The Desert Training Center

Historical marker location:

Chiriaco Summit, California

( Marker can be reached from Chiriaco Road north of Interstate 10, on the left when traveling east.)

Marker installed: 1985

In 1965, the Watts Riots erupted in Los Angeles after a police officer arrested a Black man for drunk driving. The six-day riot resulted in 34 deaths, over 1,000 injuries, and $40 million in property damage. The Watts Riots were a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights Movement and helped to spark a nationwide conversation about race relations.