9 The Los Angeles Riots
After the acquittal of the four police officers charged in the assault on Rodney King, Los Angeles broke out into a massive race riot for six days as thousands took to the streets in violent fashion. Right when news of the riot surfaced, countless TV cameras were there to catch as much of the mayhem as possible. Most notable was the beating of motorist Reginald Denny, which was caught by live TV cameras at the time. This moment became a symbol of the violence that had taken the city hostage.
Countless people around the country tuned in for six days (think about that) as one of America’s most prominent cities was thrown into virtual anarchy. In all, 53 people were killed and thousands more were injured. No matter how horrific the live coverage was, it barely scratched the surface of this uprising.
