"BURN BABY BURN!"

RIOTS BREAK OUT IN WATTS


Los Angeles, California (JFK+50) On August 11, 1965, at 7 p.m. (PDT) Marquette Frye* was stopped by California Highway Patrolman Lee Minikus for reckless driving in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles.  When Mr. Frye stumbled during a field sobriety test, he began to resist arrest.  By that time, more than 250 people were gathered around.


Soon Frye was arrested and a riot broke out among the crowd who took issue with the actions of police.  Rocks and other objects were thrown by the mob at the officers.  Rioting continued for the next four hours.


After 6 days of rioting, the casualties included 34 dead, more than a thousand wounded and over 3400 arrested.  4000 soldiers in the California National Guard were called in to restore order to the Watts community.  The damages were estimated to be $40 million.

A investigating commission looked into the Watts riots and determined the three main causes were high unemployment, poor schools and inferior living conditions.

*Maruqette Frye (1944-1986) was born in Oklahoma and grew up in Wyoming.  His family moved to L.A. in 1957.  MF dropped out of high school at age 16.  He died of pneumonia.

SOURCE

"Marquette Frye, 1944-1986," by Shaun Michael Mars, January 21, 2007, Black Past, www.blackpast.org/ 

       Police Make Arrest in Watts

                  August 12, 1965

   New York World-Telegram Photo

 

RIOTS IN WATTS

WATTS RIOTS PLUS FIFTY

Los Angeles, California (JFK+50) The Watts Riots broke out here in Los Angeles a half century ago this evening, August 11, 1965.  At seven o'clock local time, Marquette Frye*, an African-American, was stopped by Lee Minikus, a patrolman of the California Highway Patrol.

While Frye was given a sobriety test, his brother walked two blocks to his home and returned with the mother who scolded Marquette for driving while intoxicated.  A rumor spread that the mother had been assaulted by police and  
soon a riot broke out among about 200 people who had gathered on the scene.

Rocks and other objects were thrown by the mob at the officers.  Rioting continued for the next four hours.  The riots continued for six days with 34 dead, more than a thousand wounded and over 3400 arrested.

According to the New York Times, the community of Watts** has been transformed today and is in stark contrast to the troubled African-American community in Ferguson, Missouri.

Jennifer Medina writes..."There were fewer than a dozen homicides (in Watts) last year."  That was not the case in 1965 when there were hundreds.

The community is still poor, but African-Americans have moved to the LA suburbs and Watts is 70% Latino today.  The City Housing Authority has invested $10 million into special projects in the community and police officers sign on to a five-year patrol area.

*Marquette Frye (1944-1986) was born in Oklahoma & grew up in Wyoming. His family moved to LA in 1957.  Marquette, haunted by the riots & unable to get work, was arrested for a variety of crimes.  He died of pneumonia.

**Watts is a 2.12 square mile community located in South Los Angeles, CA.  It was named after the 1st railroad station built in 1904 on land donated by the Watts family.

The community became predominantly African-American during the 1940s with the influx of blacks from Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas & Texas seeking economic opportunity in California.

SOURCES

"Frye, Marquette (1944-1986)," www.blackpast.org/

"Watts, 50 years On, Stands in Contrast to Today's Conflicts," by Jennifer Medina, The New York Times, August 10, 2015, www.nytimes.com/

Watts Towers

Los Angeles, California

BenFrantzDate

www.en.wikipedia.com/

REAGAN OUTLAWS RUSSIA

REAGAN "OUTLAWED RUSSIA" AND ANNOUNCED "BOMBING" 30 YEARS AGO

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President Ronald Wilson Reagan was in a joking mood 30 years ago today, August 11, 1984, just before giving a scheduled radio address at the White House here in the Nation's Capital.

In doing a microphone check, the President said:

"My fellow Americans, I am pleased to tell you today that I have signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever.  We begin bombing in 5 minutes."

President Ronald Reagan

July 1981

Reagan Library Photo

STRONTIUM 90 LEVELS DOUBLED IN MILK SUPPLY 51 YEARS AGO

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) U.S. public health officials announced fifty-one years ago, August 11, 1963, that nuclear tests in the atmosphere conducted in 1962 had doubled the levels of Strontium 90 found in the nation's milk supplies.

Strontium 90 is known as a "bone seeker" which causes bone cancer and leukemia.*

*Dr. Louise Reiss did a study of baby teeth which showed that children born in 1963 had levels of strontium 90 up to 50 times higher than children born before atmospheric nuclear testing.

This study helped convince JFK to negotiate for a Nuclear Test Ban which would prohibit testing anywhere but underground.


BOHLEN NAMED AMBASSADOR TO FRANCE

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President John F. Kennedy named Charles E. Bohlen as United States ambassador to France fifty-two years ago, August 11, 1962.

Mr. Bohlen was born in Clayton, New York.  He graduated from Harvard in 1927. CEB served as French ambassador until his retirement in January 1969.

Charles E. Bohlen

US Ambassador to France

1962-1969

RIOTS BROKE OUT IN WATTS 49 YEARS AGO

Los Angeles, California (JFK+50) The Watts Riots broke out forty-nine years ago here in Los Angeles, August 11, 1965.

At 7 p.m. (PDT) Marquette Frye, an African-American, was stopped by a California Highway Patrolman for reckless driving in Watts.  Soon after Frye's arrest, a riot broke out among about 200 people who had gathered on the scene.

Rocks and other objects were thrown by the mob at the officers.  Rioting continued for the next 4 hours.

The Watts Riots continued for six days with 34 dead, more than a thousand wounded and over 3400 arrested.

Police Make Arrest in Watts

August 12, 1965

New York World-Telegram Photo

LAST US COMBAT UNIT LEAVES SOUTH VIETNAM

Da Nang, South Vietnam (JFK+50) The last American ground combat unit serving in South Vietnam departed for the United States 42 years ago, August 11, 1972. today.

The unit, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry, had been guarding the US air base located in Da Nang.

43,500 advisers, air force personnel and support troops remained.

South Vietnamese Air Force (VNAF)

Da Nang, South Vietnam

STRONTIUM 90 LEVELS DOUBLE IN MILK SUPPLY

August 11, 1963


STRONTIUM 90 LEVELS DOUBLE IN MILK SUPPLY


Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) U.S. public health officials today announced that nuclear tests in the atmosphere conducted last year have doubled the levels of strontium 90 found in US milk supplies.


Strontium 90 is known as a "bone seeker" which causes bone cancer & leukemia.*

              8 year old girl's baby teeth


*Dr. Louise Reiss did a study of baby teeth which showed that children born in 1963 had levels of strontium 90 up to 50 times higher than children born before atmospheric nuclear testing.


This study helped convince JFK to negotiate for a Nuclear Test Ban which would prohibit testing anywhere but underground.


August 11, 1962


BOHLEN NAMED US AMBASSADOR TO FRANCE


Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President John F. Kennedy today named Charles E. Bohlen as United States ambassador to France.


Ambassador Bohlen was born in Clayton, New York & graduated from Harvard in 1927.*


*Bohlen served as French ambassador until his retirement in January 1969.

                 Charles E. Bohlen
       US Ambassador to France
                       1962-1968


August 11, 1965


RIOTS BREAK OUT IN WATTS


Los Angeles, California (JFK+50) At 7 p.m. (PDT) Marquette Frye, an African-American, was stopped by a California Highway Patrolman for reckless driving in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles.


Soon after Frye's arrest, a riot broke out among about 200 people who had gathered on the scene.


Rocks & other objects were thrown by the mob at the officers.  Rioting continued for the next 4 hours.*


*The Watts Riots will continue for 6 days with 34 dead, more than a thousand wounded & over 3400 arrested.

       Police Make Arrest in Watts

                  August 12, 1965

   New York World-Telegram Photo

August 11, 1972

LAST US COMBAT UNIT LEAVES SOUTH VIETNAM

Da Nang, South Vietnam (JFK+50) The last American ground combat unit serving in South Vietnam departed for the United States today.

The unit, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry, had been guarding the US air base here in Da Nang.*

*43,500 advisors, air force personnel & support troops remained.

South Vietnamese Air Force (VNAF)

          Da Nang, South Vietnam

August 11, 1984

REAGAN JOKES ABOUT BOMBING RUSSIA

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President Ronald Reagan was in a joking mood today just before giving a scheduled radio address at the White House.

In doing a microphone check, the President said:

"My fellow Americans, I am pleased to tell you today that I have signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever.  We begin bombing in 5 minutes."

            President Ronald Reagan
                          July 1981
              Reagan Library Photo