The South Los Angeles community is seeking change after a disastrous fireworks explosion in 2021 resulted in 17 injuries and the displacement of 80 residents. Community members marched from West 27th Street in South L.A., one of the streets most severely affected by the explosions, to the Newton Police Station a mile away, demanding accountability.
On June 30, 2021, the Los Angeles Police Department decided to detonate leaking and unstable illegal fireworks in a South L.A. backyard. What was meant to be a controlled detonation resulted in a large-scale explosion which damaged nearby homes, many of which are now boarded up, marked with red tags, and uninhabitable.
The L.A. Times reports that the technicians responsible for the fireworks ignored warnings about discharging too many fireworks simultaneously. Displaced residents and their supporters, some still living in hotels, are now calling for Mayor Karen Bass, city officials, and the L.A. police department to take responsibility for the incident.
The community’s push for accountability underscores the need for greater transparency and responsibility in public safety operations, particularly those that can have a significant impact on residential areas. The ongoing struggles of the affected residents highlight the long-term effects of such incidents and the urgent need for a thorough resolution.