People in Los Angeles—and in Watts in particular—are commemorating the 50-year anniversary of the Watts Riots this week. Just 10 days ago, a new Twitter account popped up, chronicling what happened, day-by-day on August 11 to 17, 1965. The account, @WattsRiots50 a project of Community Coalition of South LA, and The California Endowment’s Sons and Brothers, has tweeted some real-time events connected to the anniversary, but the timeline is perhaps most compelling for the words and images of what was happening 50 years ago today. Just consider how it all started:
Heads up! @CHPsouthern pulled over some people on 116th & Avalon. #WattsRiots50
— Watts Riots 50 (@WattsRiots50) August 12, 2015
A lot of residents already out in the neighborhood tonight. Crowd is gathering to see what’s going on. #WattsRiots50
— Watts Riots 50 (@WattsRiots50) August 12, 2015
This is crazy. There are 200 to 300 people here. #WattsRiots50
— Watts Riots 50 (@WattsRiots50) August 12, 2015
And @LAPDSoutheast just got here. Crowd is getting huge. Someone said close to 1,000. #WattsRiots50
— Watts Riots 50 (@WattsRiots50) August 12, 2015
The feed is poignant in that, although some of the images look dated, the stories of police violence against black people hasn’t changed—nor has the familiar account of what happens when a community decides it’s had enough. The account continues to tell what happened, as it happened:
Everyone’s on edge in Watts. Police, community, everyone. @latimes says 10+ ppl arrested last night #WattsRiots50 pic.twitter.com/PSgtAcRztU
— Watts Riots 50 (@WattsRiots50) August 12, 2015
Last night in a nutshell. #WattsRiots50 pic.twitter.com/J2cLPK9HOz
— Watts Riots 50 (@WattsRiots50) August 12, 2015
.@latimes reporter talking to folks on Avalon. People are upset / frustrated. He’s getting an earful. #WattsRiots50 pic.twitter.com/792hCE4U5F
— Watts Riots 50 (@WattsRiots50) August 12, 2015
Hearing word that @LAPDHQ Chief Parker called @thecaguard (CA National Guard) and told them they might be needed. #WattsRiots50
— Watts Riots 50 (@WattsRiots50) August 13, 2015
Avalon is on fire. #WattsRiots50 pic.twitter.com/yNGuipD0Aw
— Watts Riots 50 (@WattsRiots50) August 13, 2015
People throwing rocks and police cracking skulls while buildings go up in flames. This is the reality. #WattsRiots50 pic.twitter.com/JKysFJwPB7
— Watts Riots 50 (@WattsRiots50) August 13, 2015
See this? "Search for weapons." #WattsRiots50 pic.twitter.com/9Y33FzioDL
— Watts Riots 50 (@WattsRiots50) August 13, 2015
Mayor Yorty (@LAMayorsOffice) confirming that @theCaGuard has been called in. #WattsRiots50 pic.twitter.com/atCtL4bH0s
— Watts Riots 50 (@WattsRiots50) August 13, 2015
The scene right now at Avalon Blvd. and Imperial Hwy. #WattsRiots50 pic.twitter.com/cwkq55XGgo
— Watts Riots 50 (@WattsRiots50) August 13, 2015
#LAPD is getting more agitated and violent. They can’t seem to get a grip on the situation. #WattsRiots50 pic.twitter.com/QXQv6lHJrj
— Watts Riots 50 (@WattsRiots50) August 13, 2015
Heard that Robert Hall from NVAC (@resistwar) helped a @UPI reporter from a crowd yesterday. #WattsRiots50
— Watts Riots 50 (@WattsRiots50) August 13, 2015
Arrests, arson, violence, abuse, distrust. How is a community supposed to recover from this? #WattsRiots50 pic.twitter.com/d5cqCp4xt6
— Watts Riots 50 (@WattsRiots50) August 14, 2015
And there it is: how is a community ever supposed to recover from this kind of violence? Does it? Follow @WattsRiots50 to find out.