ADRIAN . REVATHIE . VERENA . JASON

 Rodney King was chased by 4 police officers in 1991

  4 police officers beat King up  The beating process was being recorded  The police officers claimed that King was

retaliating  The court acquitted the 4 police officers in 1992   Shortly after the verdict was passed, the riot

began

http://www.nytimes.com/1992/03/20/us/sergeant-says-king-appeared-to-be-on-drugs.html?scp=4&sq=rodney+king%20PCP&st=cse

 Rodney King was just the spark to the long running tension

 Korean merchants caused the black to be unhappy because most blacks remained poor / jobless

 LAPD engaged in racial profiling

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,975479,00.html

 A Korean-American shop owner shot and killed Latasha Harlins, an African-American girl

 But was only sentenced to a five years probation.

 The incident worsened the existing tensions between African-American residents and Asian-American merchants

http://www.nytimes.com/1992/01/24/news/judge-who-gave-probation-in-a-slaying-may-be-moved.html

 State of Poverty  The African-American believed that the

Korean-American and other races “stole” their wealth

 Koreans-American refused to hire the African-American

 High unemployment rate of the African-Americans

 African-Americans was unable to contribute to the state’s economy

 During the riots, Koreans and other Asian shops were most affected by theft and destruction; businesses suffered huge losses

 1 billion dollars in damages

 Low standard of living  Hostility between races contributing to a

dangerous environment  Imparted negative values and behaviour to

the next generation

 Inequality in opportunities to hold governmental positions

Los Angeles 1992 Singapore 2009

Employment was subjective; African-Americans felt that the Asian had all the jobs, making it more difficult to find employment

Local Chinese resent the arrival of large scale Chinese Immigrants who are given jobs, making it difficult to find employment.

African-Americans felt like they were the minority when they actually have a part of the US

Local share a common feeling that the local population is slowly becoming a minority in its own country as an overwhelming number of foreigners arrives

www.littlespeck.com/content/people/CTrendsPeople-080315.htm

Los Angeles 1992 Singapore 2009

In the riots, out of 10, 000 people who were arrested, 42% were African-Americans, while only 9% were white. This is not proportionate to the racial make up if the state

Everybody is subjected to the same law regardless of their race

The public was not well educated on the racial harmony and the importance of it

Primary and secondary school students celebrate racial harmony day on 20th July every year

Freedom of speech is allowed Government enforces laws that prevent racial discrimination such as, racist bloggers being arrested and jailed

www.littlespeck.com/content/people/CTrendsPeople-080315.htm

 If Singapore stops educating the population on Racial Harmony (e.g. removing racial harmony day), the future generations will grow up in a more racist nature.

 If younger generations are racist, they will refrain from inter-racial marriages, thus they can only marry people of the same race, limiting the number of babies produced, and number of singles increase.

 For example, if there are 5000 chinese males (all assumed to be racist), and 4000 chinese females (all assumed to be racist), there will be 1000 remaining chinese males who will be left unmarried.

 If these 1000 remaining males choose to marry other races, they can produce 1000 more babies (assuming each couple produces 1 child)

  If Singapore abolishes Racial Harmony celebrations and education, only the older generation will be racial harmonious while the younger generations will be more racist.

 Thus, if the older boss of a company is Indian, a chinese young job applicant will not apply for this job and thus unable to secure a job because he is selective about the races he wants to work with.

 In relation to the previous scenario, if the younger generations are more racist, they will adopt different work ethics that may be difficult to work with, giving rise to retrenchment, unemployment and being fired.

 In the 1992 L.A. Riots, the African-American teenagers grouped together and the gangsterism rate increased greatly.

 If Singapore was a racist society, all the teenagers will group together to form gangs according to their races.

 With hostility against each race, violence is bound to unfold

 As teenagers join more gangs of their own races, resentment and violence will be abundant.

 All these gangs will engage in clashes and be regarded as rowdy and gangster behaviour.

 Police will have to remain more vigilant to ensure that no sabotage missions are underway.

 Racial harmony values must be cultivated from young through education (e.g. Give more emphasis in curriculum).

 Every one from each race should have an equal chance at job opportunities- should be considered based on merit and not colour.

 Should emphasise on speaking English because if groups of people speak their own language, others may feel left out.

 Have a proportionate mix of races in the police force, and recruit more policemen or women.

 Singapore can encourage inter-racial marriages.

 Companies can put new employees through work ethic courses to promote good social cohesion with each other.

  Imposing extremely heavy punishments for youths consorting in gangs or racist comments.

  Students in school should have the freedom to choose what second language they want to take.

  Police force should be taught to not age, gender or racial profile.

 Have more encouraging racial harmony activities such as campaigns and carnivals that will interest youths.

  Play shows of different languages with subtitles to promote other races’ cultures.

 Kids may skip school if they feel that the racial harmony classes are redundant.

 Bosses are not supportive and are prejudice against certain people due to language requirements.

 Parents speak to their children in their mother tongue.

 Some people do not want to become policemen or women.

 Religion barriers in marriages.  Companies are stingy and do not want to

pay for the extra courses.  People are lazy to participate in these

activities.  TV channels may not want to take the

risk to play shows that will not give them the maximum capital.