This measure would commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Watts Revolt.

This measure would commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Watts Revolt.

This measure would commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Watts Revolt.

This measure would commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Watts Revolt.

This measure would commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Watts Revolt.

This measure would commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Watts Revolt.

WHEREAS, Economic equality is a critical component of community well-being and the maintenance of social peace; and

WHEREAS, In 1964, there were a total of 8 revolts across African American communities in various cities, including Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, and Jersey City, that occurred as a result of racial tension and economic deprivation; and

WHEREAS, August 2015, will mark the 50th Anniversary of the Watts Revolt (also known as the Watts Rebellion), which began on August 11, 1965, when Marquette Frye and his brother were stopped by police on a suspicion of drunk driving, which resulted in a hostile confrontation between the Frye family and police officers on the scene; and

WHEREAS, The Watts Revolt was a reaction to a long history of systemic racial and economic injustice, including frustration with the passage of Proposition 14 of 1964 in California, which sought to nullify the states fair housing law; and

WHEREAS, This historic event, which took place in the greater Watts neighborhoods of Los Angeles and the City of Compton, involved six days of protest resulting in 34 deaths, 1,032 injuries, and over $40 million worth of property damage; and

WHEREAS, Between 31,000 and 35,000 adults participated in the revolt over the course of six days. At that time, it was the most significant uprising in the history of the South Los Angeles region; and

WHEREAS, The Watts Revolt is an important part of Los Angeles history and it is critical that we mark the 50th anniversary of this event appropriately; and

WHEREAS, The McCone Commission, Chaired by John McCone, was established by Governor Edmund G. Brown to investigate the Watts Revolt and identify solutions to ensure that this incident never reoccurred; and

WHEREAS, The results of the investigation found that the Watts Revolt was a result of discrimination in employment, education, housing, healthcare, and law enforcement; and

WHEREAS, The aforementioned issues persist within these communities today; and

WHEREAS, When discussing the topic of social unrest in America, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, I would be the first to say that I am still committed to militant, powerful, massive, nonviolence as the most potent weapon... But it would be morally irresponsible of me to do that without, at the same time, condemning the contingent, intolerable conditions that exist in our society; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature commemorates the 50th Anniversary of the Watts Revolt, one of the largest uprisings in 20th century America; and be it further

Resolved, That the California Legislature urges the development of public and private solutions to statewide and local disparities on the basis of legal and institutional racism in areas, including, but not limited to, education, employment, housing, healthcare, and law enforcement; and be it further

Resolved, That the California Legislature pays tribute to the establishment of institutions that sought to remedy the key challenges in the South Los Angeles community, including the Watts Labor Community Action Committee, California State University, Dominguez Hills, Charles R. Drew Postgraduate Medical School (currently Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science), the Martin Luther King, Jr. General Hospital (currently the Martin Luther King, Jr. Outpatient Center and Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Hospital); and be it further

Resolved, That the California Legislature celebrates the organization of local, peaceful actions to redirect community energy in positive and constructive ways, including the development of the Watts Summer Festival, Watts Summer Games, and Watts Christmas Parade; and be it further

Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the City of Los Angeles and the City of Compton, which are encouraged to disseminate copies to local, community, and statewide organizations throughout California; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.

WHEREAS, Economic equality is a critical component of community well-being and the maintenance of social peace; and

WHEREAS, In 1964, there were a total of 8 revolts across African American communities in various cities, including Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, and Jersey City, that occurred as a result of racial tension and economic deprivation; and

WHEREAS, August 2015, will mark the 50th Anniversary of the Watts Revolt (also known as the Watts Rebellion), which began on August 11, 1965, when Marquette Frye and his brother were stopped by police on a suspicion of drunk driving, which resulted in a hostile confrontation between the Frye family and police officers on the scene; and

WHEREAS, The Watts Revolt was a reaction to a long history of systemic racial and economic injustice, including frustration with the passage of Proposition 14 of 1964 in California, which sought to nullify the states fair housing law; and

WHEREAS, This historic event, which took place in the greater Watts neighborhoods of Los Angeles and the City of Compton, involved six days of protest resulting in 34 deaths, 1,032 injuries, and over $40 million worth of property damage; and

WHEREAS, Between 31,000 and 35,000 adults participated in the revolt over the course of six days. At that time, it was the most significant uprising in the history of the South Los Angeles region; and

WHEREAS, The Watts Revolt is an important part of Los Angeles history and it is critical that we mark the 50th anniversary of this event appropriately; and

WHEREAS, The McCone Commission, Chaired by John McCone, was established by Governor Edmund G. Brown to investigate the Watts Revolt and identify solutions to ensure that this incident never reoccurred; and

WHEREAS, The results of the investigation found that the Watts Revolt was a result of discrimination in employment, education, housing, healthcare, and law enforcement; and

WHEREAS, The aforementioned issues persist within these communities today; and

WHEREAS, When discussing the topic of social unrest in America, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, I would be the first to say that I am still committed to militant, powerful, massive, nonviolence as the most potent weapon... But it would be morally irresponsible of me to do that without, at the same time, condemning the contingent, intolerable conditions that exist in our society; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature commemorates the 50th Anniversary of the Watts Revolt, one of the largest uprisings in 20th century America; and be it further

Resolved, That the California Legislature urges the development of public and private solutions to statewide and local disparities on the basis of legal and institutional racism in areas, including, but not limited to, education, employment, housing, healthcare, and law enforcement; and be it further

Resolved, That the California Legislature pays tribute to the establishment of institutions that sought to remedy the key challenges in the South Los Angeles community, including the Watts Labor Community Action Committee, California State University, Dominguez Hills, Charles R. Drew Postgraduate Medical School (currently Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science), the Martin Luther King, Jr. General Hospital (currently the Martin Luther King, Jr. Outpatient Center and Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Hospital); and be it further

Resolved, That the California Legislature celebrates the organization of local, peaceful actions to redirect community energy in positive and constructive ways, including the development of the Watts Summer Festival, Watts Summer Games, and Watts Christmas Parade; and be it further

Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the City of Los Angeles and the City of Compton, which are encouraged to disseminate copies to local, community, and statewide organizations throughout California; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.

WHEREAS, Economic equality is a critical component of community well-being and the maintenance of social peace; and

WHEREAS, In 1964, there were a total of 8 revolts across African American communities in various cities, including Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, and Jersey City, that occurred as a result of racial tension and economic deprivation; and

WHEREAS, August 2015, will mark the 50th Anniversary of the Watts Revolt (also known as the Watts Rebellion), which began on August 11, 1965, when Marquette Frye and his brother were stopped by police on a suspicion of drunk driving, which resulted in a hostile confrontation between the Frye family and police officers on the scene; and

WHEREAS, The Watts Revolt was a reaction to a long history of systemic racial and economic injustice, including frustration with the passage of Proposition 14 of 1964 in California, which sought to nullify the states fair housing law; and

WHEREAS, This historic event, which took place in the greater Watts neighborhoods of Los Angeles and the City of Compton, involved six days of protest resulting in 34 deaths, 1,032 injuries, and over $40 million worth of property damage; and

WHEREAS, Between 31,000 and 35,000 adults participated in the revolt over the course of six days. At that time, it was the most significant uprising in the history of the South Los Angeles region; and

WHEREAS, The Watts Revolt is an important part of Los Angeles history and it is critical that we mark the 50th anniversary of this event appropriately; and

WHEREAS, The McCone Commission, Chaired by John McCone, was established by Governor Edmund G. Brown to investigate the Watts Revolt and identify solutions to ensure that this incident never reoccurred; and

WHEREAS, The results of the investigation found that the Watts Revolt was a result of discrimination in employment, education, housing, healthcare, and law enforcement; and

WHEREAS, The aforementioned issues persist within these communities today; and

WHEREAS, When discussing the topic of social unrest in America, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, I would be the first to say that I am still committed to militant, powerful, massive, nonviolence as the most potent weapon... But it would be morally irresponsible of me to do that without, at the same time, condemning the contingent, intolerable conditions that exist in our society; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature commemorates the 50th Anniversary of the Watts Revolt, one of the largest uprisings in 20th century America; and be it further

Resolved, That the California Legislature urges the development of public and private solutions to statewide and local disparities on the basis of legal and institutional racism in areas, including, but not limited to, education, employment, housing, healthcare, and law enforcement; and be it further

Resolved, That the California Legislature pays tribute to the establishment of institutions that sought to remedy the key challenges in the South Los Angeles community, including the Watts Labor Community Action Committee, California State University, Dominguez Hills, Charles R. Drew Postgraduate Medical School (currently Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science), the Martin Luther King, Jr. General Hospital (currently the Martin Luther King, Jr. Outpatient Center and Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Hospital); and be it further

Resolved, That the California Legislature celebrates the organization of local, peaceful actions to redirect community energy in positive and constructive ways, including the development of the Watts Summer Festival, Watts Summer Games, and Watts Christmas Parade; and be it further

Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the City of Los Angeles and the City of Compton, which are encouraged to disseminate copies to local, community, and statewide organizations throughout California; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.

WHEREAS, Economic equality is a critical component of community well-being and the maintenance of social peace; and

WHEREAS, In 1964, there were a total of 8 revolts across African American communities, communities in various cities, including Chicago, New York City, New York, Philadelphia, and Jersey City, that came occurred as a result of racial tension and economic deprivation; and

WHEREAS, August 2015, will mark the 50th Anniversary of the Watts Revolt (also known as the Watts Rebellion), which began on August 11, 1965, when Marquette Frye and his brother were stopped by police under a drunk driving suspicion, on a suspicion of drunk driving, which resulted in a hostile confrontation between the Frye family and police officers on the scene; and

WHEREAS, The Watts Revolt was the culmination of historic and a reaction to a long history of systemic racial and economic injustice that included injustice, including frustration with the passage of Proposition 14 of 1964 in California, which sought to nullify the states fair housing law; and

WHEREAS, This historic event, which took place in the greater Watts neighborhoods of Los Angeles and the City of Compton, involved six days of protest resulting in 34 deaths, 1,032 injuries, and over $40 million worth of property damage; and

WHEREAS, Between 31,000 and 35,000 adults participated in the revolt over the course of six days. At that time, it was the most severe significant uprising in the history of the South Los Angeles region; and

WHEREAS, The Watts Revolt is an important part of Los Angeles history and it is critical that we mark the 50th anniversary of this event appropriately; and

WHEREAS, The McCone Commission, Chaired by John McCone, was established by Governor Edmund G. Brown to investigate the Watts Revolt and identify solutions to ensure that such an issue this incident never reoccurred; and

WHEREAS, The results of the investigation found that the Watts Revolt was a result of discrimination in employment, education, housing, healthcare, and law enforcement; and

WHEREAS, The aforementioned issues persist within these communities today; and

WHEREAS, When discussing the topic of social unrest in America, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, I would be the first to say that I am still committed to militant, powerful, massive, nonviolence as the most potent weapon... But it would be morally irresponsible of me to do that without, at the same time, condemning the contingent, intolerable conditions that exist in our society; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature commemorates the 50th Anniversary of the Watts Revolt, one of the largest uprisings in 20th century America; and be it further

Resolved, That the California Legislature urges the development of public and private solutions to statewide and local disparities on the basis of legal and institutional racism in areas, including, but not limited to, education, employment, housing, healthcare, and law enforcement; and be it further

Resolved, That the California Legislature pays tribute to the establishment of institutions that sought to remedy the key challenges in the South Los Angeles community, including the Watts Labor Community Action Committee, California State University, Dominguez Hills, Charles R. Drew Postgraduate Medical School (currently Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science), the Martin Luther King, Jr. General Hospital (the (currently the Martin Luther King, Jr. Outpatient Center and Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Hospital); and be it further

Resolved, That the California Legislature celebrates the organization of local, peaceful actions to redirect community energy in positive and constructive ways, including the development of the Watts Summer Festival, Watts Summer Games, and Watts Christmas Parade; and be it further

Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the City of Los Angeles and the City of Compton, which are encouraged to disseminate copies to local, community, and statewide organizations throughout California; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.

WHEREAS, Economic equality is a critical component of community well-being and the maintenance of social peace; and

WHEREAS, In 1964, there were a total of 8 revolts across African American communities, including Chicago, New York City, Philadelphia, and Jersey City, that came as a result of racial tension and economic deprivation; and

WHEREAS, August 2015, will mark the 50th Anniversary of the Watts Revolt (also known as the Watts Rebellion), which began on August 11, 1965, when Marquette Frye and his brother were stopped by police under a drunk driving suspicion, which resulted in a hostile confrontation between the Frye family and police officers on the scene; and

WHEREAS, The Watts Revolt was the culmination of historic and systemic racial and economic injustice that included frustration with the passage of Proposition 14 of 1964 in California, which sought to nullify the states fair housing law; and

WHEREAS, This historic event, which took place in the greater Watts neighborhoods of Los Angeles and the City of Compton, involved six days of protest resulting in 34 deaths, 1,032 injuries, and over $40 million worth of property damage; and

WHEREAS, Between 31,000 and 35,000 adults participated in the revolt over the course of six days. At that time, it was the most severe uprising in the history of the South Los Angeles region; and

WHEREAS, The Watts Revolt is an important part of Los Angeles history and it is critical that we mark the 50th anniversary of this event appropriately; and

WHEREAS, The McCone Commission, Chaired by John McCone, was established by Governor Edmund G. Brown to investigate the Watts Revolt and identify solutions to ensure that such an issue never reoccurred; and

WHEREAS, The results of the investigation found that the Watts Revolt was a result of discrimination in employment, education, housing, healthcare, and law enforcement; and

WHEREAS, The aforementioned issues persist within these communities today; now, therefore, be it, and

WHEREAS, When discussing the topic of social unrest in America, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, I would be the first to say that I am still committed to militant, powerful, massive, nonviolence as the most potent weapon... But it would be morally irresponsible of me to do that without, at the same time, condemning the contingent, intolerable conditions that exist in our society; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature commemorates the 50th Anniversary of the Watts Revolt, one of the largest uprisings in 20th century America; and be it further

Resolved, That the California Legislature urges the development of public and private solutions to statewide and local disparities on the basis of legal and institutional racism in areas, including, but not limited to, education, employment, housing, healthcare, and law enforcement; and be it further

Resolved, That the California Legislature pays tribute to the establishment of institutions that sought to remedy the key challenges in the South Los Angeles community, including California State University, Dominguez Hills, Charles R. Drew Postgraduate Medical School (currently Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science), the Martin Luther King, Jr. General Hospital (the Martin Luther King, Jr. Outpatient Center and Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Hospital); and be it further

Resolved, That the California Legislature celebrates the organization of local, peaceful actions to redirect community energy in positive and constructive ways, including the development of the Watts Summer Festival, Watts Summer Games, Watts Christmas Parade, and Watts Labor Community Action Committee; and be it further

Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the City of Los Angeles and the City of Compton, which are encouraged to disseminate copies to local, community, and statewide organizations throughout California; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.

WHEREAS, Economic equality is a critical component of community well-being and the maintenance of social peace; and

WHEREAS, In 1964, there were a total of 8 revolts across African American communities, including Chicago, New York City, Philadelphia, and Jersey City, that came as a result of racial tension and economic deprivation; and

WHEREAS, August 2015, will mark the 50th Anniversary of the Watts Revolt (also known as the Watts Rebellion), which began on August 11, 1965, when Marquette Frye and his brother were stopped by police under a drunk driving suspicion, which resulted in a hostile confrontation between the Frye family and police officers on the scene; and

WHEREAS, The Watts Revolt was the culmination of historic and systemic racial and economic injustice that included frustration with the passage of Proposition 14 of 1964 in California, which sought to nullify the states fair housing law; and

WHEREAS, This historic event, which took place in the greater Watts neighborhoods of Los Angeles and the City of Compton, involved six days of protest resulting in 34 deaths, 1,032 injuries, and over $40 million worth of property damage; and

WHEREAS, Between 31,000 and 35,000 adults participated in the revolt over the course of six days. At that time, it was the most severe uprising in the history of the South Los Angeles region; and

WHEREAS, The Watts Revolt is an important part of Los Angeles history and it is critical that we mark the 50th anniversary of this event appropriately; and

WHEREAS, The McCone Commission, Chaired by John McCone, was established by Governor Edmund G. Brown to investigate the Watts Revolt and identify solutions to ensure that such an issue never reoccurred; and

WHEREAS, The results of the investigation found that the Watts Revolt was a result of discrimination in employment, education, housing, and law enforcement; and

WHEREAS, The aforementioned issues persist within these communities today; now, therefore, be it,

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature commemorates the 50th Anniversary of the Watts Revolt, one of the largest uprisings in 20th century America; and be it further

Resolved, That the California Legislature urges the development of public and private solutions to statewide and local disparities on the basis of legal and institutional racism in areas, including, but not limited to, education, employment, housing, and law enforcement; and be it further

Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the City of Los Angeles and the City of Compton, which are encouraged to disseminate copies to local, community, and statewide organizations throughout California; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.

 THIRD READING 

Bill No: ACR 92

Author: Gipson (D), et al.

Amended: 8/20/15 in Assembly

Vote: 21

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 70-0, 7/13/15 - See last page for vote

SUBJECT: 50th Anniversary of the Watts Revolt

SOURCE: Author

DIGEST: This resolution commemorates the 50th Anniversary of the Watts Revolt.

ANALYSIS: This resolution makes the following legislative findings:

1. Economic inequality is a critical component of community well-being and the maintenance of social peace, and in 1964, there were a total of eight revolts across African American communities, including Chicago, New York City, Philadelphia, and Jersey City, that came as a result of racial tension and economic deprivation.

2. August 2015, will mark the 50th Anniversary of the Watts Revolt (also known as the “Watts Rebellion”), which began on August 11, 1965, when Marquette Frye and his brother were stopped by police on a suspicion of drunk driving, which resulted in a hostile confrontation between the Frye family and police officers on the scene.

3. The Watts Revolt was a reaction to a long history of systemic racial and economic injustice, including frustration with the passage of Proposition 14 of 1964 in California, which sought to nullify the state’s fair housing law. This historic event, which took place in the greater Watts neighborhoods of Los Angeles and the City of Compton, involved six days of protest resulting in 34 deaths, 1,032 injuries, and over $40 million worth of property damage.

4. Between 31,000 and 35,000 adults participated in the revolt over the course of six days. At that time, it was the most significant uprising in the history of the South Los Angeles region.

5. The McCone Commission, Chaired by John McCone, was established by Governor Edmund G. Brown to investigate the Watts Revolt and identify solutions to ensure that this incident never reoccurred. The results of the investigation found that the Watts Revolt was a result of discrimination in employment, education, housing, healthcare, and law enforcement. The aforementioned issues persist within these communities today.

6. When discussing the topic of social unrest in America, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “I would be the first to say that I am still committed to militant, powerful, massive, nonviolence as the most potent weapon... But it would be morally irresponsible of me to do that without, at the same time, condemning the contingent, intolerable conditions that exist in our society.”

This resolution:

1. Commemorates the 50th Anniversary of the Watts Revolt, one of the largest uprisings in 20th century America.

2. Urges the development of public and private solutions to statewide and local disparities on the basis of legal and institutional racism in areas, including, but not limited to, education, employment, housing, healthcare, and law enforcement.

3. Pays tribute to the establishment of institutions that sought to remedy the key challenges in the South Los Angeles community, including the Watts Labor Community Action Committee, California State University, Dominguez Hills, Charles R. Drew Postgraduate Medical School (currently Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science), the Martin Luther King, Jr. General Hospital (currently the Martin Luther King, Jr. Outpatient Center and Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Hospital).

4. Celebrates the organization of local, peaceful actions to redirect community energy in positive and constructive ways, including the development of the Watts Summer Festival, Watts Summer Games, and Watts Christmas Parade.

Comments

According to the author, “ACR 92 commemorates the 50th Anniversary of the Watts Revolts and resolves to promote local and statewide solutions to disparities in housing, education, employment, healthcare and law enforcement. This resolution also resolves to celebrate historic efforts that sought to improve the condition of the community.”

FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: No Local: No

SUPPORT: (Verified 8/26/15)

Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science

Mayor Eric Garcetti, City of Los Angeles

NAACP

Watts Labor Community Action Committee

OPPOSITION: (Verified 8/26/15)

None received

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 70-0, 7/13/15

AYES: Achadjian, Alejo, Travis Allen, Baker, Bigelow, Bloom, Bonilla, Bonta, Brown, Burke, Calderon, Campos, Chang, Chau, Chávez, Chiu, Chu, Cooley, Dababneh, Daly, Dodd, Eggman, Frazier, Gallagher, Cristina Garcia, Eduardo Garcia, Gatto, Gipson, Gomez, Gonzalez, Gordon, Gray, Grove, Hadley, Roger Hernández, Holden, Irwin, Jones, Jones-Sawyer, Lackey, Levine, Linder, Lopez, Low, Maienschein, McCarty, Medina, Mullin, Nazarian, Obernolte, O'Donnell, Olsen, Perea, Quirk, Rendon, Ridley-Thomas, Rodriguez, Salas, Santiago, Steinorth, Mark Stone, Thurmond, Ting, Wagner, Waldron, Weber, Wilk, Williams, Wood, Atkins

NO VOTE RECORDED: Brough, Cooper, Dahle, Beth Gaines, Harper, Kim, Mathis, Mayes, Melendez, Patterson

Prepared by: Jonas Austin / SFA / (916) 651-1520

8/26/15 16:41:13

**** END ****

ASSEMBLY THIRD READING

ATR Bill Id:ACR 92

Author:(Gipson)

As Amended Ver:July 13, 2015

Majority vote

SUMMARY: Commemorates the 50th Anniversary of the Watts Revolt. Specifically, this resolution:

1. Declares that:

   1. Economic inequality is a critical component of community well-being and the maintenance of social peace.

   2. In 1964, there were a total of eight revolts across African American communities, including Chicago, New York City, Philadelphia, and Jersey City, that came as a result of racial tension and economic deprivation.

   3. August 2015 will mark the 50th anniversary of the Watts Revolt, which began on August 11, 1965, when Marquette Frye and his brother were stopped by police on a suspicion of drunk driving, which resulted in a hostile confrontation between the Frye family and police officers on the scene.

   4. The Watts Revolt was a reaction to a long history of systemic circumstances of racial and economic injustice that included frustration with the passage of Proposition 14 of 1964 in California, which sought to nullify the state's fair housing law.

   5. The historic event, which took place in the greater Watts neighborhoods of Los Angeles and the City of Compton, involved six days of protest resulting in 34 deaths, 1,032 injuries, and over $40 million worth of property damage.

   6. Between 31,000 and 35,000 adults participated in the revolt over the course of six days.

   7. The Watts Revolt is an important part of Los Angeles history and it is critical that we mark the 50th anniversary of this event appropriately.

   8. The McCone Commission was established to investigate the Watts Revolt and identify solutions to ensure that such an event never reoccurred.

   9. The results of the investigation found that the Watts Revolt was a consequence of discrimination in employment, education, housing, healthcare, and law enforcement.

   10. The aforementioned issues persist within the communities today.

   11. When discussing the topic of social unrest in America, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "I would be the first to say that I am still committed to militant, powerful, massive, nonviolence as the most potent weapon... But it would be morally irresponsible for me to do that without, at the same time, condemning the contingent, intolerable conditions that exist in our society."

2. Resolves that the California Legislature should do the following:

   1. Commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Watts Revolt, one of the largest uprisings in 20th century America.

   2. Urge the development of public and private solutions to statewide and local disparities on the basis of legal and institutional racism in areas including but not limited to education, employment, housing, healthcare, and law enforcement.

   3. Pay tribute to the establishments of institutions that sought to remedy the key challenges in the South Los Angeles Community, including California State University, Dominguez Hills, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, and Martin Luther King General Hospital and Outpatient Center.

   4. Celebrate the organization of local peaceful actions to redirect community energy in positive and constructive ways, including the development of the Watts Summer Festival, Watts Summer Games, Watts Christmas parade, and Watts Labor Community Action Committee.

   5. Transmit copies of the resolution to the Cities of Los Angeles and Compton and encourage them to disseminate copies to local, community, and statewide organizations throughout California.

FISCAL EFFECT: None

COMMENTS: This resolution commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Watts Revolt that occurred in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles in August 1965. Like so many subsequent episodes of racial and social unrest, that event was sparked by an encounter between police and an African American man in a community located within a setting of racial and economic injustice. The Watts Revolt was neither the first nor the last "race riot" in American history, but coming only five days after the signing the historic 1965 Voting Rights Act, the event drew national attention to persistent but often overlooked issues of racial injustice outside of the southern United States. In the summers of 1966 and 1967, similar unrest occurred in cities throughout the nation. The 1965 McCone Commission investigation and report – like the national 1967 Kerner Commission report on the later riots – concluded that the unrest was due to a potent combination of poor police-community relations, poverty and unemployment, deteriorating urban infrastructure, under-funded schools, and a general sense of hopelessness among the African American community. This resolution not only remembers the event itself, but perhaps more importantly, calls upon the Legislature to urge public and private solutions to the conditions that gave rise to the Watts Revolt and continue to persist and negatively impact communities of color in California and the United States, as well as to celebrate peaceful efforts to redirect community energy into more constructive channels. There is no opposition.

Analysis Prepared by: Thomas Clark / JUD. / (916) 319-2334 FN: 0001209

ASSEMBLY THIRD READING

ATR Bill Id:ACR 92

Author:(Gipson)

As Amended Ver:July 2, 2015

Majority vote

SUMMARY: Commemorates the 50th Anniversary of the Watts Revolt. Specifically, this resolution:

1. Declares that:

   1. Economic inequality is a critical component of community well-being and the maintenance of social peace.

   2. In 1964, there were a total of eight revolts across African American communities, including Chicago, New York City, Philadelphia, and Jersey City, that came as a result of racial tension and economic deprivation.

   3. August 2015 will mark the 50th anniversary of the Watts Revolt, which began on August 11, 1965, when Marquette Frye and his brother were stopped by police under a drunk driving suspicion, which resulted in a hostile confrontation between the Frye family and police officers on the scene.

   4. The Watts Revolt was the culmination of historic and systemic circumstances of racial and economic injustice that include frustration with the passage of Proposition 14 of 1964 in California, which sought to nullify the state's fair housing law.

   5. The historic event, which took place in the greater Watts neighborhoods of Los Angeles and the City of Compton, involved six days of protest resulting in 34 deaths, 1,032 injuries, and over $40 million worth of property damage.

   6. Between 31,000 and 35,000 adults participated in the revolt over the course of six days.

   7. The Watts Revolt is an important part of Los Angeles history and it is critical that we mark the 50th anniversary of this event appropriately.

   8. The McCone Commission was established to investigate the Watts Revolt and identify solutions to ensure that such an event never reoccurred.

   9. The results of the investigation found that the Watts Revolt was a consequence of discrimination in employment, education, housing, healthcare, and law enforcement.

   10. The aforementioned issues persist within the communities today.

   11. When discussing the topic of social unrest in America, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "I would be the first to say that I am still committed to militant, powerful, massive, nonviolence as the most potent weapon... But it would be morally irresponsible for me to do that without, at the same time, condemning the contingent, intolerable conditions that exist in our society."

2. Resolves that the California Legislature should do the following:

   1. Commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Watts Revolt, one of the largest uprisings in 20th century America.

   2. Urge the development of public and private solutions to statewide and local disparities on the basis of legal and institutional racism in areas including but not limited to education, employment, housing, healthcare, and law enforcement.

   3. Pay tribute to the establishments of institutions that sought to remedy the key challenges in the South Los Angeles Community, including California State University, Dominguez Hills, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, and Martin Luther King General Hospital and Outpatient Center.

   4. Celebrate the organization of local peaceful actions to redirect community energy in positive and constructive ways, including the development of the Watts Summer Festival, Watts Summer Games, Watts Christmas parade, and Watts Labor Community Action Committee.

   5. Transmit copies of the resolution to the Cities of Los Angeles and Compton and encourage them to disseminate copies to local, community, and statewide organizations throughout California.

FISCAL EFFECT: None

COMMENTS: This resolution commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Watts Revolt that occurred in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles in August 1965. Like so many subsequent episodes of racial and social unrest, that event was sparked by an encounter between police and an African American man in a community located within a setting of racial and economic injustice. The Watts Revolt was neither the first nor the last "race riot" in American history, but coming only five days after the signing the historic 1965 Voting Rights Act, the event drew national attention to persistent but often overlooked issues of racial injustice outside of the southern United States. In the summers of 1966 and 1967, similar unrest occurred in cities throughout the nation. The 1965 McCone Commission investigation and report – like the national 1967 Kerner Commission report on the later riots – concluded that the unrest was due to a potent combination of poor police-community relations, poverty and unemployment, deteriorating urban infrastructure, under-funded schools, and a general sense of hopelessness among the African American community. This resolution not only remembers the event itself, but perhaps more importantly, calls upon the Legislature to urge public and private solutions to the conditions that gave rise to the Watts Revolt and continue to persist and negatively impact communities of color in California and the United States, as well as to celebrate peaceful efforts to redirect community energy into more constructive channels. There is no opposition.

Analysis Prepared by: Thomas Clark / JUD. / (916) 319-2334 FN: 0001144

Date of Hearing: July 7, 2015

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY

Mark Stone, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:ACR 92 (

Author:Gipson) – As Amended Ver:July 2, 2015

SUBJECT: 50th Anniversary of the Watts Revolt

KEY ISSUE: Should the California Legislature Commemorate the 50^th anniversary of the 1965 Watts Revolt, an event of profound historical significance for california and the nation?

SYNOPSIS

This resolution commemorates the 50^th anniversary of the Watts Revolt that occurred in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles in August, 1965. Like so many subsequent episodes of racial and social unrest, that event was sparked by an encounter between police and an African American man in a community located within a setting of racial and economic injustice. The Watts Revolt was neither the first nor the last "race riot" in American history, but coming only five days after the signing the historic 1965 Voting Rights Act, the event drew national attention to persistent but often overlooked issues of racial injustice outside of the southern United States. In the summers of 1966 and 1967, similar unrest occurred in cities throughout the nation. The 1965 McCone Commission investigation and report – like the national 1967 Kerner Commission report on the later riots – concluded that the unrest was due to a potent combination of poor police-community relations, poverty and unemployment, deteriorating urban infrastructure, under-funded schools, and a general sense of hopelessness among the African American community. This resolution not only remembers the event itself, but perhaps more importantly, calls upon the Legislature to urge public and private solutions to the conditions that gave rise to the Watts Revolt and continue to persist and negatively impact communities of color in California and the United States, as well as to celebrate peaceful efforts to redirect community energy into more constructive channels. There is no opposition to this timely resolution.

SUMMARY: Commemorates the 50^th Anniversary of the Watts Revolt. Specifically, this measure:

1. Declares that Whereas:

   1. Economic inequality is a critical component of community well-being and the maintenance of social peace.

   2. In 1964, there were a total of eight revolts across African American communities, including Chicago, New York City, Philadelphia, and Jersey City, that came as a result of racial tension and economic deprivation.

   3. August 2015 will mark the 50^th anniversary of the Watts Revolt, which began on August 11, 1965, when Marquette Frye and his brother were stopped by police under a drunk driving suspicion, which resulted in a hostile confrontation between the Frye family and police officers on the scene.

   4. The Watts Revolt was the culmination of historic and systemic circumstances of racial and economic injustice that include frustration with the passage of Proposition 14 of 1964 in California, which sought to nullify the state's fair housing law.

   5. The historic event, which took place in the greater Watts neighborhoods of Los Angeles and the City of Compton, involved six days of protest resulting in 34 deaths, 1,032 injuries, and over $40 million worth of property damage.

   6. Between 31,000 and 35,000 adults participated in the revolt over the course of six days.

   7. The Watts Revolt is an important part of Los Angeles history and it is critical that we mark the 50^th anniversary of this event appropriately.

   8. The McCone Commission was established to investigate the Watts Revolt and identify solutions to ensure that such an event never reoccurred.

   9. The results of the investigation found that the Watts Revolt was a consequence of discrimination in employment, education, housing, healthcare, and law enforcement.

   10. The aforementioned issues persist within the communities today.

   11. When discussing the topic of social unrest in America, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "I would be the first to say that I am still committed to militant, powerful, massive, nonviolence as the most potent weapon . . . But it would be morally irresponsible for me to do that without, at the same time, condemning the contingent, intolerable conditions that exist in our society."

2. Resolves that the California Legislature should do the following:

   1. Commemorate the 50^th anniversary of the Watts Revolt, one of the largest uprisings in 20^th century America.

   2. Urge the development of public and private solutions to statewide and local disparities on the basis of legal and institutional racism in areas including but not limited to education, employment, housing, healthcare, and law enforcement.

   3. Pay tribute to the establishments of institutions that sought to remedy the key challenges in the South Los Angeles Community, including California State University, Dominguez Hills, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, and Martin Luther King General Hospital and Outpatient Center.

   4. Celebrate the organization of local peaceful actions to redirect community energy in positive and constructive ways, including the development of the Watts Summer Festival, Watts Summer Games, Watts Christmas parade, and Watts Labor Community Action Committee.

   5. Transmit copies of the resolution to the cities of Los Angeles and Compton and encourage them to disseminate copies to local, community, and statewide organizations throughout California.

FISCAL EFFECT: As currently in print this measure is keyed non-fiscal.

COMMENTS: In many ways, the 1965 Watts Revolt – also known as the "Watts Rebellion" or "Watts Riot" – can be traced to the migration of hundreds of thousands of African Americans to California, during and after World War II, from the Jim Crow South who hoped to escape poverty, segregation, and political disenfranchisement. Many did indeed find greater opportunities. But wartime jobs vanished, "white flight" initiated a spiral of lost revenue, and urban services declined to a point where many African Americans found that the de jure segregation that they had experienced in the South had simply given way to de facto desegregation and discrimination in jobs and housing in the West. But African Americans in California could at least vote and, ironically, partly because of residential segregation, could elect African American legislators like William Byron Rumford, whose legislative achievements included the 1959 Fair Employment Practices Act and the1963 Rumford Fair Housing Act that prohibited racial discrimination in employment and housing, respectively. In 1964, however, California voters adopted an initiative that effectively overturned the Rumford Fair Housing Act. Proposition 14 – sponsored by the California Real Estate Association and supported by the John Birch Society and the California Republican Assembly – declared that "neither the State nor any subdivision or agency thereof shall deny, limit or abridge, directly or indirectly, the right of any person, who is willing or desires to sell, lease or rent any part or all of his real property, to decline to sell, lease or rent such property to such person or persons as he, in his absolute discretion, chooses." In short, sellers and landlords could discriminate against anyone for any reason. [Official Ballot Summary, Proposition 14 (1964), at http://repository.uchastings.edu/ca_ballot_props/672; See also Rice, et.al. Elusive Eden: A New History of California 531-534 (3d Ed. 2002).]

The California Supreme Court eventually struck down Proposition 14 as unconstitutional in 1966, and the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed this decision in 1967. (Prenderergast v. Snyder (1966) 64 Cal. 2d 877; Reitman v. Mulkey (1967) 387 U.S. 369.) However, Proposition 14 was still in effect at the time of the Watts Revolt. The commission that investigated the causes of the Watts Revolt concluded that one of the immediate causes of the Watts unrest was "that [African Americans] had been affronted by the passage of Proposition 14 - an initiative measure passed by two-thirds of the voters in November 1964 which repealed the Rumford Fair Housing Act." [Governor's Commission on the Los Angeles Riots, Violence in the City – An End or a Beginning (Sacramento: 1965); hereafter McCone Commission Report.]

Like many so-called "race riots" before and since, the Watts Revolt started with a confrontation between white police officers and black residents in a highly segregated and economically disadvantaged community. On August 11, 1965, a white police officer stopped a black motorist, Marquette Frye. A crowd gathered and watched an escalating confrontation between police officers and members of Frye's family, including Frye's mother. All members of the Frye family were arrested. Rumors circulated – possibly untrue – that police officers had also assaulted a pregnant African American woman. Over the next six days, the conflict escalated into an all-too familiar pattern of violent clashes between citizens and police, culminating in nighttime arson and looting. The unrest finally abated on August 16 with the arrival of the National Guard. By the time the unrest ended, there had been 34 deaths, over one thousand injuries, and over four thousand arrests. Property damage amounted to about $40 million. (Rice, et.al. The Elusive Eden 511-524.)

Many, at the time, and since, have noted the irony that the Watts Riot came only five days after the signing ceremony for the 1965 Voting Rights Act. Coming one year after the 1964 Civil Rights Act, the Voting Rights Act seemed to represent a culminating victory for the Civil Rights Movement. According to many historians, however, while those legislative achievements may have addressed the problems of de jure segregation and formal political disenfranchisement in the South, they did little to help urban blacks in the North and West who faced a more complex set of social and economic problems. If anything, for blacks outside of the South, the legislative achievements may have even contributed to the urban unrest by raising expectations without producing any concrete results. (See e.g. Harvard Sitkoff, The Struggle for Black Equality 184-193 (1993).) African Americans in California did not face state-mandated de jure segregation, but rather a de facto segregation that resulted from limited economic options and private real estate practices.

Unlike the situation in the South, blacks in California were generally free to register and vote and by the mid-1960s had elected many African American officials, including Assembly Members W. Byron Rumford, F. Douglas Ferrell, Mervyn Dymally, and Willie Brown. In 1966, the year after the Watts Revolt, Yvonne Brathwaite Burke – a staff attorney for the McCone Commission (and mother of current Assembly Member Autumn Burke) – became the first African-American female to serve in the California State Assembly. Proposition 14 suggested to black Californians, however, that even when they could elect members to the state legislature and win favorable legislation, those victories could be negated by the majority through the initiative process. (Rice, et.al. The Elusive Eden, supra at 511, 531-538.)

"Two Societies -- Separate and Unequal:" McCone and Kerner Commissions. In the wake of the Watts Revolt, then-Governor Edmund G. "Pat" Brown appointed the "Governor's Commission on the Los Angeles Riots," more commonly known as the McCone Commission. The Governor asked the Commission to do three things: first, "prepare an accurate chronology and description of the riots;" second, "probe deeply the immediate and underlying causes of the riots;" and third, "develop recommendations for action designed to prevent a recurrence of these tragic disorders." The final report – entitled Violence in a City – an End or a Beginning – identified both long-term and short-term causes of the unrest, including the impact of Proposition 14 to negate the Rumford Act. The deeper and longer-term causes, however, included poor police-community relations, unemployment, inadequate schools, poor health and insufficient medical facilities, and deteriorating urban infrastructure.

These problems were not unique to Los Angeles. In the summers of 1966 and 1967, dozens of cities across the nation experienced similar uprisings. Just as Watts generated the McCone Commission, the nation-wide riots of 1966 and 1967 produced the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders (Kerner Commission) which found that riots had been sparked by similar events (usually charges of police harassment or brutality), took similar courses, and had similar underlying causes. The Kerner Commission report listed the causes by "levels of intensity," and in the following order: police practices; unemployment and underemployment; inadequate housing; inadequate education; poor recreation facilities and programs; ineffectiveness of the political structures and grievance procedures; disrespectful white attitudes; discriminatory administration of justice; inadequacy of federal programs; inadequacy of municipal services; discriminatory consumer and credit practices; and inadequate welfare programs. As the Kerner Commission's executive summary concisely put it: "Our nation is moving toward two societies, one black, one white – separate and unequal." (Summary of Report: Introduction, National Advisory Committee on Civil Disorders, 1967.)

The More Things Change. The Kerner Commission concluded its summary with the words of one of its first witnesses, Dr. Kenneth Clark. Dr. Clark was an African American psychologist whose work on the psychological impact of segregation on children was cited in Brown v. Board of Education. Having turned his attention to the history of race riots in American history, he offered the Kerner Commission this observation:

I read that report. . . of the 1919 riot in Chicago, and it is as if I were reading the report of the investigating committee on the Harlem riot of '35, the report of the investigating committee on the Harlem riot of '43, the report of the McCone Commission on the Watts riot. . . . I must again in candor say to you members of this Commission – it is a kind of Alice in Wonderland – with the same moving picture re-shown over and over again, the same analysis, the same recommendations, and the same inaction.

In light of recent events, Clark's testimony is arresting. Testifying in 1967, he saw "the same moving picture re-shown over and over again." Looking backward, he saw the riots in Chicago in 1919, Harlem in 1935, Harlem again in 1943, and Watts in 1965. If Dr. Clark could have looked forward he would have seen Los Angeles in 1992 and, more recently, Ferguson and Baltimore. Perhaps, therefore, it is a good time to commemorate the 50^th anniversary of the Watts Revolt, as this resolution does, and hope that we can finally get past "the same analysis, the same recommendations, and the same inaction."

REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:

Support

Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti

NAACP, California State Conference

Watts Labor Community Action Committee

Opposition

None on file

Analysis Prepared by: Thomas Clark / JUD. / (916) 319-2334