On May 25, 2020, an African-American man by the name of George Floyd was murdered in Minneapolis by a police officer. In the subsequent days, protests in response to the murder of George Floyd took place in Minneapolis and all over the United States. Starting on Friday night and throughout the weekend, Los Angeles saw its fair share of these. These are not the first Los Angeles protests in city history and they probably won’t be the last.
Los Angeles Protests
The city of Los Angeles has a long history of civil unrest. The Watts riots in 1965 broke out after an argument between the police and a detained motorist resulted in the police hurting a pregnant woman. In 1968, there was the Chicano Moratorium, which saw 30,000 mostly Mexican-American demonstrators gather in East Los Angeles to protest the Vietnam War. Most famously, perhaps, you have the 1992 Los Angeles riots. Following the excessive force in the arrest and beating of Rodney King, a six-day riot ensued. Just like in Minneapolis a few days ago, the National Guard and the military intervened.
Now, once again, Los Angeles saw protests in solidarity with George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis. These took place all over the city, including Downtown Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, and West Hollywood. Subsequently, law enforcement was quick to respond. In response to the manifestations, tear gas was used, a curfew implemented, and arrests were made. In addition to this, they reported the presence of immigration control.
What to Do
The circumstances might be unnerving and even scary for a lot of people. That’s understandable. On top of everything going on right now, civil unrest is an added stressor to the situation. However, if the aforementioned Los Angeles protests have shown us anything, it’s that change happens when people speak out. At times like these, it’s important to listen to those who are asking to be heard. These protests are not ungrounded. Hence, if you wish to stand in solidarity with the cause at hand, you can donate to the Black Lives Matter LA movement or to The Bail Project, which combats mass incarceration. Ultimately, remember to listen, educate yourself, and help when you can.
