Bill Text: CA ACR92 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: 50th Anniversary of the Watts Revolt.

Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Democrat 52-3)

Status: (Passed) 2015-09-21 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Res. Chapter 188, Statutes of 2015. [ACR92 Detail]

Download: California-2015-ACR92-Introduced.html

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BILL NUMBER: ACR 92	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Gipson
   (Coauthors: Assembly Members Burke, Holden, Jones-Sawyer, McCarty,
Ridley-Thomas, Thurmond, and Weber)
   (Coauthors: Senators Hall and Mitchell)

                        JUNE 25, 2015

   Relative to the 50th Anniversary of the Watts Revolt.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   ACR 92, as introduced, Gipson. 50th Anniversary of the Watts
Revolt.
   This measure would commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Watts
Revolt.
   Fiscal committee: no.



   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 state's 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.