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Twitter.com/RealTimeLARiots is live-tweeting the LA riots as they occurred this week in 1992.Twenty years ago, a jury began deliberations on the controversial Rodney King beating trial. On April 29, 1992, shortly after the verdict was read, the city erupted in riots bred from anger and frustration.
As a part of NBC Los Angeles‘ 20th anniversary coverage, the local network launched the Twitter account, asking, “What if Twitter existed in 1992? How would social media help tell the story of Rodney King and the Los Angeles Riots?” By resurrecting the riots on Twitter, perhaps we can gain a better understanding of just what that would have been like.
Currently, we are on Day 3 of the trial, but keep following because on April 29 at 3:15 p.m., the verdict will be announced and the account will shift focus to the riots, complete with archive footage, photos and breaking news from around Los Angeles.
Each tweet corresponds to the actual date and time (sometimes even down to the minute) of each major event as it unfolded back in 1992.
All attorneys, judge met to talk about today’s jury messages. Meeting carries over to tomorrow. #RodneyKing
— Real Time LA Riots (@RealTimeLARiots) April 25, 2012
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2nd juror message: Jury asks for definition of word “beat,” as used in Count 2. #RodneyKing
— Real Time LA Riots (@RealTimeLARiots) April 24, 2012
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Nurses’ testimony: “(Police) hit a few home runs,” officer #LaurencePowell allegedly said.
— Real Time LA Riots (@RealTimeLARiots) April 24, 2012
