1965 Watts Riots
Facts for kids
The following fact
sheet contains interesting facts and information on Watts Riots
1965 Watts Riots
Facts for kids
Watts Riots
Facts - 1: The Watts Riots took place in the
Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles from August 11, 1965
to August 17, 1965 and was sparked by allegations of
police brutality.
Watts Riots
Facts -
2: African Americans
migrated to the West Coast in large numbers, in response
to defense industry recruitment at the start of WW2 and
the black population in Los Angeles increased from about
65,000 in 1940 to 350,000 in 1965
Watts Riots
Facts - 3: Although the African American
population in Los Angeles were not subject to the
harsh
discriminatory
Black
Codes and segregation policies of the
Jim Crow
Laws that were practiced in the
southern states, they were restricted from living in certain areas
and denied the educational and economic opportunities offered to
whites..
Watts Riots
Facts - 4: In the 1950's Los Angeles
became subject to increasing racial tension and violence and the
street gangs, who had emerged to protect black neighborhoods, would
eventually support the concepts of
Black Power
and see the rise of the Black Panthers
movement of the late 1960's.
Watts Riots
Facts - 5: The Los Angeles Police
Department (LAPD) headed by William H. Parker as the Los Angeles
Chief of Police, governed Los Angeles using fear and intimidation
tactics to maintain order and dominate the deprived, African
America, Watts neighborhood.
Watts Riots
Facts - 6: Young black
Americans were specifically targeted and subjected to
police brutality. The street gangs increased in numbers
to provide protection in their neighborhoods and resist
any instances of police brutality.
Watts Riots
Facts - 7: In 1964 75%
of
African
Americans were forced
to work in low paid, menial jobs and 50% of African
American families lived in poverty. The scene was set
for the outbreak of the Watts Riots, which are often
referred to as the Watts Rebellion.
Watts Riots
Facts - 8: The catalyst for
the Watts Riots occured on the evening of Wednesday,
August 11, 1965, when 21-year-old Marquette Frye was
forcibly arrested for drunk driving on intersection of
Avalon Boulevard and 116th Street.
Watts Riots
Facts -
9: His brother,
Ronald Fry, who was a passenger in the car, ran to his
nearby house to alert their mother, Rena Price to what
was happening. They returned to the car and events
escalated into violence as Rena Price was shoved, Frye
was struck and back-up police were called.
Watts Riots
Facts - 10: Marquette Frye,
Ronald Fry and their mother Rena Price were all
arrested, watched by a growing crowd. News of the
incident spread around the Watts neighborhood and the
angry crowd threw stones, rocks and concrete at the
police who were attempting to disperse the crowd.
Continued...
1956 Watts Riots
Facts for kids
Facts
about the Watts Riots for kids
The following fact
sheet continues with facts about Watts Riots.
1965 Watts Riots
Facts for kids
Watts Riots
Facts -
11: The Watts neighborhood soon resembled
a combat zone as the incident escalated into a riot
during the night of August 11, 1965.
Watts Riots
Facts - 12: The next day, Thursday August
12, a meeting was called between police and local black community
leaders. Tempers failed, the meeting fell apart and the unrest
continued unabated.
Watts Riots
Facts - 13: Los Angeles police chief
William H. Parker made the decision to call for the assistance of
the California Army National Guard.
Watts Riots
Facts - 14: The rioting escalated even
further and, by Friday August 13, the 46-square-mile
(119-square-kilometer) area of Los Angeles was filled with about
2,300 National Guardsmen and over 1000 police.
Watts Riots
Facts - 15: On Saturday August
14 the number of National Guardsmen increased to 3500.
The number of rioters involved in the Watts Riots were
estimated at about 35,000. The Watts Riots were to last
for a total of 6 days and nights from August 11, 1965 -
August 17, 1965.
Watts Riots
Facts - 16: When the Watts
Riots were finally brought under control, there were 34
persons killed and 1032 reported injuries. About 25% the
injuries were of police, firefighters, National Guard
troops, and government officials.
Watts Riots
Facts - 17: During the Watts
Riots there were sniper attacks, looting and arson that
included burning cars and buildings. A total of 3,438
people were arrested.
Watts Riots
Facts - 18: A total of 272 of buildings and
businesses were burned or damaged, including 14 public
buildings. There were 192 instances of looting, in
mainly white premises. About $45 million in property was
destroyed
Watts Riots
Facts - 19:
Many other race riots followed the Watts Riots including
the Newark Riots (1967) and the Detroit Riots (1967).
Watts Riots
Facts -
20: From 1965 to 1971
across the USA there were a total of 752 riots over a
total of 1802 day. During the riots 228 were killed, 12,
741 were injured and over 69,000 people were arrested.
The number of incidents of arson totaled nearly 16,000.
1965 Watts Riots
Facts for kids
Watts Riots - President Lyndon Johnson Video
The article on the Watts Riots provides detailed facts and a summary of one of the important events during his presidential term in office. The following
Lyndon Johnson video will
give you additional important facts and dates about the political events experienced by the 36th American President whose presidency spanned from November 22, 1963 to January 20, 1969.
Watts Riots 1965
●
Interesting Facts about Watts Riots for kids and schools
●
Summary of the Watts Riots in US history
●
The Watts Riots, a major
event in US history
●
Lyndon Johnson from November 22, 1963 to January 20, 1969
●
Fast, fun facts about the 1965 Watts Riots
●
Foreign & Domestic
policies of President Lyndon Johnson
● Lyndon Johnson Presidency and
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