Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Watts at 50, Colorado River Spill, and 'Walking on Sunshine'
Fifty years ago today, a traffic stop sparked six days of looting and burning in L.A. It was just after 7 p.m. when a California Highway Patrol car pulled over 21-year-old Marquette Frye, a young black man suspected of drunk driving in Watts. And the song “Walking on Sunshine” has been used or covered in so many TV commercials, shows and movies, that it earns about a million dollars a year.
By Madeleine Brand • • 50m ListenOne year ago, 18-year-old Michael Brown was killed by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri. The subsequent protests in Ferguson gave birth to the Black Lives Matter movement on social media. In recent weeks, there have been protests and interruptions at political events - protesters chastising presidential candidates for not addressing the issue of racial injustice and institutional reform. Then, today marks the 50th anniversary of the Watts riots, six days of looting and burning in L.A. It was just after 7 p.m. when a California Highway Patrol car pulled over 21-year-old Marquette Frye, a young black man suspected of drunk driving, sparking the unrest. And, three million gallons of toxic water burst from an old gold mine in Colorado last week. The plume of fluorescent sludge turned the Animas River a shocking yellow as it headed downstream towards Lake Powell, the Colorado River, and California. In Los Angeles, news that Frank Gehry is helping to re-imagine the river and draft a master plan for its makeover has divided advocates and planners. The architect is known for his showcase buildings, but not so much for his take on infrastructure and public spaces. Finally, the song “Walking on Sunshine” has been used or covered in so many TV commercials, shows and movies, that it earns about a million dollars a year.
Banner Image: Police arrest a man during the Watts riots
