The Watts Riots began on Aug. 11, 1965 and ended on Aug. 16, 1965 — and that day Gov. Edmund G. “Pat” Brown declared the riots were over. Here is a sampling of moments about the Watts Riots, or what years later would be called the Watts Revolt/Uprising by some.
— Watts was once part of a Mexican land grant, Rancho La Tajauta. The rancho was later subdivided into farms and homes. Watts was incorporated as a city in 1907 but in 1926 Watts residents voted to be annexed to the City of Los Angeles.
— At 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 11, 1965, Marquette Frye, a 21-year-old Black man, was pulled over on suspicion of driving under the influence by California Highway Patrol motorcycle officer Lee W. Minikus near the corner of Avalon Boulevard and 116th Street in L.A. The intersection was near the com