1992 Los Angeles Riots

On March 16, 1991, the murder of Latasha Harlins, a 15-year-old African American girl, by Soon Ja Du, a Korean store owner, contributed greatly to the anger and distrust expressed by the African American community. Du accused Harlins of stealing a bottle of orange juice, and after a brief confrontation, Harlins started walking away and Du shot her in the head. Superior Court Judge Joyce Karlin only fined Du $500, put her on probation, and ordered her to complete 400 hours of community service. Karlin justified her decision by saying that Du is “not a menace to society.” 

Then on April 29, 1992, at an East Ventura County Courthouse in Simi Valley, four Los Angeles police officers were acquitted of all charges stemming from a brutal attack on an unarmed Black motorist. Rodney Glen King was pulled over on March 3, 1991, by two California Highway Patrol Officers following a high-speed chase initiated during an attempted traffic stop. As these patrolmen sought to apprehend King, four additional officers from the Los Angeles Police Department arrived and intervened. The group, consisting of Sergeant Stacey Koon and officers Laurence Powell, Timothy Wind, and Theodore Brisenio, subjected King to a vicious assault, involving kicks and beatings with metal batons.

The incident was captured on video and within days, the footage was widely disseminated, both nationally and internationally, shedding light on the alarming brutality.

Following their indictment by a grand jury on March 14, 1991, charging them with excessive abuse, Stacey Koon, Laurence Powell, Timothy Wind, and Theodore Brisenio faced a trial marked by significant media coverage. Responding to concerns about a fair trial, defense lawyers successfully argued for a change in venue, leading to the relocation of the trial from Los Angeles County to nearby Ventura County. The composition of the jury comprised nine white members, one Latin American, one Asian American, and one person of mixed race. After seven days of deliberation, the jury delivered their verdict.

The outcome of the case sparked widespread anger in Los Angeles and across the nation. In a display of frustration, crowds gathered at the intersection of Florence and Normandie in South Central Los Angeles around 5:00 pm. Protesters engaged in disruptive activities, throwing objects at passing cars, setting fires to buildings, and participants of various races looted stores in the vicinity. The six days of unrest that ensued resulted in a grim toll – sixty-three lives lost, over 7,000 arrests, and an estimated $1 billion in property damage.