was 1.46%. The top Income tax bracket was 91%. Many housewives took jobs to supplement the family income. The average family income in 1960 was $5,600. At good family annual income was $10,000. New cars were $2000. Used car prices ranged from $100 to $500.
We were too busy to challenge the media driven misappropriation of blame. Democrats were on the path toward “virtue signaling”.
Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader
No comments:
Post a Comment