[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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