Rodney King: No Justice – No Peace – L.A. Ignites – April 29, 1992

One of the most costly and destructive riots in history. The beating trial of Rodney King by four Los Angeles Police Offers, who were handed not-guilty verdicts on this day in 1992. Within minutes of the verdict‘s reading, disturbances erupted all over the city, culminating in the Flashpoint at Normandie Avenue.

When the riots including multiple shootouts had ended, 63 people had been killed, 2,383 had been injured, more than 12,000 had been arrested, and estimates of property damage were over $1 billion, making it the most destructive period of local unrest in US history. Koreatown, situated just to the north of South Central LA, was disproportionately damaged because of racial tensions between communities. Much of the blame for the extensive nature of the violence was attributed to LAPD Chief of Police Daryl Gates, who had already announced his resignation by the time of the riots, for failure to de-escalate the situation and overall mismanagement.

A total of 63 people died during the riots, including nine shot by police and one by the National Guard. Of those killed during the riots, 2 were Asian, 28 were black, 19 were Latino, and 14 were white. No law enforcement officials died during the riots. As many as 2,383 people were reported injured. Estimates of the material losses vary between about $800 million and $1 billion. Approximately 3,600 fires were set, destroying 1,100 buildings, with fire calls coming once every minute at some points. Widespread looting also occurred. Rioters targeted stores owned by Koreans and other ethnic Asians, reflecting tensions between them and the African American communities.

Many of the disturbances were concentrated in South Central Los Angeles, where the population was majority African American and Hispanic. Fewer than half of all the riot arrests and a third of those killed during the violence were Hispanic.

The riots caused the Emergency Broadcast System to be activated on April 30, 1992, on KCAL-TV and KTLA, the first time in the city’s history (not counting the test activation).

Here is part of the continuing coverage, as the riot unfolded less than an hour after the Rodney King verdict reading by way of KNX-AM in Los Angeles.

On April 29, 1992 – it was a good night to stay in the house. And it only went downhill from there.