1992 Los Angeles riots facts for kids

Quick facts for kids 1992 Los Angeles riots
Two National Guard soldiers patrolling the city during the riots
Date	April 29 – May 4, 1992
Location	Los Angeles County, California, United States
Caused by	Four policemen acquitted of beating Rodney King Killing of Latasha Harlins Racial tension within Los Angeles
Methods	Widespread rioting, looting, assault, arson, protests, property damage, shootouts
Parties to the civil conflict
Rioters and looters, primarily from African American and Latino communities. United States government 7th Infantry Division 1st Marine Division Federal Bureau of Investigation United States Marshal Service Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms United States Border Patrol Federal Bureau of Prisons Drug Enforcement Administration Government of California California Army National Guard California Air National Guard 144th Fighter Wing 144th Security Police Squadron 146th Airlift Wing California Highway Patrol County law enforcement Los Angeles Police Department Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Long Beach Police Department Compton Police Department Pasadena Police Department Inglewood Police Department Armed civilians, notably from Korean American communities, defending property from rioters and looters.
Casualties
Death(s)	63
Injuries	2,383
Arrested	12,111

The 1992 Los Angeles riots were a series of major events that happened in Los Angeles County in April and May 1992. These events included riots and other civil disturbances. They started in South Central Los Angeles on April 29.

The unrest began after a court decision. A jury found four police officers from the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) not guilty. These officers had been accused of using too much force when arresting and beating a man named Rodney King. This beating was recorded on video and shown widely on TV.

The Los Angeles Riots of 1992

Thousands of people took part in the riots. The events lasted for six days after the court's decision was announced. The rioting happened in many parts of the Los Angeles area.

What Happened During the Riots?

During the riots, there was widespread looting, assault, and arson. Looting means stealing things from stores. Arson means setting buildings on fire on purpose. Local police forces had trouble stopping the violence. They did not have enough officers or resources.

The situation in Los Angeles became calm only after more help arrived. The California National Guard was called in. The United States military also sent troops. Several federal law enforcement agencies helped too. They worked together to end the violence and bring back order.

The Aftermath of the Riots

By the time the riots ended, many people had been affected. About 63 people lost their lives. Over 2,300 people were injured. More than 12,000 people were arrested.

The riots caused a lot of damage to property. Estimates suggest the damage was over $1 billion. A large part of this damage happened in Koreatown. This area was heavily impacted by the rioting.

The police chief at the time was Daryl Gates. He had already said he would leave his job. Many people blamed him for not stopping the situation. They also felt he managed the response poorly.

Images for kids

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  South Central Los Angeles, where much of the rioting took place

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  Looking northeast from the southwestern corner of Florence and Normandie, in March 2010

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  National Guard soldiers patrolling the streets

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  Smoke over the city from a distance

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  People looting a clothing store

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  U.S. Marines disembark from their trucks and Humvees in Compton for riot control operations. Thousands of federal troops patrolled Los Angeles to restore order.

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  Burned buildings in Los Angeles

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  Remains of a burned building

See also

In Spanish: Disturbios de Los Ángeles de 1992 para niños