audio by artist sidra khatkhatay

• produced by Sidra Khatkhatay
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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. 

• produced by Sidra Khatkhatay
• in

US Air Force Sergeant and Vietnam Veteran, Leonard Matlovich Jr. became Time Magazine's cover story about gays in the military.  Earlier that year, Matlovich had decided to test the military's stance on sexual orientation by writing a letter to his military superiors revealing he was gay.  Six months later, despite his exemplary military record and high performance evaluations, a military panel deemed Matlovich unfit for service and discharged him from the Air Force.  Matlovich became a symbol of the gay community and went on to advocate openly for gay rights.  While the struggle for LGBT rights is an important one, I am often conflicted when it comes to LGBT rights in the military.