A Look Back at the Watts Riots
![](https://s.abcnews.com/images/US/ap_watts_riots_13_kb_150811_16x13_1600.jpg?w=1600)
![](https://s.abcnews.com/images/US/ap_watts_riots_16_kb_150811_13x10_1600.jpg?w=1600)
![](https://s.abcnews.com/images/US/cb_watts_riots_5_kb_150811_23x15_1600.jpg?w=1600)
![](https://s.abcnews.com/images/US/ap_watts_riots_14_kb_150811_4x3_1600.jpg?w=1600)
![](https://s.abcnews.com/images/US/ap_watts_riots_15_kb_150811_11x15_1600.jpg?w=1600)
![](https://s.abcnews.com/images/US/ap_watts_riots_1_kb_150811_1x1_1600.jpg?w=1600)
![](https://s.abcnews.com/images/US/cb_watts_riots_4_kb_150811_10x7_1600.jpg?w=1600)
![](https://s.abcnews.com/images/US/ap_watts_riots_2_kb_150811_25x16_1600.jpg?w=1600)
![](https://s.abcnews.com/images/US/gty_watts_riots_9_kb_150811_19x14_1600.jpg?w=1600)
![](https://s.abcnews.com/images/US/cb_watts_riots_3_kb_150811_3x2_1600.jpg?w=1600)
![](https://s.abcnews.com/images/US/gty_watts_riots_10_kb_150811_19x14_1600.jpg?w=1600)
![](https://s.abcnews.com/images/US/gty_watts_riots_8_kb_150811_11x8_1600.jpg?w=1600)
![](https://s.abcnews.com/images/US/ap_watts_riots_12_kb_150811_23x15_1600.jpg?w=1600)
![](https://s.abcnews.com/images/US/gty_watts_riots_6_kb_150811_3x2_1600.jpg?w=1600)
![](https://s.abcnews.com/images/US/gty_watts_riots_7_kb_150811_18x13_1600.jpg?w=1600)
![](https://s.abcnews.com/images/US/ap_watts_riots_11_kb_150811_14x11_1600.jpg?w=1600)
1 of 16
In this Aug. 12, 1965 file photo, demonstrators push against a police car after rioting erupted in the Watts district of Los Angeles. It began with a routine traffic stop 50 years ago this month, blossomed into a protest with the help of a rumor and escalated into the deadliest and most destructive riot Los Angeles had seen. The Watts riot broke out Aug. 11, 1965 and raged for most of a week. When the smoke cleared, 34 people were dead, more than a 1,000 were injured and some 600 buildings were damaged.