Gallery: The 20th Anniversary of the L.A. Riots

Time flies.

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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"To get some respect, we had to tear this mothafucka up" - Ice Cube, "We Had To Tear This Mothafucka Up," 1992

On April 29, 1992, all four LAPD officers involved in the videotaped beating of Rodney King were acquitted. Outraged, the public responded with six days of violent anarchy. There was widespread looting, most of which took place in South Central, where assault, arson, and robbery reached unbelievable levels. When the smoke cleared, $1 billion worth of damage had been done.

While King's beating and the subsequent acquittals were triggers for the unrest, they certainly were not the sole factors. Rampant inner-city inequalities like poverty, segregation, lack of educational and employment opportunities, and police abuse all contributed. As Cube explained on his post-riot LP The Predator, things had been ugly in the City of Angels for a while, but the Rodney King trial was the point of no return.

Today marks the 20th anniversary of the Los Angeles riots. Revisit one of recent history's most unforgettable moments with these stunning images. 

Written by Julian Kimble (@JRK316).

Florence and Normandie Avenues

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La Brea Avenue and Pico Boulevard

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Parker Center, 150 North Los Angeles Street

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Western Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard

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Main Street, Near City Hall

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Vermont Avenue and 3rd Street

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Vermont and Vernon Avenues

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Western Avenue and Maplewood Avenue

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Western Avenue and Wilshire Boulevard

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Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard

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Koreatown, Western Avenue and 5th Street

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Central Avenue and 46th Street

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Western Plaza Shopping Center

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Venice Boulevard and Western Avenue

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Washington Boulevard and Western Avenue

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Vermont and Manchester Avenues

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Crenshaw Boulevard at Coliseum Place

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Pico Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue

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50th Place and Vermont Avenue

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Vermont Avenue and 27th Street

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