Remembering the horrific #WattsRiots 50 years later. Sparked by a violent traffic stop and escalating racial tension, the riots took place in Los Angeles, California on Aug. 11, 1965 and lasted 5 days, killed 34 people, and injured over 1,000. More: http://on.msnbc.com/1HEeGqu | MS NOW

The Watts Riots in Los Angeles started yesterday in 1965. A key event in the civil rights era, the riots forced the US to confront the realities of poverty, segregation and racism in cities like LA. #racism #race #riot #riots #protests #protest #losangeles #history #unitedstates #us #america #protesting #civilrights #civilrightsmovement #mlk #politics #political #leftwing #blacklivesmatter // First photo by: By George R. Fry, Los Angeles Times - https://digital.library.ucla.edu/catalog/ark:/2119

The 1965 Watts uprising began after a routine police stop escalated into violence, reflecting deep frustration with police abuse in Black communities. The Kerner Commission later confirmed that police actions and systemic inequality were at the root of the unrest, yet its recommendations were never implemented. | The Law Office of Julian Johnson, LLC

It took Simon Rodia 35 years to build the Watts Towers with nothing but his hands. It is made of steel rebar, wire mesh, concrete and anything Rodia could find on the side of the road during his walks down the nearby Wilmington Avenue. Email us suggestions at lookatthis@cbs.com | CBS LA