Watts Riots facts

While investigating facts about Watts Riots 1965 and Watts Riots 1992, I found out little known, but curios details like:

A language teacher volunteered to teach troubled black high school students French in Watts, California after the race riots. The principal warned him he would "be sorry" but within a few weeks students were speaking to each other in French

how long did the watts riots last?

When the Watts riots in August 1965 came close to the Desilu studios where Star Trek was being filmed, producer Herbert F. Solow said to Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry that they would openly display the phaser rifle to scare the rioters away from the studio

What started the watts riots?

In my opinion, it is useful to put together a list of the most interesting details from trusted sources that I've come across answering what caused the watts riots. Here are 14 of the best facts about Watts Riots Cause and Watts Riots Timeline I managed to collect.

what factors contributed to the watts riots of 1965?

1. In 1965 when the Watts riots came close to a Star Trek studio, an executive suggested scaring away rioters with prop phaser rifles.

2. Although California didn"t have the Jim Crow laws of the southern states during the era, laws and attitudes kept most blacks in southern California in the Watts neighborhood and some surrounding towns, such as Compton.

3. The riots took on a racial tone early when the overwhelmingly black rioters attacked and looted non-black businesses. The rioters also attacked white and Hispanic motorists who were unfortunate enough to be driving through the area during the riots.

4. The original incident and the riots began at the intersection of Avalon Boulevard and 116th Street.

5. A language instructor offered to teach disadvantaged black high school students French after the Watts race riots. The principal warned him he would face abuse and violence but within a week students made great progress in French and showed "excitement and satisfaction" for learning

6. The state of California conducted an official study on the causes and results of the riots, known as the McCone Commission. The commission ruled that the roots causes of riots were a combination of factors, including unemployment.

7. Although Parker was viewed by many as racist, and his policies certainly were tough on criminals in black and Hispanic neighborhoods, he ordered the desegregation of the police department in 1962, three years before the Watts Riots.

8. California Proposition 14 was passed in 1964, which effectively allowed landlords and realtors to deny applicants on the basis of race.

9. All the main newsreel footage of the 1965 Watts riots was taken by a black Disney animator using Roy Disney's camera

Why did the watts riots start?

You can easily fact check why did the watts riots occur by examining the linked well-known sources.

The Los Angeles Chief of Police at the time was William H. Parker (1905-1966). Parker became notorious for letting his officers bend and even break the rules, which was fairly effective at not allowing many organized crime groups from getting a hold in L.A.

An artist ventured the burning debris from the Watts Riots, collected 3 tons of charred wood and fire-molded scrap metal, & assembled a historic art piece called "66 Signs of Neon." An interpretation of the Watts Rebellion. - source