Hot must-see LA Riots documentary,  Let It Fall: Los Angeles 1982-1992–an explosive look at the events that became the catalyst behind the riots.

LA was already on the cusp of outright warfare when Rodney King was savagely beaten by the LAPD and John Ridley’s  Let It Fall: Los Angeles 1982-1992 will examine the unique events that ultimately left the city in flames.

The infamous 1992 LA riots began on April 29, 1992, and were a direct response to the verdicts that were issued in the Rodney King case. All four of the police officers who were involved in the violent beating which was caught on videotape were acquitted of any wrongdoing. Across the globe, people watched LA burn from their television screens, with no understanding as to how or why Black and brown Angelenos had gotten to their breaking point. Let It Fall: Los Angeles 1982-1992 will tell us exactly why.

In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Ridley said, “The goal is to give the space to get the real details from people and get beyond the images that everyone is so familiar with. We’re looking at the cascade effect of certain events, actions, and situations that I think clearly led to an environment where something like the uprising could happen.”

Those events included the tension the Black community had with then-LAPD police chief Daryl Gates, which went back to the 1960’s, the killings of Eula Love and Latasha Harlins, the destruction of the apartments at 39th and Dalton, and so many other incidents that led to mistrust, rage and eventually an explosion.

Opening in theaters in Los Angeles and New York the week of April 21st, Let It Fall: Los Angeles 1982-1992 will air on ABC Friday, April 28th at 9 PM ET. The documentary features exclusive interviews with eyewitnesses and people directly involved in the events from diverse neighborhoods across the city, including black, white, Hispanic, Korean, and Japanese Americans. Ridley said that revisiting this time with the people who were actually up close and center was,“challenging, illuminating and heartbreaking.”

John Ridley will not be the first filmmaker to explore these topics. Last year, Ezra Edelman’s Academy Award winning OJ: Made in America examined much of this in juxtaposition to O.J. Simpson’s polarizing fame. Likewise, the same day Let It Fall premieres, Spike Lee’s Netflix Original film, Rodney King will hit the streaming service. Still, if you’re ever curious as to what actually sparked the LA riots back in ’92, Ridley’s doc will certainly be one to keep your eye out for.