Los Angeles Residents To Mark 20th Anniversay Of LA Riots
LOS ANGELES (CBS) — Events will be held across Southern California Sunday to mark the 20th anniversary of the L.A. Riots. The four-day incident was largely driven by social unrest and triggered by the acquittal of four LAPD police officers after they were charged with beating a black man during a traffic stop.
Rev. Al Sharpton, a community organizer and political talk show host, will speak during the 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. services at First AME Church, located at 2270 S. Harvard Boulevard.
At noon, photographer Gary Leonard will host a reception at his gallery for an exhibition of photos and videos taken by him and his son David on April 29, 1992 -- the day the Los Angeles riots broke out. The month-long exhibition is titled "Parker Center." The studio is located at Take My Picture at 860 South Broadway.
At 1 p.m., a social justice organization based in South Los Angeles called Community Coalition will draw attention to vacant lots on Vermont and Manchester avenues. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is expected to attend the event called "South L.A. Rises: Community Fair and Rally" at 81st Street and Vermont Avenue.
The Anti-Defamation League will release a joint statement of unity, signed by a coalition of organizations taking a stand against hatred, including the ACLU, Police Commission, NAACP, Asian Pacific American Legal Center, CHIRLA and the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center. That event will be at 1:30 p.m. at the Robert F. Kennedy School, located at 701 South Catalina Street in Koreatown.
A group called Korean Churches for Community Development will hold a commemorative event with presenters including Van Jones, Edward James Olmos and other leaders at 3:30 p.m. at the Glory Church of Jesus Christ, located at 1801 South Grand Avenue.
At the epicenter of the riot -- Florence and Normandie avenues -- a group called the Coalition for Community Control Over Police will hold a speakout at 3 p.m. One hour later, a "Solidarity Press Conference" will be held there by the 77th Street Area Community Police Advisory Board, the 77th Street Area Clergy Council, Cease Fire, Detours Mentoring Group, Project Accountability, Unity 2 and Seeking Peaceful Solutions.
And, at 4 p.m. in Long Beach, where riots also raged, the Long Beach Immigrant Rights Coalition will present an interfaith service and message of hope during a service at First Congregational Church of Long Beach, located at 241 Cedar Avenue.
