[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1087 Introduced in House (IH)]
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117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. RES. 1087
Remembering the 30th anniversary of the 1992 Los Angeles insurrection.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 3, 2022
Ms. Waters submitted the following resolution; which was referred to
the Committee on the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Remembering the 30th anniversary of the 1992 Los Angeles insurrection.
Whereas Friday, April 29, 2022, marked the 30th anniversary of the 1992 Los
Angeles insurrection;
Whereas, on March 3, 1991, 4 White Los Angeles Police Department officers
savagely beat Rodney King, a Black man, during a traffic stop following
an alleged traffic violation;
Whereas the beating of Rodney King by the 4 White police officers was captured
on videotape and viewed by Americans nationwide;
Whereas the videotape and press coverage of the beating of Rodney King by the 4
White police officers exposed the American people to the reality that
Black Americans are often subjected to unfair and brutal treatment by
police officers;
Whereas, on April 29, 1992, following a trial on charges of excessive use of
force, the 4 White police officers were acquitted by a mostly White
jury;
Whereas many Black Americans felt that the justice system had failed them by
acquitting the 4 White police officers;
Whereas the acquittal of the 4 White police officers by a mostly White jury led
to a 5-day insurrection in Los Angeles, which created an environment of
despair, disruption, and violence;
Whereas more than 60 people were killed, more than 2,000 people were injured,
and more than 11,000 people were arrested, and there was more than
$1,000,000,000 in property damages to local homes and businesses during
the insurrection;
Whereas Congresswoman Maxine Waters provided critical leadership during and
after the insurrection, courageously speaking on numerous local and
national radio and television programs and publishing statements calling
for attention to the urgent issues of poverty, racism, discrimination,
and exclusion, issues that burdened the lives of millions of Black
Americans in Los Angeles County, as well as other communities throughout
the United States;
Whereas Congresswoman Maxine Waters had the courage to speak for people in the
Black community who felt excluded from the political process and explain
why they were angry;
Whereas despite considerable social progress during the 30 years since the 1992
Los Angeles insurrection, the issues of poverty, racism, discrimination,
and exclusion continue to have a profound impact upon individuals,
families, and communities throughout the United States;
Whereas, during the 30 years since the 1992 Los Angeles insurrection took place,
numerous Black Americans, including George Floyd, Michael Brown, Eric
Garner, Breonna Taylor, Philando Castile, Daunte Wright, and Patrick
Lyoya, have been killed by police officers in the United States without
due process;
Whereas there have been numerous peaceful protests in communities throughout the
United States in response to the killings of Black Americans by police
officers; and
Whereas, in honor of the April 29, 2022, anniversary of the 1992 Los Angeles
insurrection, community leaders across Los Angeles organized activities
to commemorate the injustices that occurred in 1992 and continue their
work to prevent tragedies like the beating of Rodney King and the acts
of violence that were committed during the insurrection from happening
again: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) offers condolences to all who lost their lives,
suffered injuries, and suffered losses to their businesses and
property during the 1992 Los Angeles insurrection;
(2) recognizes the 1992 Los Angeles insurrection as a key
moment in the history of the United States that resulted in
continued revelations about racial inequalities and new
attention to racial injustices nationwide;
(3) supports the activities of community leaders in Los
Angeles and throughout the United States to commemorate the
events that occurred in 1992, oppose acts of violence, and
promote equality and justice for all Americans;
(4) recognizes the need for continued efforts to reform our
Nation's criminal justice system in order to prevent racial
profiling and other unfair and discriminatory policies and
behaviors by police, prosecutors, judges, and other public
servants and to hold such public servants accountable when they
treat persons unfairly;
(5) urges law enforcement officers and other individuals
who work in the criminal justice system throughout the United
States to undertake all necessary and appropriate reforms to
guarantee equal treatment under the law and ensure the safety,
security, and protection of those they are required to serve,
regardless of race; and
(6) encourages Federal, State, and local political
jurisdictions throughout the United States to develop and
implement systemic reforms in order to improve the criminal
justice system at all levels, ensure that all persons are
treated fairly and equitably, and ensure that the rights of all
persons as guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States
are protected.
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