What did California Governor Earl Warren's Commission on the Riots blame the violence on?

• A. Propaganda
• B. Economic inequality
• C. Racism
• D. Foreign influence

Answer: (C)

Racial prejudice and discrimination are what the commission identified as fueling the violence. The report explained that long-standing racism—systemic bias, segregation, unequal treatment, and mistrust between Black communities and authorities—created a tinder-box situation in which protests could erupt into violence. While economic struggles were present, the central driver the commission highlighted was racism and the unfair treatment it produced. Propaganda and foreign influence aren’t what the report cites as causes, and although economic inequality matters, it’s Racism that’s pinpointed as the key factor behind the riots.