Billy G. Mills

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Meeting

On Wednesday evening, August 11, 1965, a large-scale civil disturbance broke out in the Watts district of Los Angeles and spread within a few days to other parts of the city. Thirty -four people were killed, 1,032 injured, and 3,438 arrested. It was the most severe riot in the city's history to that time. Mills called a meeting of community and "indigenous" leaders in the City Council chambers on Saturday morning "to hear comments from anyone connected with the disturbances so city officials can begin getting at the causes of the riots." [11] Staff writer Paul Beck of the Los Angeles Times, reported:

Mills' decision to hold the meeting came in the face of warnings from other councilmen that it could cause serious problems and do no good in calming those involved. . . . "I can imagine the drapes being torn down and the furniture slashed," said Councilman John C. Holland." [11]

Police probe

Mills demanded an investigation of the role of the Los Angeles Police Department in the riots and asked Mayor Yorty to issue an executive order that would prevent Chief William H. Parker and other department heads from making public statements without clearing them first with the mayor or appropriate governing boards. He said the Los Angeles police were "rendered totally inept" after the rioting had started. [12]

On September 8, 1965, Mills "directed" Chief Parker to appear before him "in person" to explain a raid on a Black Muslim mosque the preceding August 18, in which nineteen people were arrested and all were freed by a judge, citing lack of evidence. Parker declined to comply. Mills' action, according to a news report, was "in keeping with his persistent opposition to the chief." Mills was the only council member who did not vote in favor of a council resolution commending Parker and the department for their work during the disturbances. He said he would have voted in favor if the resolution had it not named Parker and had it not "excused" the police for all their actions. [13]

The councilman said he had information that the mosque raid was "deliberately provoked" by false phone calls that Negroes were carrying guns into the building. He was critical of heavy police gunfire and claimed that the officers "were trying to destroy" two buildings on the property. Deputy Police Chief Thomas Reddin responded that "large-scale force was necessary to overcome large-scale resistance." [14] Mills later submitted a report suggesting that a fire set inside the mosque could have been done by police as an act of "hostility." [15]

Inquests

Mills was critical of the coroner's inquests that were held after the riots. He said they were "attempts to justify the shooting of elderly citizens, unarmed youths and innocent bystanders." Twenty-six of the riot deaths were ruled justifiable homicide, one was accidental and five were criminal. [16]

Democratic Party

By a three-vote margin, Mills in 1966 was elected the first black chairman of the Democratic County Central Committee over fellow Councilman Tom Bradley, also an African American. After the vote, Mills called for the defeat of former movie star and television actor Ronald Reagan, who was running for governor as a Republican. [17]

Run for Congress

Mills ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 1972, losing in the primary to Yvonne Brathwaite Burke. [18]

Superior Court

Billy G. Mills
Billy G. Mills, 1963.jpg
Mills in 1963
Member of the Los Angeles City Council for the 8th district
In office
July 1, 1963 –April 11, 1974

On April 3, 1974, Governor Reagan appointed Mills to the Superior Court bench, effective immediately. Mills said he had never supported Reagan politically but had been "on friendly terms with him for years" and that Reagan had appointed him to the California Council on Criminal Justice in 1972. Mills did support President Richard M. Nixon during the 1972 campaign. Mills had been suggested for the Superior Court position by the black caucus in the California Legislature. [19]

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References

Access to some Los Angeles Times links may require the use of a library card.

  1. ↑ Southern Campus. Los Angeles, CA: University of California. 1951. p. 82.
  2. 1 2 Carroll, Gina L. (1985). "The Honorable Billy G. Mills" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2020-08-10.
  3. 1 2 Los Angeles Public Library reference file
  4. ↑ "10 More Aspirants File for Bench in June Vote," Los Angeles Times, March 3, 1962, page B-2
  5. ↑ "Dr. Rubye and Judge Billy G. Mills Scholarship - University of California-Los Angeles Scholarships". ucla.academicworks.com. Retrieved 2020-10-28.
  6. ↑ Ruben Salazar, " 'Cheek Turned,' Says New City Councilman," Los Angeles Times, May 30, 1963, page A-1
  7. ↑ "Paper Backing Yorty Halted by Court Order," Los Angeles Times, March 25, 1965, page B-1
  8. ↑ "Yorty Assails Councilman on Office Costs," Los Angeles Times, December 28, 1963, page A-10
  9. ↑ Erwin Baker, "Indignant Councilman Doubts Yorty's Sanity," Los Angeles Times, March 3, 1964, page 3
  10. ↑ Erwin Baker, "Yorty Strongly Backs Police Actions in Southside Clashes,": Los Angeles Times, April 16, 1964, page A-1
  11. 1 2 Paul Beck, "Mills Asks Leaders of Riot Areas to City Hall," Los Angeles Times, August 14, 1965, page 12
  12. ↑ Harry Trimborn, "CHP Riot Probe," Los Angeles Times, August 30, 1965, page 27
  13. ↑ Erwin Baker, "Mills Tells Parker to Explain Raid," Los Angeles Times, September 9, 1965, page 3
  14. ↑ Erwin Baker, "Bullhorn Used in Riot Called Tool of Police," Los Angeles Times, September 16, 1965, page 3
  15. ↑ Erwin Baker, "Police May Have Set Muslim Fire, Mills Suggests," Los Angeles Times, November 23, 1965, page A=1
  16. ↑ " 'White Wash' Charged in Inquests on Riot," Los Angeles Times, October 23, 1965, page 15
  17. ↑ Richard Bergholz, "1st Negro Chosen Head of County Democratic Unit," Los Angeles Times, July 13, 1966, page 3
  18. ↑ "JoinCalifornia - Yvonne Brathwaite Burke".
  19. ↑ Richard West, "Reagan Picks Councilman Mills for Vacancy on Superior Court," Los Angeles Times, April 4, 1974, page C-1
Political offices
Preceded by Los Angeles City Council
8th District
1963–74		Succeeded by
Preceded by President Pro Tempore of the
Los Angeles City Council
1969–75		Succeeded by
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