Watts Riots - 1965

[gabriel]

I was doing some research on this and was intrigued to find out how it all started as well as the patrol's involvement in the incident. I did a quick search on here and was surprised to see there hasn't been much talk about the subject.

Anyway, I found some interesting links, the first of which is an L.A. Times article which contains a first-hand account from Officer Lee Minikus. Hopefully other officers can chime in and provide some more info on this subject and that the links below are found to be useful to others.

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/la-me-watts11aug11,0,1955949.story

http://harrymarnell.net/1965.htm

[LadyVol@330]

Both links very interesting. Thanks! My brother-in-law was in the National Guard during Watts and was sent from Santa Clara Co. and was there a couple of days, if I remember right. I recall how frightened all of us were to have him down there, and he had plenty of stories to tell when he got back home. He probably read the article, as he now lives in San Bernardino Co.

[E433035]

Some photos from that event:

http://images38.fotki.com/v1212/photos/4/438439/6434751/chpwatts6-vi.jpg

http://images39.fotki.com/v1227/photos/4/438439/6434751/chpwatts1-vi.jpg

[LadyVol@330]

Those were the days when the good guys wore hats! :biggrin:

[PapaBear]

I was on the PD when the riots broke out. I delivered a load of shotguns to the command post and was suprised to find two bullet holes in the left rear door upon my return to the station. Take fire and not be able to return was a bummer. Every agency in Southern California from Ventura to San Diego was on call for those riots.

On the second night, I stopped a car load of SLA residents for doing 100 enroute to Santa Ana. When I approached the driver, he quickly stated "I am getting out of Watt's, those B@#$@%s are shootin' and burnin' up there!"

I gave him a warning and let him go. I have never seen a family so scared in my career; and, I mean genuinely scared!