At the intersection of Florence and Normandie in South Central Los Angeles, on April 29th 1992, the now infamous LA riots broke out. When the people in the area heard the news that a not-guilty verdict was reached for the alleged beating of Rodney King by police officers, the South Central Riots began. The first sign of trouble came when the owner of Tom’s Liquor at Florence and Normandie called the police. A few hours later, it was reported that young people were attacking vehicles that were driving through the area but no police were at the scene.
At 6:30 p.m. that night, protests began at the police headquarters in Parker Centers. Half an hour later, the news filmed a truck driver being dragged from his truck and beaten. Then, five hours after the first riot began, the LAPD started to send officers out, but there were not enough vehicles to get them to their assignments. Over the following six days, 53 people were killed and over $1 billion was lost in property damage.
The 29th marks the 20 year anniversary of this tragedy. Rodney King, who became the symbol of the riots, has dealt with drug addiction and alcohol abuse. A book about his life will appear on shelves entitled “The Riot Within.” Two of the police officers who were accused of police brutality but were found not guilty, were later convicted and sentenced to 30 months in prison. These events two decades ago serve as a reminder that the justice system does not always do what it is supposed to do. If you have been treated unfairly, you should talk to a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer from our team at Martinian & Associates Inc. For a free consultation,contact a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney as soon as possible.
