Group conflict: protests turning to riots in 1992 LA

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We have all heard of the LA riots and think of racism when we do. Racism had a great deal to do with the buildup to the riots. LA was a hot spot for gangs at the time as well as for Korean business owners trying to make it in America. Gangs were usually in low income segregated black neighborhoods as Sociology class will teach. Unfortunate but true for the time and somewhat true today though many more races belong to what were once all black or all Mexican gangs  This led to three groups being formed, blacks whether in gangs or not, police, and Koreans. Koreans feared blacks would rob them and just wanted to make it but could only afford storefronts in low income areas most of the time. Blacks just wanted to be looked at as equal and live in peace, much like today. Police it is hard to say what their true motivation is. Some officers would argue uphold the law and some would say to serve and protect but most would argue it is not always the same thing. In the video of the Rodney King beating that lit the fire and erupted into riots after the officers were not convicted, to me it shows they had purely racist or at the very least violent intent.

So how are the Koreans involved in the events that led to there being so much anger that evolved into a riot?


A Korean woman shot a girl named Latash that was a customer in her store. She was convicted of Involuntary manslaughter but served no time, Racial tensions were high and groups had major conflict in how to handle the matter.


Then the verdict in April of 1992 of not guilty for the officers. The justice system and police had failed the blacks again. By targeting gangs instead the police were targeting blacks as a whole and the blacks were tired of it.
This creates a new group of many races that begin to protest and want justice. With this goal in mind the protests did not stop. In fact they overwhelmed police. Soon people became violent and no longer did group rules fully exist. People started stopping vehicles and beating motorists, then they started looting Korean stores, then burning them down.

Then it became about targeting anything and anyone.

So where is the police in all of this? First the chief ordered the first group of officers away after being overwhelmed with rioters. No longer could these be called groups of violent protesters but upgraded to groups of rioters. The chief then ordered all officers to stand down and attended a fundraiser raising money to fight reform in the LAPD. Firefighters were being shot at and could not extinguish fires. Chaos had become the new norm. The Mayor went on pleading to show outrage in other ways, by this mayor being black I believe this was an attempt to find common ground as well as radio stations airing calls from citizens also pleading for the rioting to stop. When the chief did return he ordered police to command posts to await further instruction. Obviously his tactic was let it fizzle out. Eventually the governor called the National Gaurd but it would be 15hours before they could be there.Police finally began trying after this but it was no use. police cars were burned and rioters greatly outnumbered the force. When the chief finally makes a statement all he can say is he was not prepared. There was no attempt for negotiation as rioters actually did try to negotiate by chanting "No Justice No Peace". Simply they wanted justice for Rodney and instead got here is people like you that want you to stop. After another day of rioting Rodney himself made a statement asking for people to "just get along". Soon after George Bush Sr. made a statement he was deploying more troops into LA.
Media was the only ones trying to help calm people while the justice system just showed force. The justice system wanted control while the rioters wanted justice. It was bigger than Rodney King at this point. This was the rage of years of black oppression being unleashed on a city. Finally after 4 days the justice system got what they wanted. Control was theirs as troops stormed the city. No negotiating, just show of force and the same things happening today in many ways. So to answer my own question about would the Boston tea party have the same effect. Only if they could win the war that followed.
And as the person who wrote that blog answered
"Only time will tell" the true impact of all the riots, protests, and people wanting justice.


Hour long documentary on the riots.

Refrences

https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https://img.thedailybeast.com/image/upload/c_crop,d_placeholder_euli9k,h_675,w_1200,x_0,y_0/dpr_2.0/c_limit,w_740/fl_lossy,q_auto/v1492808608/galleries/2012/04/26/dramatic-l-a-riots-photos/los-angeles-riots-bicycle_nqbjbw&imgrefurl=https://www.thedailybeast.com/dramatic-la-riots-photos&h=675&w=1200&tbnid=h8rR3qHNXG2qtM:&tbnh=112&tbnw=199&usg=__R_MyMaRdkb_VvQDOWQ4DoVq3W3Y%3D&vet=1&docid=i54dh1S4vER_5M&itg=1&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjRv-K6uvnZAhUDJKwKHSQVAiEQ_B0I3QEwFQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jK88wmL1EZk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZNSgWc3lsM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSeCpFCS32M

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxK8VzylOrQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Dvwn4aXE8s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6e6HhnN0zc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86PKB0jXtzA
Scott B. (2011) The psychology behind riots and looting: the August 2011 English riots. Psychologymatters.asia




Comments

  1. UnknownMarch 25, 2018 at 12:47 PM

    Really interesting topic. I thought you provided a good timeline and background of the events that contributed to the LA riots. What kind of group processes do you think played the largest role in these riots? I think that the like-mindedness of racial groups and the companionship they felt for one another as they stood up against mistreatment of those in their group played significant roles. Another factor was probably the shared super ordinate goal of the groups. Considering the body of research that supports group processes, do you think that under the correct conditions, an event like the LA riots could be repeated?

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    Replies
    1. UnknownMarch 25, 2018 at 9:33 PM

      I tried getting across that it was the similarity and goals of the separate racial groups that brought them together. Really I could have done a better job on elaborating how I was connecting group process to various events in my mind. Honestly we are facing similar things. If you go to Detroit into a black neighborhood and go to a liquor store then the owner is usually Middle Eastern. Gangs inhabit Detroit, owners arm their stores and go as far as razor wire around the roof and every other security measure to keep people out at night. Across the world groups/cohorts are clashing based off gender, race, or religion. I do not think the government would allow it to get as far before sending in troops now in the U.S. Elsewhere in the world it is possible and happening. I just think we all need to realize we're one planet, we need to start acting like it instead of constantly fighting. Create enough group conflict or cohort conflict and eventually things will explode if the right negotiations do not take place.

      Delete
  2. UnknownMarch 27, 2018 at 3:06 PM

    The topic of protests and riots has been, and still is, a very prominent topic in the United States. Protesting has lead to some of the largest and most important changes to the country, and it is unfortunate that some of these protests have turned into riots. Do you think that there is any way to effectively prevent such useless violence and destruction for occurring during these protests? If so, is there a way to accomplish this task peacefully, or do you think that there is some form of force that is required to keep the peace?

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  3. Brady OpsahlMarch 27, 2018 at 6:19 PM

    As someone who never spent much time looking into the LA riots, this was a nice timeline of events. It's clear that there were many people outraged by the events leading up to the riot, but it's hard to imagine the thought processes of those who began the rioting, and lead such chaos in the streets. What sort of group processes do you believe led this many people into starting such a frenzy?

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