April 1992

An all-white Simi Valley jury acquitted LAPD officers Powell, Wind, Briseno, and Koon on all charges related to the Rodney King beating, despite videotape evidence. The jury of 10 whites, one Latino, and one Asian deliberated six days. The acquittals triggered immediate unrest across Los Angeles within hours of the verdict.

Hours after the Simi Valley acquittals, the Los Angeles Uprising began at Florence and Normandie. Over six days (April 29–May 4), 63 people were killed, over 2,000 injured, 12,000 arrested, and approximately $1 billion in property damaged. South Central Los Angeles was the epicenter; Koreatown suffered disproportionate destruction amid National Guard deployment delays.

The acquittal of four LAPD officers who beat Rodney King triggered six days of uprising that killed 63 people and caused $1 billion in damage, exposing the depth of racial injustice in policing.

Despite California Governor Pete Wilson ordering National Guard mobilization on April 29, 1992, logistical failures meant troops did not deploy effectively for nearly three days, leaving South Los Angeles unprotected. Guard units lacked ammunition and equipment. The delay was later cited as a factor contributing to the death toll and property destruction of the uprising.

The acquittal of officers who beat Rodney King ignites days of unrest in Los Angeles.