On this day, August 11, 1965

Large-scale race riots broke out in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles after growing crowds of people witnessed tense conflict between white LAPD officers and two black community members. The Watts Riots ensued for five more days, filled with violent encounters between the LAPD and black citizens along with destruction of city property.  By the end of the riots, some 4,000 people had been arrested, yet the City and the Police Department continued to criminalize the Watts community well into following months. 

I wonder why the government would put so much energy into punishing the rioters rather then making any effort to address the underlying causes of racial tension such as police brutality, poor living conditions, and unemployment.