On August 11, 1965, tensions between residents and police in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles erupted into several days of unrest. The immediate spark was a traffic stop and arrest that escalated in front of a crowd. Long-standing grievances over discrimination, unemployment, and poor housing conditions fueled the violence. Over the following days, fires, looting, and clashes with police and National Guard units spread through the area. Dozens of people were killed and many more injured. The Watts Rebellion drew national attention to racial inequality in urban America and prompted studies and reform proposals.
