Aug. 11, 1965:
The arrest of a black person by a white police officer in Watts touched off claims of police brutality, resulting in six days of riots that left 34 dead.
Following the arrest of a black driver by a white highway patrolman, and subsequent charges of police brutality, the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles erupts in a race riot. Six days later, the costs will be 34 deaths, 856 injured, and damages approaching $200 million.
Politically, the black violence will lead to a white backlash that many will say was responsible for Gov. Pat Brown's defeat at the hands of Ronald Reagan in the 1966 elections.
Today in Campaign History is a daily feature on Political Junkie.
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