Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Watts Riots: Chief Parker, Policing, and Our Weekly Web Roundup
We continue to look back at Watts, 50 years after the riots. South Los Angeles was on fire, and LAPD Chief William H. Parker was tasked with putting it out. And after Watts erupted in 1965, policing stayed much the same through the 90s. But for a look at what it means to police Watts today, we met up with the Deputy Chief of South Bureau, that’s the collection of precincts that cover South Los Angeles.
By Barbara Bogaev • • 50m ListenOhio could be the next state to legalize recreational marijuana. But the measure has many opponents, including groups that have supported legalization in other states.
Then, “drone schadenfreude” seems to be a growing category of internet video. Why do people love to hate our new aerial overlords? That and more in our weekly web roundup.
And day three of our look back at Watts 50 years after the riots. South Los Angeles was on fire, and the man tasked with putting out that fire was LAPD Chief William H. Parker. When Parker took over the force in 1950, the LAPD was pretty much a goon squad that did the bidding of the rich and powerful in Los Angeles. Chief Parker cleaned up the force, and transformed it into a highly disciplined, militarized police department that became the envy of the world. But in South Los Angeles, the LAPD was viewed more as an occupying army.
Finally, after Watts erupted in 1965, policing stayed much the same through the ‘90s. We take a look at what it means to police Watts today. We met up with the Deputy Chief of South Bureau, the collection of precincts that cover South Los Angeles.
Banner Image: William Scott, Deputy Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department's South Bureau
In this episode
4 storiesPot Legalization in Ohio
So far four states and Washington DC have legalized marijuana for recreational use. Ohio could be next. A ballot measure has just been approved for that state’s November election which would change the state’s constitution to make pot legal. According to a recent poll, 52 percent of Ohio residents support legalization.
Read the story9 minWeb Roundup: Chelsea Manning, 'Dronenfreude,' and More
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Read the story8 minWatts Riots: Policing and Chief Parker
On August 12th, 1965, day two of the Watts Riots, South Los Angeles was on fire. The man tasked with putting out that fire was William H. Parker, chief of the LAPD. When Parker took over the force in 1950, the LAPD was pretty much a goon squad that did the bidding of the rich and powerful in Los Angeles.
Read the story15 minWatts Riots: Policing Today
With LAPD Chief William Parker as their general, soldiers exacted swift and often brutal justice in black neighborhoods. And even after Watts erupted in 1965, policing stayed much the same through the 90s.
Read the story15 min
