Watts riots erupt in Los Angeles

Name: Watts riots erupt in Los Angeles
Start: 1965-08-11
Location: United States

A confrontation between police and residents in the Watts neighborhood ignited six days of rioting, arson, looting, and clashes with police and the National Guard across South Central Los Angeles.

The unrest exposed deep racial and economic inequalities in American cities, prompting national debate and federal attention to urban policy, policing, and civil rights.

← Back to timeline View Lyndon B. Johnson

Event Details

Date: August 11, 1965
President: Lyndon B. Johnson
Category: Crisis Response
Era: Cold War Era

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