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1965/08/11-21. The Watts riots left 34 dead, more than 3,500 arrested, and property damage of about 225 million dollars. With the arrest of a 21 year old African American, Los Angeles's South Central neighborhood of Watts erupted into violence. On August 11, 1965, a Los Angeles police officer flagged down motorist Marquette Frye, whom he suspected of being intoxicated. When a crowd of onlookers began to taunt the policeman, a second officer was called in. According to eyewitness accounts, the second officer struck crowd members with his baton, and news of the act of police brutality soon spread throughout the neighborhood. The incident, combined with escalating racial tensions, overcrowding in the neighborhood, and a summer heat wave, sparked violence on a massive scale. Despite attempts the following day aimed at quelling anti police sentiment, residents began looting and burning local stores. (http://www.infoplease.com)

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civil rights , justice , riots , watts