Civil Unrest That Shook Nations

Riots have erupted throughout history when tension boils over and people demand to be heard. Whether sparked by injustice, oppression, or political failure, these uprisings left streets scorched and governments shaken. Here are 20 of the most explosive and defining riots the world has ever witnessed.

doctorho from Hong Kong on Wikimedia

1. 1992 Los Angeles Riots (USA)

Triggered by the acquittal of officers in the brutal beating of Rodney King, Los Angeles jumped into violence for six days. Entire neighborhoods burned, and over 60 lives were lost. It wasn’t just a riot—it was a reckoning with police brutality and inequality.

Glenn Gilbert from Port Townsend, Washington on Wikimedia

2. 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots (India)

After the country's Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards, mobs across India carried out systematic attacks on Sikhs. Over 3,000 were attacked in Delhi alone. The violence was horrific and remains one of India’s darkest chapters of communal violence.

Ministry of Home Affairs on Wikimedia

3. 1969 Stonewall Riots (USA)

In New York, when police raided the Stonewall Inn, they expected submission. Instead, LGBTQ+ patrons fought back, igniting several nights of unrest. What started as a riot transformed into a pivotal moment, marking the beginning of the modern gay rights movement in America and beyond.

Rhododendrites on Wikimedia

4. 1976 Soweto Uprising (South Africa)

Thousands of Black students marched peacefully against apartheid policies in Johannesburg. Police opened fire, and hundreds lost their lives, but the crackdown sparked nationwide unrest and international outrage. Soweto became a symbol of defiance in the face of apartheid's cruelty, fueling resistance for decades to come.

Jorge Láscar from Australia on Wikimedia

5. 1965 Watts Riots (USA)

After a regular traffic stop turned violent in Los Angeles, the Black community of Watts exploded in rage. Lasting six days, it caused millions in damage and exposed deep racial fractures. Watts forced a reckoning: this wasn’t just about one arrest—it was decades of injustice erupting at once.

Eric Garcetti on Wikimedia

6. 2005 French Riots (France)

Sparked by the lives of two teens fleeing police in a Paris suburb, unrest spread like wildfire. For weeks, cars burned nightly, and clashes with police became routine. It exposed deep divisions in French society over race and the marginalization of immigrant communities.

AlexP at Dutch Wikipedia on Wikimedia

7. 1947 Partition Riots (India and Pakistan)

The Partition of British India led to one of the largest human migrations ever and some of the worst riots in modern history. Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs turned on each other with violence that defined the birth of two nations.

Shahzaib Damn Cruze on Wikimedia

8. 2021 Capitol Riot (USA)

On January 6th, rioters stormed the US Capitol. Fueled by false election claims, the mob overwhelmed police, vandalized Congress, and claimed five lives. This domestic riot sent shockwaves around the world and sparked countless debates.

TapTheForwardAssist on Wikimedia

9. 1989 Caracazo (Venezuela)

Sparked by IMF-imposed austerity measures, protests in Caracas turned into mass looting and chaos. The government responded with brutal military force. The Caracazo revealed how economic despair could ignite fury—and how violently a state could silence it.

Jheremycg on Wikimedia

10. 2019–2020 Hong Kong Protests

What began as opposition to an extradition bill morphed into a massive, months-long pro-democracy movement. Clashes between protesters and police engulfed Hong Kong, and eventually, tear gas and makeshift barricades became part of the city’s daily life.

Studio Incendo on Wikimedia

11. 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre (USA)

In one of the most violent racial attacks in American history, a white mob destroyed the thriving Black neighborhood of Greenwood, often called "Black Wall Street." Airplanes dropped explosives. Homes and businesses were leveled. The number of lives claimed remains disputed, but the trauma and the silence that followed lasted generations.

Tulsa world on Wikimedia

12. 2020 George Floyd Protests (USA)

The arrest of George Floyd ignited a global protest wave against racial injustice and police brutality. Millions marched across the US and worldwide, demanding systemic change. The movement united diverse communities, sparking reforms and conversations that continue to reshape social justice landscapes today.

Phil Roeder from Des Moines, IA, USA on Wikimedia

13. May 1998 Riots (Indonesia)

Amid economic collapse and political instability, Indonesia erupted. Rioters looted stores, set buildings ablaze, and targeted the ethnic Chinese minority. Jakarta looked like a war zone. This chaos helped end President Suharto’s 31-year rule—but at the cost of more than a thousand lives and lasting wounds.

Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Indonesia on Wikimedia

14. 2011 England Riots (UK)

The England riot of 2011 began in Tottenham after the police targeted Mark Duggan. Soon, it spiraled into nationwide unrest. For five days, cities across England saw looting, arson, and chaos, and social media played the main role in spreading the turmoil.

Andy Miah on Wikimedia

15. 1968 Chicago Riots (USA)

Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination unleashed a tidal wave of rage. In Chicago, the protest turned to destruction almost overnight. The National Guard was deployed, and over 500 people were injured. It was a violent response to the system that had enabled King’s attack.

Ellen Catalinotto, Courtesy of Zinnedproject on Wikimedia

16. 2025 Olvera Street ICE Protests (USA)

In early June 2025, over 1000 protested on Olvera Street and surrounding areas after ICE arrested dozens of immigrants in Los Angeles. Tensions escalated when National Guard troops were deployed, leading to clashes, freeway blockages, and tear gas. Demonstrators demanded an end to mass deportations and militarized federal intervention.  

U.S. Northern Command on Wikimedia

17. 2002 Gujarat Riots (India)

After Muslim conspirators set a train on fire that claimed the lives of Hindu pilgrims, mobs unleashed on them. The violence was coordinated and devastating. Hundreds of people were caught in the crossfire, and many more were displaced.

Two decades on, India still haunted by Gujarat religious riots • FRANCE 24 English by  FRANCE 24 English

18. 1967 Detroit Riot (USA)

The Detroit Riot of 1967 began with a police raid on an unlicensed bar. Within hours of the raid, the city was on fire. Tanks rolled through the streets of Detroit, and entire blocks were reduced to rubble. This was the loud, anguished cry of a Black community brutalized by systemic injustice and neglect.

Phil Cherner (email: [email protected] ; website: www.philcherner.com). on Wikimedia

19. 2009 Tehran Protests (Iran)

After a disputed presidential election, Iran's streets filled with protesters. What followed was weeks of unrest, mass arrests, and a brutal crackdown. The government cut internet access and banned foreign media. The Green Movement failed, but it revealed how deeply citizens yearned for democratic reform.

Milad Avazbeigi on Wikimedia

 20. 2022 Aragalaya Protests (Sri Lanka)

Furious over economic collapse and corruption, Sri Lankans took to the streets in historic numbers. Protesters occupied government buildings, demanding the resignation of their leaders. The president fled the country. Mostly peaceful but punctuated by clashes and arson, this mass uprising dismantled a dynasty and reshaped the island’s political future in real time.

AntanO on Wikimedia