April, 2012 marks the 20th anniversary of the Los Angeles civil unrest that led to over 50 deaths and hundreds of millions of dollars in damage. On April 29, 1992, widespread riots erupted across the city after a jury acquitted four Los Angeles Police Department officers (3 white and 1 Hispanic) accused in a videotaped beating of black motorist Rodney King.

A highly intoxicated King led officers on a high-speed chase on March 3, 1991 that ended with King beaten, kicked and Tasered. It was all caught on video by an eyewitness and ignited outrage across the country and the world. In 1993, King's lawsuit against the City of Los Angeles, in the wake of the beating, was settled for $3.8 million.

While many areas of the city suffered damage, the Koreatown area was hit particularly hard as looters burned shops and cleaned out Korean-owned businesses.



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