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National Address on Los Angeles Riots 5/1/92 [OA 7573] [2]
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National Address on Los Angeles Riots 5/1/92 [OA 7573] [2]
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National Address on Los Angeles Riots 5/1/92 [OA 7573][2]
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Services of Mead Data Central, Inc.
PAGE
2
1ST STORY of Level 1 printed in FULL format.
Copyright 1992 The Times Mirror Company
Los Angeles Times
March 30, 1992, Monday, Home Edition
SECTION: Metro; Part B; Page 5; Column 2; Op-Ed Desk
LENGTH: 905 words
HEADLINE: PERSPECTIVE ON VIOLENCE;
IT'S IN THE NUMBERS, NOT THE STARS;
WILL WRIGHT DID EVERYTHING TO BEAT THE ODDS ON BLACK MALE MORTALITY, BUT IN THE
END, THE GUN CULTURE WON.
BYLINE: By KAREN GRIGSBY BATES, Karen Grigsby Bates is a Los Angeles writer and
frequent contributor to The Times.
BODY:
Sometimes, it's like a jungle out there
It makes me wonder
How I keep from going under
-- Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five
According to Sylvester Monroe, author of the essay "Vital Signs: the Black
Male" in the book, "Songs of My People, the numbers are grim: If you're a
black male between the age of 15 and 25, you are 10 times more likely to be
murdered than your white counterpart. In California, you're three times more
likely to be murdered than to enter the University of California. Your cause
of death, the numbers say, will more than likely be another young black man. You
will also, the numbers opine, be more likely to enter prison than college. Of
the twentysomething African-American male population, nearly one in four is or
has been incarcerated. Numbers.
Wilfred Wright III was on his way to defying the numbers. Handsome, bright
and friendly, Will was, also a good athlete. An honors student, he was
college-bound, to the University of LaVerne. Voted most talented, most athletic
and best buddies by his classmates at Dorsey High, Will had everything to live
for. So his friends, family and classmates were stunned when he became a
statistic.
Last Tuesday, Wilfred Wright III became another number: death by gunfire. A
devastatingly common occurrence, according to the numbers. Death again, at the
hand of a young black man. Except the hand of the young black man who shot Will
belonged to his own body, a distinct statistical twist. Police have ruled Will's
death "accidental," the result of a fatal flirtation with Russian roulette. "A
misadventure," a police spokesman mourned.
But maybe it wasn't. Will was a bright kid, everyone said SO. And, given the
numbers, which are published with relentless frequency in the media, he had to
have been aware of the odds.
R
LEXIS NEXIS LEXIS NEXIS
LAUSD
Mead Data Central, Inc.
450 N GRAND AVE HI 74
Diana Munatonez DIR COMM
Public tatormation 213-625-6766 officer
for District
LOS ANGELES 90012
PAGE
3
Los Angeles Times, March 30, 1992
Fortunately, he had help. Unlike a lot of the young men who become
statistical fatalities, Will had two parents who were actively involved in his
life, providing guidance, protection and companionship. His relationship with
them was good enough that his parents accompanied him to the baseball games at
which he excelled.
involving
our students
But those advantages might also have functioned to his detriment. Wilfred
Wright was carrying a gun because, he told Dorsey classmates, he had been
harassed by gang members and he needed to protect himself. Dorsey students
interviewed by The Times concede that a gun isn't so outlandish an idea. "If I
heavin
could get my hands on a gun, I'd have one, too," a senior told reporters Sandy
a
Banks and Charisse Jones. In his neighborhood, the boy explained, "every time I
Jhn
go home, people chase me and beat me up. You need it to be safe."
213-625-6000 MAIN # @ SCHOOL
arent always mair campus vacimity
He's not alone. According to statistics released by the Los Angeles Unified
school
Ins
weapons related incidents
School District, guns are not a rarity in our schools: 134 were confiscated
between 1987 and 1991 and that was in our elementary schools! Numbers for
high schools are almost 10 times as great. 6766 And SHELL those are only the ones that were
seized. SCHOOL POLICE w/ FACILY 625-6631
ERUCK
COMMUNICATIONS
Transferred 213-625-6766 [public affairs]
BETTY
Those numbers say that students are going to school afraid for their physical
info
well-being. Guns, when some kids can get them, are perhaps seen as a way to
fiel State
of
negotiate what have become academic killing fields. As they proliferate, one
wonders how parents are going to handle schools bristling with guns and other
armaments. Can you see Mommy now, checking off the daily necessities as her
child heads out the door for school?
WESLEY MITCHELL
"OK, you've got your lunch, milk money, your book bag -- and oh, Sweetie,
don't forget to check the chamber of your .38. I had to show up at school last
week because you forgot your bullets!"
I hope it won't get to that it had better not. But Gail Wyatt, a professor
of medical psychology in UCLA's Department of Psychiatry, is not surprised that
African-American kids, especially males, worry about their physical futures.
Identification is really important at that age, Wyatt says, and for urban
male adolescents, the choices are slim. "You're a gang member, or
what?
Often, it's really not very safe to be a non-gang member." Kids who are
determined to succeed, Wyatt says, are often treated with hostility by those who
feel they have been relegated to society's scrap heap. "The good students are
often hassled," Wyatt explains, "they're accused of 'acting white.' # Sadly, the
taunters have bought into the notion that excellence comes only in one color
Beneath the taunts, though, may lie an anxiety that most of us can't, or
don't want to, see. "We really expect a lot of young black males," Wyatt says
Most of us "have no idea the pressure they're under." The normal adolescent
hormonal stew, mixed with anxiety about social acceptance and, yes, survival
can depress a person. And depression, Wyatt says, "manifests itself in many
different ways." Some mope, some clown, some are unusually aggressive. And some
play games where the odds of survival are, at best, not good.
That Will Wright killed himself has never been in dispute. Why he killed
himself will puzzle the people who loved him for a long, painful time. It's
MITCHELL
SAME # FROM thEF OF SCHD
213- 5-6766 AND
88-91 PAT SPENCER
129 GUNS CONFISCATION
entirely possible that, given the hubris of adolescent malehood, he was just
playing around and, tragically, got caught. Or, hunted by a gang member and
Mead Data Central, Inc.
PAGE
3
Los Angeles Times, March 30, 1992
Fortunately, he had help. Unlike a lot of the young men who become
statistical fatalities, Will had two parents who were actively involved in his
life, providing guidance, protection and companionship. His relationship with
them was good enough that his parents accompanied him to the baseball games at
which he excelled.
But those advantages might also have functioned to his detriment. Wilfred
Wright was carrying a gun because, he told Dorsey classmates, he had been
harassed by gang members and he needed to protect himself. Dorsey students
interviewed by The Times concede that a gun isn't so outlandish an idea. "If I
could get my hands on a gun, I'd have one, too," a senior told reporters Sandy
Banks and Charisse Jones. In his neighborhood, the boy explained, "every time I
go home, people chase me and beat me up. You need it to be safe.'
213-625-60 MAIN # @ SOHD- BLARD
He's not alone. According to statistics released by the Los Angeles Unified
School District, guns are not a rarity in our schools: 134 were confiscated
between 1987 and 1991 -- and that was in our elementary schools! Numbers for
high schools are almost 10 times as great. And those are only the ones that were
seized. SCHOOL POLICE W/FACUTLY - 625-6631 6766 SHELL ERLICK COMMUNKATIONS
Transferred
213-625-6766 [public OFFINS]
BETTY
Those numbers say that students are going to school afraid for their physical
well-being. Guns, when some kids can get them, are perhaps seen as a way to
negotiate what have become academic killing fields. As they proliferate, one
wonders how parents are going to handle schools bristling with guns and other
armaments. Can you see Mommy now, checking off the daily necessities as her
child heads out the door for school?
WESLEY MITCHELL
"OK, you've got your lunch, milk money, your book bag --- and oh, Sweetie,
don't forget to check the chamber of your .38. I had to show up at school last
week because you forgot your bullets!"
I hope it won't get to that -- it had better not. But Gail Wyatt, a professor
of medical psychology in UCLA's Department of Psychiatry, is not surprised that
African-Americar kids, especially males, worry about their physical futures.
Identification is really important at that age, Wyatt says, and for urban
male adolescents, the choices are slim. "You're a gang member, or ...
what?
Often, it's really not very safe to be a non-gang member." Kids who are
determined to succeed, Wyatt says, are often treated with hostility by those who
feel they have been relegated to society's scrap heap. "The good students are
often hassled," Wyatt explains, "they're accused of 'acting white.' # Sadly, the
taunters have bought into the notion that excellence comes only in one color.
Beneath the taunts, though, may lie an anxiety that most of us can't, or
don't want to, see. "We really expect a lot of young black males," Wyatt says.
Most of us "have no idea the pressure they're under." The normal adolescent
hormonal stew, mixed with anxiety about social acceptance and, yes, survival,
can depress a person. And depression, Wyatt says, "manifests itself in many
different ways." Some mope, some clown, some are unusually aggressive. And some
play games where the odds of survival are, at best, not good.
That Will Wright killed himself has never been in dispute. Why he killed
himself will puzzle the people who loved him for a long, painful time. It's
entirely possible that, given the hubris of adolescent malehood, he was just
playing around and, tragically, got caught. Or, hunted by a gang member and
School.ne reputs:
Pat Spricer
Public Affans
Guns
L.A. Unifud School District
Faxid in
10-19minudes
(213) -625-6766
crime
124
guns confiscated
W
Gov. wilson
A
LA Mill
213. 897-0322 Sacraments (916)-445-2841
.4
L55
WHRC
Creme
it
A TREASURY OF
LAW
Lincoln Quotations
MOB RULE
JUSTICE
COMPILED AND EDITED BY
FRED KERNER
DOUBLEDAY & COMPANY, INC.
Garden City, New York
1965
A Treasury of Lincoln Quotations
A Treasury of Lincoln Quotations
127
sirable not well things do which the individuals of a people
relations for themselves fall into two classes: cannot those
I believe each individual is naturally entitled to do as he pleases
to wrongs, and those which have not.
with himself and the fruit of his labor so far as it in no wise
interferes with any other man's rights-that each community,
FRAGMENT
as a state, has a right to do exactly as it pleases with all the con-
JULY 1854 (?)
cerns within that state that interfere with the rights of no other
state, and that the general government, upon principle, has no
t-framed pensive. and best-administered governments are nec-
right to interfere with anything other than that general class
of things that does concern the whole.
FRAGMENT
SPEECH AT CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
JULY 1854 (?)
JULY 10, 1858
is a combination of the people of a country to
It is no just function of government to prohibit what is not
ain objects by joint effort.
wrong.
FRAGMENT
NOTES FOR SPEECHES AT COLUMBUS AND CINCINNATI, OHIO
JULY 1854 (?)
SEPTEMBER 16, 17, 1859
were just, there would still be some, though not so
We admit that the U.S. general government is not charged
of government.
with the duty of redressing or preventing all the wrongs in
the world. But that government rightfully may and, subject to
FRAGMENT
the Constitution, ought to redress and prevent all wrongs which
JULY 1854 (?)
are wrongs to the nation itself.
to our ancient faith, the just powers of government
NOTES FOR SPEECHES AT COLUMBUS AND CINCINNATI, OHIO
from the consent of the governed.
SEPTEMBER 16, 17, 1859
SPEECH AT PEORIA, ILLINOIS
The republican system of government, which has been adopted
OCTOBER 16, 1854
so generally on this continent, has proved its adaptation to what
good enough to govern another man witbout that
is the first purpose of government everywhere-the maintenance
I say this is the leading principle, the sheet an-
of national independence. It is my confident hope and belief that
erican republicanism.
this system will be found, after sufficient trials, to be better
adapted everywhere than any other to other great interests of
SPEECH AT PEORIA, ILLINOIS
human society-namely, the preservation of peace, order and
OCTOBER 16, 1854
national prosperity.
for the general government when there is nothing
REPLY TO DON MARCELINO HURTADO, ENVOY OF GRENADA
:o] govern?
JUNE 4, 1861
SPEECH AT PEORIA, ILLINOIS
It is not always in the power of governments to enlarge or
OCTOBER 16, 1854
restrict the scope of moral results which follow the policies that
128
A Treasury of Lincoln Quotations
A Treasury of Lincoln Quotations
they may deem it necessary for the public safety, from time to
time, to adopt.
I have seen your dispatch expressing your unw
break your hold where you are.
Hold on wit
LETTER TO THE WORKINGMEN OF MANCHESTER, ENGLAND
grip, and chew and choke as much as possible.
JANUARY 19, 1863
TELEGRAM TO ULYS
Let the friends of the government first save the government,
AUGU
and then administer it to their own liking.
LETTER TO HENRY W. DAVIS
MARCH 18, 1863
Greed
While we must, by all available means, prevent the overthrow
After an angry and dangerous controversy, the
I
of the government, we should avoid planting and cultivating too
friends by dividing the bone of contention. The on
many thorns in the bosom of society.
appropriates her own share, beyond all power to be
LETTER TO EDWIN M. STANTON
the possession of it, and then seizes the share of the
MARCH 18, 1864
It is as if two starving men had divided their only 1
had hastily swallowed his half and then grabbe
Government should not act for revenge.
half just as he was putting it in his mouth!
LETTER TO EDWIN M. STANTON
SPEECH AT PEO
MAY 17, 1864
OCTOP
Grant, Ulysses S.
Greeley, Horace
Grant is a copious worker and fighter, but a very meager
writer or telegrapher.
I consider him incapable of corruption or falsehood
LETTER TO AMBROSE E. BURNSIDE
LETTER TO CHARLE
JULY 27, 1863
J
The nation's appreciation of what you have done and its re-
liance upon you for what remains to do in the existing great
struggle are now presented with this commission, constituting
Habeas Corpus
you Lieutenant General in the Army of the United States. With
this high honor devolves upon you also a corresponding respon-
It was decided that we have a case of rebellion, an
sibility. As the country herein trusts you, so, under God, it will
safety does require the qualified suspension of the
sustain you. I scarcely need to add that with what I here speak
was authorized to be made. Now it is insisted that C
for the nation goes my own hearty personal concurrence.
not the Executive, is vested with this power. But tl
SPEECH TO ULYSSES S. GRANT
tion itself is silent as to which, or who, is to exercise
MARCH 9, 1864
and as the provision was plainly made for a dangerous
it cannot be believed the framers of the instrumen
142
A Treasury of Lincoln Quotations
A Treasury of Lincoln Quotati
To each laborer the whole product of his la
Jury
possible, is a most worthy object of any
NOTES FOR A
A jury too frequently have at least one member more ready
to hang the panel than to hang the traitor.
The habits of our whole species fall into th
LETTER TO ERASTUS CORNING AND OTHERS
useful labor, useless labor and idleness. Of th
JUNE 12, 1863 (:)
is meritorious, and to it all the products of labor
but the two latter, while they exist, are heav
Justice
the first, robbing it of a large portion of its just
NOTES FOR A
If some men will kill, or beat, or constrain others, or despoil
them of property by force, fraud or noncompliance with con-
tracts, it is a common object with peaceful and just men to
Inasmuch as most good things are production
prevent it.
follows that all such things of right belong to
has produced them. But it has so happened
FRAGMENT
world that some have labored and others ha
JULY 1854 (:)
enjoyed a large proportion of the fruits. This is
not continue.
Labor
NOTES FOR
All carrying, and incidents of carrying, of articles from the
place of their production to a distant place for consumption,
If at any time all labor should cease, and all
which articles could be produced of as good quality, in sufficient
be equally divided among the people, at the e
quantity, and with as little labor at the place of consumption 25
there could scarcely be one human being le
at the place carried from, is useless labor.
have perished by want of subsistence.
NOTES FOR
NOTES FOR A TARIFF DISCUSSION
DECEMBER 1847
In the early days of the world, the Almighty said to the first
Labor is the great source from which ne
of our race, "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread";
human comforts and necessities are drawn. T
and since then, if we except the light and the air of heaven, no
in opinion about the elements of labor in
assume that there is a necessary connection
1
good thing has been or can be enjoyed by us without having
first cost labor.
labor and that connection draws within it the
of the community. They assume that nobody
NOTES FOR A TARIFF DISCUSSION
tal excites them to work. They begin next
DECEMBER 1847
the best way. They say that there are but t
A Treasury of Lincoln Quotati
146
A Treasury of Lincoln Quotations
There is, even now, something of an ill omen amongst us.
Let every man remember that to violate the
I mean the increasing disregard for law which pervades the coun-
on the blood of his father and to tear the ch
try; the growing disposition to substitute the wild and furious
and his children's liberty.
passions, in lieu of the sober judgment of courts; and the worse
SPEECH TO YOUN
than savage mobs, for the executive ministers of justice.
SPR
SPEECH TO YOUNG MEN'S LYCEUM,
SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS
JANUARY 27, 1838
Let every American, every lover of liberty,
to his posterity, swear by the blood of the Re
violate in the least particular the laws of the d
to tolerate their violation by others.
Laws
SPEECH TO YOUN
Bad laws, if they exist, should be repealed as soon as possible;
SPI
still, while they continue in force,
they should be reli-
giously observed.
An unconstitutional act is not a law.
SPEECH TO YOUNG MEN'S LYCEUM,
SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS
SPEECH A
JANUARY 27, 1838
Let me not be understood as saying there are no bad laws,
Judicial decisions are of greater or less auth
nor that grievances may not arise for the redress of which no
according to circumstances.
legal provisions have been made.
SPEECH AT SP
SPEECH TO YOUNG MEN'S LYCEUM,
SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS
JANUARY 27, 1838
Legislation and adjudication must follow, a
progress of society.
Let reverence for the laws be breathed by every American
NOTES OF ARGU
mother to the lisping babe that prattles on her lap-let it be
taught in schools, in seminaries, and in colleges.
In short,
let it become the political religion of the nation; and let the old
It seems to me very important that the
and the young, the rich and the poor, the grave and the gay, of
be made as plain and intelligible as possible
all sexes and tongues, and colors and conditions, sacrifice un-
as small a compass as may consist with the fu
ceasingly upon its altars.
of the will of the legislature and the perspic
SPEECH TO YOUNG MEN'S LYCEUM,
This, well done, would, I think, greatly fac
SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS
those whose duty it is to assist in the admini
JANUARY 27, 1838
and would be a lasting benefit to the people
and would be a lasting benefit to the people by placing before
8E81 'Lz JANNURY
those whose duty it is to assist in the administration of the laws
SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS
This, well done, would, I think, greatly facilitate the labors of
SPEECH TO YOUNG MEN'S LYCEUM,
of the will of the legislature and the perspicuity of its language.
upon its altars.
as small a compass as may consist with the fullness and precision
be made as plain and intelligible as possible and be reduced to
nd tongues, and colors and conditions, sacrifice un-
It seems to me very important that the statute laws should
ung, the rich and the poor, the grave and the gay, of
me the political religion of the nation; and let the old
8581 JUNE
In short,
schools, in seminaries, and in colleges.
the lisping babe that prattles on her lap-let it be
NOTES OF ARGUMENT IN LAW CASE
erence for the laws be breathed by every American
progress of society.
Legislation and adjudication must follow, and conform to, the
JANUARY 27, 1838
SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS
JUNE 26, 1857
SPEECH TO YOUNG MEN'S LYCEUM,
SPEECH AT SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS
isions have been made.
according to circumstances.
rievances may not arise for the redress of which no
Judicial decisions are of greater or less authority as precedents,
not be understood as saying there are no bad laws,
9581 'Ez x7nf
JANUARY 27, 1838
SPEECH AT GALENA, ILLINOIS
SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS
An unconstitutional act is not a law.
SPEECH TO YOUNG MEN'S LYCEUM,
served.
JANUARY 27, 1838
they should be reli-
...
: they continue in force,
SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS
S, if they exist, should be repealed as soon as possible;
SPEECH TO YOUNG MEN'S LYCEUM,
to tolerate their violation by others.
violate in the least particular the laws of the country and never
to his posterity, swear by the blood of the Revolution never to
Let every American, every lover of liberty, every well-wisher
JANUARY 27, 1838
SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS
JANUARY 27, 1838
SPEECH TO YOUNG MEN'S LYCEUM,
SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS
e mobs, for the executive ministers of justice.
SPEECH TO YOUNG MEN'S LYCEUM,
h lieu of the sober judgment of courts; and the worse
and his children's liberty.
rowing disposition to substitute the wild and furious
on the blood of his father and to tear the charter of his own
increasing disregard for law which pervades the coun-
Let every man remember that to violate the law is to trample
s, even now, something of an ill omen amongst us,
147
A Treasury of Lincoln Quotations
A Treasury of Lincoln Quotations
180
A Treasury of Lincoln Quotations
A Treasury of Lincoln Quotations
181
tomorrow may, and probably will, hang or burn some of them by
Mob Rule
the very same mistake.
SPEECH TO YOUNG MÉN'S LYCEUM,
Whenever the vicious portion of the population shall be per-
SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS
mitted to gather in bands of hundreds and thousands and burn
churches, ravage and rob provision stores, throw printing presses
JANUARY 27, 1838
into rivers, shoot editors, and hang and burn obnoxious persons at
pleasure and with impunity, depend on it, this Government can-
Modesty
not last.
SPEECH TO YOUNG MEN'S LYCEUM,
Considering the great degree of modesty which should always
SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS
attend youth, it is probable that I have already been more pre-
suming than becomes me.
JANUARY 27, 1838
COMMUNICATION TO THE PEOPLE OF
The innocent, those who have ever set their faces against viola-
SANGAMON COUNTY, ILLINOIS
tions of law in every shape, alike with the guilty fall victims to
MARCH 9, 1832
the ravages of mob law.
SPEECH TO YOUNG MEN'S LYCEUM,
Sound your own horn, for behold if you sound not your own
horn your horn shall not be sounded.
SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS
JANUARY 27, 1838
SPEECH AT CLINTON, ILLINOIS
JULY 27, 1858
By the operation of this mobocratic spirit
the strongest bul-
wark of any Government, and particularly of those constituted
Gratefully accepting the proffered honor [to inscribe your new
like ours, may effectually be broken down and destroyed.
legal work to me], I give the leave, begging only that the inscrip-
SPEECH TO YOUNG MEN'S LYCEUM,
tion may be in modest terms, not representing me as a man of
SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS
great learning or a very extraordinary man in any respect.
JANUARY 27, 1838
LETTER TO WILLIAM D. KELLEY
OCTOBER 13, 1860
There is no grievance that is a fit object of redress by mob law.
SPEECH TO YOUNG MEN'S LYCEUM,
Most heartily do I thank you for this magnificent reception,
SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS
and while I cannot take to myself any share of the compliment
JANUARY 27, 1838
thus paid, more than that which pertains to a mere instrument-
an accidental instrument, perhaps I should say-of a great cause,
When men take it in their heads today to hang gamblers or
I yet must look upon it as a most magnificent reception and, as
burn murderers, they should recollect that in the confusion usu-
such, most heartily do I thank you for it.
ally attending such transactions they will be as likely to hang or
REPLY TO GOVERNOR OLIVER P. MORTON,
burn someone who is neither a gambler nor a murderer as one
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA
who is; and that, acting upon the example they set, the mob of
FEBRUARY II, 1861
The Lincoln Encyclopedia
109
Equality
and obligatory.-Message to Congress, July 4, 1861.
world, a nation, by its representatives assembled, de-
VI, 323.
clared, as a self-evident truth, that "all men were
created equal."-Response to serenade, July 7, 1863.
See UNION, inviolability of, 12.
IX, 20.
Enemies, not, but friends—I am loath to close. We
4.-Four score and seven years ago our fathers
are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies.
brought forth on this continent a new nation, con-
Though passion may have strained, it must not break
ceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition
our bonds of affection. The magic chords of memory,
that all men are created equal.-Gettysburg Address,
stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave
Nov. 19, 1863. IX, 209.
to every living heart and hearthstone all over this
See GOVERNMENT (AMERICAN), based on equal rights.
broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union
when again touched, as surely they will be, by the
Equality, beats inequality-Equality in society beats
better angels of our nature.-First inaugural, March
inequality, whether the latter be of the British
4, 1861. VI, 185.
aristocratic sort or the domestic slavery sort.-Frag-
2.-Americans, all, we are not enemies but friends.
ment, July 1, 1854. II, 184.
We have sacred ties of affection which, though
Equality, "central idea at beginning"-Public opin-
strained by passion, let us hope can never be broken.
ion, on any subject, always has a "central idea," from
-Indorsement on letter of O. H. Browning, Feb. 17,
which all its minor thoughts radiate. The "central
1861. R.T.L.
idea" in our public opinion at the beginning was,
Enemies, to thwart-Our adversaries think they can
and until recently has continued to be, "the equality
gain a point if they force me to openly deny the
of men." And although it has always submitted pa-
charge [that he had attended a Know-Nothing
tiently to whatever of inequality there seemed to be
Lodge], by which some degree of offense would be
as a matter of actual necessity, its constant working
given to the Americans. For this reason it must not
has been a steady progress toward the practical
publicly appear that I am paying any attention to the
equality of all men. The late presidential election was
charge.-To A. Jonas, July 21, 1860. VI, 47.
a struggle by one party to discard that "central idea"
and to substitute for it the opposite idea that slavery
"Entangling Details"-Mr. Miller's system doubtless
is right in the abstract, the working of which as a
is well intended, but from what I hear I fear that, if
"central idea" may be the perpetuity of human slav-
persisted in, it would fall down dead within its own
ery and its extension to all countries and colors.-
entangling details.-To Gen. Thomas, Feb. 28, 1864.
Speech, Chicago, Dec. 10, 1856. II, 310.
X, 24.
Equality, Declaration's message to foreign-born-Per-
Equality, appeal for old faith-Let us discard all this
haps
half
our
people
are not descendants at all
quibbling about this man and the other man, this
of these men [founders of the government]; they are
race and that race and the other race, being inferior
men who have come from Europe
themselves or
and therefore they must be placed in an inferior
whose ancestors have come hither and settled here,
position. Let us discard all these things, and unite
finding themselves our equal in all things. If they
as one people throughout this land, until we shall
look back through this history to trace their connec-
once more stand up declaring that all men are
tion with those days of blood, they find they have
created equal.Speech, Chicago, July 10, 1858. III,
none; they cannot carry themselves back into that
51
glorious epoch and make themselves feel that they are
Equality, basic American principle-Nearly 80 years
a part of us, but when they look through that old
ago we began by declaring that all men were created
Declaration of Independence, they find that those old
equal; but now from that beginning we have run
men say that "we hold these truths to be self-evident,
down to the other declaration that for some men to
that all men are created equal," and then they feel
enslave others is a "sacred right of self-government."
that the moral sentiment in that day evidences their
-Speech, Urbana, Oct. 24, 1854. Hertz II, 654.
relation to those men, that it is the father of all moral
2.-I believe the declaration that "all men are created
principle in them, and they have a right to claim it
equal" is the great fundamental principle upon which
as if they were blood of the blood, and flesh of the
our free institutions rest. That negro slavery is viola-
flesh, of the men who wrote that Declaration, and
tive of that principle.-Notes, Sept. 16, 1858. IV, 88.
so they are. That is the electric cord in the Declaration
3.-How long is it?-eighty-odd years since on the
that links the hearts of patriotic and liberty-loving
Fourth of July, for the first time in the history of the
men together, that will link those patriotic hearts as
Equality
110
The Lincoln Encyclopedia
long as the love of freedom exists in the minds of men
originally placed it.-Speech, Chicago, July 10, 1858.
throughout the world.Speech, Chicago, July 10, 1858.
III, 51.
III, 47.
6.-I do not understand the Declaration [of Inde-
pendence] to mean that all men are created equal in
Equality, doctrine of Declaration explained-I think
all respects. They [negroes] are not our equal in
the authors of that notable instrument intended to
color; but I suppose that it does mean to declare
include all men, but they did not intend to declare
that all men are equal in some respects; they are
all men equal in all respects. They did not mean to
equal in their right to "life, liberty, and the pursuit
say all men were equal in color, size, intellect, moral
of happiness." Certainly, the negro is not our equal
development or social capacity. They defined with
in color-perhaps not in many other respects; still,
tolerable distinction in what respects they did con-
in the right to put into his mouth the bread that his
sider all men created equal-equal with "certain in-
own hands have earned, he is the equal of every
alienable rights, among which are life, liberty and the
other man. In pointing out that more has been given
pursuit of happiness." This they did say, and this
you, you cannot be justified in taking away the little
they meant. They did not mean to assert the obvious
which has been given him. All I ask for the negro is
untruth that all were then actually enjoying that
that if you do not like him, let him alone. If God
equality, nor yet that they were about to confer it
gave him but little, that little let him enjoy.-Speech,
immediately upon them. In fact, they had no power
Springfield, July 17, 1858. III, 186.
to confer such a boon. They meant simply to declare
7.-I agree with Judge Douglas that he [the negro] is
the right; so that enforcement of it might follow as
not my equal in many respects-certainly not in
fast as circumstances should permit.-Speech, Spring-
color, perhaps not in moral or intellectual endow-
field, June 27, 1857. II, 330.
ment. But in the right to eat the bread, without the
Repeated at Alton, Oct. 15, 1858. V, 35.
leave of anybody else, which his own hand earns, he
2.-They [authors of the Declaration] meant to set up
is my equal and the equal of Judge Douglas, and
a standard maxim for free society, which should be
the equal of every living man.-Debate, Ottawa, Aug.
familiar to all, and revered by all; constantly labored
21, 1858. III, 229.
for, and even though never perfectly attained, con-
8.-Negroes have natural rights, however, as other
stantly approximated, and thereby constantly spread-
men have, although they cannot enjoy them here.
ing and deepening its influence and augmenting the
But though it [Declaration] does not declare
happiness and value of life to all people of all colors
that all men are equal in their attainments or social
everywhere.-Spech, Springfield, June 27, 1857. II,
position, yet no sane man will attempt to deny that
331.
the African upon his own soil has all the natural
3.-In some respects she [colored woman] certainly is
rights that instrument vouchsafes to all mankind.-
not my equal; but in her natural right to eat the
Speech, Carlinville, Aug. 31, 1858. Angle, 191.
bread she earns with her own hands, without asking
9.-Mr. [Henry] Clay says it is true as an abstract
leave of anyone else, she is my equal, and the equal
principle that all men are created equal, but that we
of all others.-Speech, Springfield, Dec. 10, 1857. II,
cannot practically apply it in all cases.-Debate,
329.
Alton, Oct 15, 1858. V, 41.
4.-It is said in one of the admonitions of our Lord,
"As your Father in Heaven is perfect, be ye also
Equality, Douglas's interpretation of the Declaration
perfect." The Savior, I suppose, did not expect that
-The founder of the Democratic party declared that
any human creature could be perfect as the Father
all men were created equal. His successor in the lead-
in Heaven; but He
set that up as a standard,
ership [Douglas] has written the word "white" before
and he who did most toward reaching that standard
men, making it read, "all white men are created
attained the highest degree of moral perfection. So
equal." Pray, will or may not the Know-Nothings, if
I say in relation to the principle that all men are
they should get into power, add the word "Protest-
created equal, let it be as nearly reached as we can.-
ant," making it read, "all Protestant white men"?-
Speech, Chicago, July 10, 1858. Basler, 403.
Speech, Bloomington, May 29, 1856. Lapsley II, 253.
5.-In relation to the principle that all men are
2.-"They [authors of the Declaration, according to
created equal, let it be as nearly reached as we can.
Douglas] were speaking of British subjects on this con-
If we cannot give freedom to every creature, let us
tinent being equal to British subjects born and resid-
do nothing that will impose slavery upon any other
ing in Great Britain." Why, according to this, not
creature. Let us, then, turn this government back into
only negroes but white people outside of Great
the channel in which the framers of the Constitution
Britain and America were not spoken of in that in-
The Lincoln Encyclopedia
111
Equality
strument.
The French, Germans and other white
long he will introduce another amendment to his
people of the world are all gone to pot along with
definition. He is not at all particular. He is satisfied
the judge's inferior races. I had thought the Declara-
with anything which does not endanger the nation-
tion promised something better than the condition of
alization of negro slavery.-Speech, Springfield, July
British subjects; but no, it only meant that we should
17, 1858. III, 185.
be equal to them in their oppressed and unequal
6.-If Judge Douglas and his friends are not willing
condition. According to that, it gave no promise that,
to stand by it [Declaration], let them come up and
having kicked off the king and lords of Great Britain,
amend it. Let them make it read that all men are
we should not at once be saddled with a king and
created equal, except negroes. Let us have it decided
lords of our own. I had thought the Declaration con-
whether the Declaration of Independence, in this
templated the progressive improvement in the condi-
blessed year of 1858, shall be thus amended.-Speech,
tion of all men everywhere; but no, it merely "was
Springfield, July 17, 1858. III, 185.
adopted for the purpose of justifying the colonists in
7.-Douglas says no man can defend it except on the
the eyes of the civilized world in withdrawing their
hypothesis that it referred to British white subjects,
allegiance from the British crown, and dissolving
and that no other white men are included; that it
their connection with the mother country."-And
does not speak alike to the down-trodden of all na-
now I appeal to all-to Democrats as well as others
tions-German, French, Spanish, etc., but simply
-are you really willing that the Declaration shall
meant that the English were born equal and endowed
thus be frittered away?-thus left no more, at most,
by their Creator with certain natural or equal rights,
than an interesting memorial of the dead past?-thus
among which were life, liberty, and the pursuit of
shorn of its vitality and practical value, and left
happiness, and that it means nobody else.Speech,
without the germ or even the suggestion of the in-
Carlinville, Aug. 31, 1858. Angle, 191.
dividual rights of man in it?-Speech, Springfield,
8.-Senator Douglas regularly argues against the doc-
June 27, 1857. II, 332.
trine of the equality of men; and while he does not
3.-But I suppose you will celebrate [the Fourth],
draw the conclusion that the superiors ought to en-
and will even go as far as to read the Declaration.
slave the inferiors, he evidently wishes his hearers to
Suppose, after you read it once in the old-fashioned
draw that conclusion. He shirks the responsibility of
way, you read it once more with Judge Douglas's
pulling the house down, but he digs under it that it
version. It will then run thus: "We hold these truths
may fall of its own weight.-Notes, Oct. 1, 1858. IV,
to be self-evident, that all British subjects who were
200.
on this continent 81 years ago were created equal to
9.-The judge has
insisted
that it is a slander
all British subjects born and then residing in Great
upon the framers of that instrument [Declaration] to
Britain."-Speech, Springfield, Dec. 10, 1857. II, 334.
suppose that negroes were meant therein; and he
4.-For the purpose of squaring things with this
asks you: Is it possible to believe that Mr. Jefferson,
[Douglas's] idea of "don't care if slavery is voted up
who penned the immortal paper, could have sup-
or voted down," for sustaining the Dred Scott de-
posed himself applying the language of that instru-
cision, for holding that the Declaration of Independ-
ment to the negro race, and yet hold a portion of
ence did not mean anything at all, we have Judge
that race in slavery?—Debate, Galesburg, Oct. 7, 1858.
Douglas giving his exposition of what the Declaration
IV, 262.
of Independence means, and we have him saying that
10.-I believe the entire records of the world from
the people of America are equal to the people of
the date of the Declaration of Independence up to
England. According to his construction, you Ger-
within three years ago, may be searched in vain for
mans are not connected with it.-Speech, Chicago,
one single affirmation, from one single man, that the
July 10, 1858. III, 48.
negro was not included in the Declaration of Inde-
5.-In his construction of the Declaration [of. Inde-
pendence; I think I may defy Judge Douglas that he
pendence] last year, he [Douglas] said it only meant
ever said so; that any President ever said so; that any
that Americans in America were equal to Englishmen
member of Congress ever said so; or that any living
in England. Then, when I pointed out to him that
man upon the whole earth ever said so, until the
by that rule he excludes Germans, the Irish, the Por-
necessities of the present policy of the Democratic
tuguese, and all the other people who have come
party in regard to slavery, had to invent that affirma-
amongst us since the Revolution, he reconstructs his
tion.-Debate, Galesburg, Oct. 7, 1858. IV, 263.
construction. In his last speech he tells us it meant
11.-I believe the first man who ever said it [that
Europeans. I press him a little further, and ask if it
the Declaration does not include the negro] was Chief
meant to include Russians in Asia?
I expect ere
Justice Taney in the Dred Scott case, and the next
Equality
112
The Lincoln Encyclopedia
to him was our friend, Stephen A. Douglas. And now
the principle that all men are created equal, we have
it has become the catchword of the entire party.-
the surrender of a most powerful position and an
Debate, Alton, Oct. 15, 1858. V, 37.
army on that very day. And not only so, but in a
12.-I would like to call upon his [Douglas's] friends
succession of battles in Pennsylvania, near to us,
everywhere, to consider how they come in so short a
through three days, so rapidly fought that they might
time to view this matter in a way so entirely different
be called one great battle, on the first, second and
from their former belief; to ask whether they are not
third of the month of July; and on the fourth the
being borne along by an irresistible current, whither,
cohorts of those opposed to the declaration that all
they know not.-Debate, Alton, Oct. 15, 1858. V,
men are created equal "turned tail" and ran.-Re-
38.
sponse to serenade, July 7, 1863. IX, 21.
13.-Five years ago no living man had expressed the
opinion that the negro had no share in the Declara-
Equality, essential to liberty--In what I have done I
tion of Independence.
Within the space of five
cannot claim to have acted from any peculiar con-
years Senator Douglas, in the argument of this ques-
sideration of the colored people as a separate and dis-
tion, has got his entire party, so far as I know, with-
tinct class in the community, but from the simple
out exception, to join in saying that the negro has
conviction that all the individuals of that class are
no share in the Declaration of Independence.
members of the same community, and, in virtue of
This is a vast change in the northern public senti-
their manhood, entitled to every original right en-
ment upon that question.
The tendency of that
joyed by any other member. We feel, therefore, that
change is to bring the public mind to the conclusion
all legal distinction between individuals of the same
that when men are spoken of, the negro is not meant;
community founded in any such circumstances as
that when negroes are spoken of, brutes alone are
color, origin, and the like, are hostile to the genius
contemplated.-Speech, Cincinnati, Sept. 17, 1859.
of our institutions, and incompatible with the true
V, 201.
history of American liberty. Slavery and oppression
14.-Five years ago no living man had placed on
must cease, or American liberty must perish.-Speech,
record, nor, as I believe, verbally expressed, a denial
Cincinnati, May 6, 1842. Hertz II, 531.
that negroes have a share in the Declaration of Inde-
Equality, Fathers' interpretation of the Declaration-
pendence. Two or three years since, Douglas began
This was their majestic interpretation of the economy
to deny it; and now every Douglas man in the nation
of the universe. This was their lofty, and wise, and
denies it.Speeches in Kansas, Dec. 1-5, 1859. V,
noble, understanding of the justice of the Creator to
270.
His creatures-yes, gentlemen, to all His creatures, to
15.-Is there a Democrat, especially one of the Doug-
the whole great family of men. In their enlightened
las wing, but will declare that the Declaration of In-
belief, nothing stamped with the divine image and
dependence has no application to the negro? It would
likeness was sent into the world to be trodden on and
be safe to offer a moderate premium for such a man.
degraded and imbruited by its fellows. They grasped
Not one of them said it five years ago. I never
not only the whole race of men then living, but they
heard it till I heard it from the lips of Judge Douglas.
reached forward and seized upon the farthermost pos-
Not a man of them said it till then-they all say
terity.Speech, Beardstown, Aug. 12, 1858. Hertz
it now. This is a long stride toward establishing the
II, 713.
policy of indifference-one more stride, I think,
would do it.Speech, Hartford, Conn., March 5,
Equality, Free-state principle-The free states carry
1860. V, 131.
on their government on the principle of the equality
16.-Do you know any Democrat
who declares
of men.-Speech, Hartford, Conn., March 5, 1860.
that he believes that the Declaration of Independence
V, 330.
has any application to the negro? Judge Taney de-
clares that it has not, and Judge Douglas even villifies
Equality, Jeffersonian Democrats challenged on-Are
me personally and scolds me roundly for saying the
Jeffersonian Democrats willing to have that gem
Declaration applies to all men, and that negroes are
[equality] taken from the magna carta of human
men.-Speech, New Haven, Conn., March 6, 1860.
liberty in this shameful way? Or will they maintain
V, 350.
that its declaration of equality of natural rights among
all men is correct?-Speech, Carlinville, Aug. 31,
Equality, efforts to overthrow principle-Now on this
1858. Angle, 191.
last Fourth of July, when we have a gigantic rebel-
Equality, largest degree of, under American govern-
lion, at the bottom of which is an effort to overthrow
ment-See LIBERTY, largest degree of, in America.
The Lincoln Encyclopedia
113
Escort
Equality, negroes and the Declaration-There is no
think of slaves as human beings; that some of the
reason in the world why the negro is not entitled to
things, at least, stated in the Declaration of Inde-
all the natural rights enumerated in the Declaration
pendence apply to them as well as to us.-Speech,
of Independence-the right to life, liberty and the
Norwich, Conn., March 9, 1860. VI, 3.
pursuit of happiness. I hold that he is as much en-
titled to these as the white man-Debate, Ottawa,
See EQUALITY, doctrine of the Declaration explained,
3, 6, 7, 8.
Aug. 21, 1858. III, 229.
Repeated at Quincy, Oct. 13, 1858. IV, 318.
See SLAVERY, wrong of.
Repeated at Columbus, Ohio, Sept. 16, 1859. V, 143.
2.-Clay and other great men were ever ready to ex-
Equality, recent interpretation of Declaration-See
press their abhorrence of slavery; but we of the North
EQUALITY, Douglas's interpretation of the Declaration,
dare not use his noble language when he said, to
9, 10, 11, 12, 13.
force its [slavery's] perpetuation and extension you
Equality, sentiment will live again-The human
must muzzle the cannon that annually proclaims lib-
heart is with us; God is with us. We shall again be
erty, and repress all tendencies in the human heart
able not to declare that "all states as states are
to justice and mercy. We can no longer express our
equal," nor yet that "all citizens as citizens are equal,"
admiration for the Declaration of Independence with-
but to renew the broader, better declaration, includ-
out their petty sneers. And it is true they are fast
ing both these and much more, that "all men are
bringing that sacred instrument into contempt.-
created equal."-Speech, Chicago, Dec. 10, 1856. II,
Speech, Carlinville, Aug. 31, 1858. Angle, 191.
311.
3.-I have said that in their right to "life, liberty and
the pursuit of happiness," as proclaimed in that old
Equality, steady progress toward-See EQUALITY, "cen-
Declaration, the inferior races are our equals.-De-
tral idea at beginning."
bate, Galesburg, Oct. 7, 1858. IV, 266.
4.-I think the negro is included in the word "men"
Equality, who shall judge?-Who shall say, "I am the
used in the Declaration of Independence.-To J. N.
superior, and you are the inferior?-Speech, Spring-
Brown, Oct. 18, 1858. V, 87.
field, July 17, 1858. III, 186.
5.-Did you ever, five years ago, hear of anybody in
Errors, confessed-I claim not to be more free from
the world saying that the negro had no share in the
errors than others-perhaps scarcely so much.-
Declaration of Independence; that it did not mean
Speech, Springfield, July 17, 1858. III, 169.
negroes at all, and when "all men" were spoken of
2.-I cannot claim that I am entirely free from all
negroes were not included?
If you think that
error in the opinions I advance.-Debate, Galesburg,
now, and did not think it then, the next thing that
Oct. 7, 1858. IV, 267.
strikes me to remark is that there has been a change
3.-You must not lay too much stress on the blunder
wrought in you, and a very significant change it is,
about Mr. Adams; for I made a more mischievous one
being no less than changing the negro, in your estima-
in the first printed speech of mine on the slavery
tion, from the rank of a man to that of a brute.—
question-October, 1854. I stated that the prohibi-
Speech, Columbus, Ohio, Sept. 16, 1859. V, 86.
tion of slavery in the Northwest Territory was made
6.-We think, most of us, that this charter of freedom
a condition in the Virginia deed of cession, while, in
applies to the slave as well as to ourselves; that the
fact, it was not.-To James O. Putnam, Sept. 13,
class of arguments put forward to batter down that
1860. Angle, 254.
idea [that it does not apply to slaves] is also calcu-
4.-1 frequently make mistakes myself in the many
lated to break down the very idea of free government,
things I am compelled to do hastily.-To Gen. Rose-
even for white men, and to undermine the very foun-
crans, May 20, 1863. VIII, 279.
dations of free society.-Speech, New Haven, Conn.,
5.-In my administration I may have committed some
March 6, 1860. V, 344.
errors. It would indeed be remarkable if I had not.-
7.-Is there a Democrat here who does not deny that
Reply to Presbyterian General Assembly, May 30,
the Declaration applies to a negro? Do any of you
1863. VIII, 287.
know of one?
I venture to defy the whole party
to produce one man that ever uttered the belief that
Escort, not wanted-On reflection I think it will not
the Declaration did not apply to negroes before the
do, as a rule, for the adjutant-general to attend me
repeal of the Missouri Compromise.Speech, New
wherever I go; not that I have any objection to his
Haven, Conn., March 6, 1860. V, 351.
presence, but that it would be an uncompensating
8.-To us [men of the North] it appears natural to
encumbrance both to him and me. When it shall
Missouri Compromise
216
The Lincoln Encyclopedia
pendence.-Speech, Bloomington, May 29, 1856.
viso] repudiated the Missouri Compromise is no less
Lapsley II, 274.
absurd than it would be to argue that because we
10.-The conclusion of all is, that we must restore
have so far foreborne to acquire Cuba, we have
the Missouri Compromise.Speech, Bloomington,
thereby, in principle, repudiated our former acquisi-
May 29, 1856. Lapsley II, 274.
tions and determined to throw them out of the
Union. No less absurd than it would be to say that
Missouri Compromise, sacrificed by Genius of Dis-
because I may have refused to build an addition to
cord-The Genius of Discord himself could scarcely
my house, I thereby have decided to destroy the exist-
have invented a way of again setting us by the ears
ing house.-Speech, Peoria, Oct. 16, 1854. II, 211.
but by turning back and destroying the peace meas-
ures [relating to slavery] of the past. The counsels of
"Mr. Whiskey"-See SALOON SMASHERS, women, de-
that Genius seem to have prevailed. The Missouri
fended.
Compromise was repealed; and here we are in the
Mob Law, danger of-When men take it in their
midst of a new slavery agitation, such, I think, as we
heads to hang gamblers or burn murderers, they should
have never seen before.Speech, Peoria, Oct. 16,
recollect that in the confusion usually attending such
1854. II, 237.
transactions they will be as likely to hang or burn
Repeated at Urbana, Oct. 24, 1854. Hertz II, 649.
someone who is neither a gambler nor a murderer as
Missouri Compromise, South should help restore-
one who is, and that, acting upon the example they
The South ought to join in doing this. The peace of
set, the mob of tomorrow may, and probably will,
the nation is as dear to them as to us. In memories
hang or burn some of them by the very same mistake.
of the past and hopes of the future, they share as
And not only so; the innocent, those who have even
largely as we. It would be on their part a great act-
set their faces against violations of law in every shape,
great in its spirit, and great in its effect.
And
alike with the guilty fall victims to the ravages of mob
what sacrifice would they make? They only surrender
law; and thus it goes up, step by step, till all the walls
what they gave up for a consideration long, long ago;
erected for the defence of the person and property of
what they have not now asked for, struggled or cared
individuals are trodden down and disregarded. But
for; what has been thrust upon them, not less to their
all this, even, is not the full extent of the evil. By
astonishment than to ours.-Speech, Peoria, Oct. 16,
such examples, by instances of the perpetrators of
1854. II, 241.
such acts going unpunished, the lawless in spirit are
encouraged to become lawless in practice; and having
Missouri Compromise, Southern triumph-The
been used to no restraint but the dread of punish-
scheme [compromise], as a whole, was, of course, a
ment, they thus become absolutely unrestrained. Hav-
Southern triumph. It is idle to contend otherwise, as
ing ever regarded government as their deadliest bane,
is now being done by the Nebraskaites; it was shown
they make a jubilee of the suspension of its opera-
by the votes and quite as emphatically by the expres-
tions, and pray for nothing so much as its total an-
sions of representative men.-Speech, Bloomington,
nihilation. While, on the other hand, good men, men
May 29, 1856. Lapsley II, 262.
who love tranquillity, who desire to abide by the laws
and enjoy their benefits, who would gladly spill their
Missouri Compromise, why disturb?-I ask why he
blood in defence of their country, seeing their prop-
[Douglas] could not have left that compromise alone?
erty destroyed, their families insulted, and their lives
We were quiet from the agitation of the slavery ques-
endangered, their persons injured, and seeing nothing
tion. We were making no fuss about it. All had ac-
in prospect that forebodes a change for the better,
quiesced in the compromise measures of 1850. We
become tired of and disgusted with a government that
never had been seriously disturbed by an abolition
offers them no protection, and are not much averse to
agitation before that period.-Debate, Jonesboro,
a change in which they imagine they have nothing to
Sept. 15, 1858. IV, 38.
lose. Thus
the strongest bulwark of any govern-
2.-When he [Douglas] came to form governments
for the territories north of the line 36 degrees 30 min-
ment, and particularly of those constituted like ours,
may effectually be broken down and destroyed-I
utes, why could he not have left that matter stand as
mean the attachment of the people. Whenever this
it was. standing? Was it necessary to the organization
effect shall be produced among us; whenever the
of a territory? Not at all.-Debate, Jonesboro, Sept.
vicious portion of population shall be permitted to
15, 1858. IV, 38.
gather in bands of hundreds and thousands, and burn
Missouri Compromise, Wilmot Proviso and-To
churches, ravage and rob provision stores, throw
argue that we thus [by supporting the Wilmot Pro-
printing presses into rivers, shoot editors, and hang
The Lincoln Encyclopedia
217
Monarchy
and burn obnoxious persons at pleasure and with im-
pear tempting to me also, were it not that, in view of
punity, depend on it, this government cannot last.
recent events in Mexico, I am greatly impressed with
I know the American people are much attached
the importance of re-establishing the national author-
to their government; I know they would suffer much
ity in western Texas as soon as possible.-To Gen.
for its sake; I know they would endure evils long and
Grant, Aug. 9, 1863. IX, 64.
patiently before they would ever think of exchanging
it for another-yet, notwithstanding all this, if the
Mobocratic Spirit, warning against-I am opposed to
laws be continually despised and disregarded, if their
encouraging that lawless and mobocratic spirit
rights to be secure in their persons and property are
which is already abroad in the land; and is spreading
held by no better tenure than the caprice of a mob,
with rapid and fearful impetuosity to the ultimate
the alienation of the affections from the government
overthrow of every institution, of even moral princi-
is the natural consequence; and to that, sooner or
ple, in which persons and property have hitherto
later, it must come-Speech, Springfield, Jan. 27,
found security.-Speech, Illinois Legislature, Jan. 27,
1837. I, 40.
1837. I, 33.
Mob Law, dangerously familiar-Such are the effects
Moderation, best policy-In grave emergencies, mod-
of mob law, and such are the scenes becoming more
eration is generally safer than radicalism.-Speech,
and more frequent in this land so lately famed for
Bloomington, May 29, 1856. Lapsley II, 266.
love of law and order, and the stories of which have
2.-We will grow strong by calmness and moderation.
even now grown too familiar to attract anything more
-Speech, Bloomington, May 29, 1856. Lapsley II,
than idle remark.
Its direct consequences are,
267.
comparatively speaking, but a small evil, and much
3.-Now let us harmonize, my friends, and appeal to
of its danger consists in the proneness of our minds
the moderation and patriotism of the people.-
to regard its direct as its only consequences.-Speech,
Speech, Bloomington, May 29, 1856. Lapsley II, 268.
Springfield, Jan. 27, 1837. I, 39.
4.-The utmost care will be observed, consistently
with the objects aforesaid [repossession of lost federal
Mob Law, never justified-There is no grievance that
property] to avoid any devastation, any destruction of
is a fit object of redress by mob law. In any case that
or interference with property, or any disturbance of
may arise as, for instance, the promulgation of aboli-
peaceful citizens in any part of the country.-Procla-
tionism, one of the two positions is necessarily true-
mation, April 15, 1861. VI, 247.
that is, the thing is right within itself, and therefore
5.-I have an imploring appeal in behalf of citizens,
deserves the protection of all law and all good citi-
who say your Order No. 8 will compel them to go
zens, or it is wrong, and therefore proper to be pro-
north of Nashville. This is in no sense an order, nor
hibited by legal enactments; and in neither case is
is it even a request that you will do anything which
the interposition of mob law either necessary, justi-
in the least shall be a drawback upon your military
fiable or excusable.-Speech, Springfield, Jan. 27,
operations, but anything you can do consistently with
1837. I, 44.
those operations for these suffering people I shall be
Mob Law, pervades country-They [mobs] have per-
glad of.-To Gen. Sherman, May 4, 1864. X, 93.
vaded the country from New England to Louisiana;
they are neither peculiar to the eternal snows of the
Moles, soldiers are not-See MARYLAND, troops must
former nor the burning suns of the latter; they are
cross.
not the creature of climate, neither are they confined
Monarchy, could be established by bribery-Standing
to the slave-holding or the non-slave-holding states.
as a unit among yourselves [proslavery men], you can,
Alike they spring up among the pleasure-hunting mas-
directly or indirectly, bribe enough of our men to
ters of southern slaves, and the order-loving citizens
of the land of steady habits. Whatever, then, their
carry the day [admitting Kansas as a slave state] as
you could on the open proposition to establish a
case may be, it is common to the whole country.-
monarchy. Get hold of some man in the North whose
Speech, Springfield, Jan. 27, 1837. I, 37.
position and ability is such that he can make the sup-
Mobile, capture of-See DEITY, gratitude to, 12.
port of your measure, whatever it may be, a Demo-
See FARRAGUT, DAVID G., thanked for victories.
cratic party necessity, and the thing is done.-To
Joshua F. Speed, Aug. 24, 1855. II, 285.
Mobile, expedition against, not favored-I see by a
dispatch of yours that you incline quite strongly to-
Monarchy, "possible refuge"-Monarchy itself is
ward an expedition against Mobile. This would ap-
sometimes hinted at [in Confederate documents] as a
Lincoln, 11 Abraham, Pres. U.S., 1809-1565.
t:THE
LINCOLN
ENCYCLOPEDIA
THE SPOKEN AND WRITTEN WORDS OF
A.dincoln
ARRANGED FOR READY REFERENCE
COMPILED AND EDITED BY
ARCHER H. SHAW
With an Introduction by David C. Mearns
Assistant Librarian, Library of Congress
THE MACMILLAN COMPANY : NEW YORK
1950
sb3T
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TOP STORIES AS OF 5/1/1992, 12:00 PM
Next Update: 1:15 PM
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BC-ISRAEL (PICTURE)
SHAMIR SAYS PALESTINIANS WANT TO TALK
By Marjorie Olster
JERUSALEM, May 1, Reuter - Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir
said on Friday Palestinians who called this week's peace talks
with Israel a waste of time had struck a different tone behind
closed doors.
"Inside they spoke differently," Shamir told Reuters
during a campaign walkabout through a packed Jerusalem
pedestrian mall. "Outside they say to the media they do not
agree but they are very interested in continuing talks and that
is a good sign."
Palestinian spokeswoman Hanan Ashrawi called the latest
round "a waste of time."
The hardline Likud party prime minister, campaigning for
re-election on June 23, faces a tough challenge from the more
popular Labour party leader Yitzhak Rabin. He hopes to gain
support from moderates by styling himself a peacemaker.
Shamir said he was satisfied with the fifth round of talks
that ended on Thursday. "There was progress towards more peace,
more understanding," he said.
Israel proposed the first municipal elections in the
occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip since 1976 and offered
Palestinians immediate control of their own health services.
Palestinians said the proposals were meaningless ploys meant
to make Shamir look good ahead of the elections. They called for
elections throughout the territories for a legislature to
administer self-rule.
Two opinion polls published in Israeli newspapers on Friday
showed Rabin more popular than Shamir among both Israelis and
recent immigrants from the former Soviet Union who will vote for
the first time.
A poll of 800 immigrants showed 52 per cent backing Rabin
compared to 22 per cent for Shamir, with 26 per cent undecided.
Forty-three per cent said they would vote for Labour and 14
per cent supported Likud. A fifth were undecided and the rest
supported small parties.
A second poll of 1,000 Israelis showed 53.4 per cent backed
Rabin and 31.1 per cent Shamir, with 15.5 per cent undecided.
REUTER MLO HSG TG
Reut09: 57 05-01
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BC-BRITAIN-OLYMPIA-CRISIS (NEWS ANALYSIS)
OLYMPIA AND YORK FACES CRITICAL WEEKEND OF TALKS
By Alister Bull
LONDON, May 1, Reuter - Creditors of Olympia and York face a
bleak choice this weekend between handing over yet more money to
the debt-burdened Canadian property giant or pressing it to seek
court bankruptcy protection.
One month after the secretive Reichmann brothers conceded
what many bankers had feared -- that their Toronto-based empire
was facing a liquidity crisis on both sides of the Atlantic --
the poker game is being played for increasingly high stakes.
O&Y has debts of $12 billion worldwide after the worst
property slump in decades. Creditor banks will face enormous
problems if it collapses.
But the banks are also aware they have powerful leverage and
can exact a high price from the company in return for their
further cooperation.
The 100 banks know their ultimate sanction would be to force
the Canadian group into administration.
Administration removes control from management by placing
the company under a court appointed official, unlike Chapter 11
in the U.S. bankruptcy code, which leaves managers in place.
"The situation is very grave and it is by no means certain
that the shutters won't come down," said one senior source
close to the talks which have now been dragging on for two
weeks.
Olympia and York won a short breathing space on Friday when
its creditors agreed to provide a small weekly allowance
amounting to a cash drip-feed for O&Y's huge Canary Wharf office
development in London's eastern Docklands.
But exhaustive talks between O&Y and bankers -- who have
been asked by O&Y to put in fresh cash and reschedule debts on
its multi-billion dollar empire -- have secured a fraction of
the money needed.
Time is fast running out.
Sources close to the talks put O&Y's chances of avoiding
some form of court bankruptcy protection at little better than
50-50.
Bankers fear that failure to secure a worldwide debt
standstill could start a free-for-all dash among O&Y's creditors
for the group's assets.
"Administration has moved up the agenda of options. We have
to protect our security," said one Canary Wharf lender.
Owned by brothers Paul, Albert and Ralph Reichmann, the
empire they founded in the 1950s ran out of cash in March when
investors refused to buy a routine issue of commercial paper.
The reason -- a credit downgrade by Canadian rating agency
Dominion Bond Rating Service -- crystalised fears among lenders
that the group's legendary good fortune had at last turned.
REUTER AMB MEM JCH
Reut09:57 05-01
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All rights reserved.
BC-ISRAEL (SCHEDULED, PICTURE)
SHAMIR SAYS PALESTINIANS WANT TO TALK
By Marjorie Olster
JERUSALEM, May 1, Reuter - Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir
said on Friday Palestinians who called this week's peace talks
with Israel a waste of time had struck a different tone behind
closed doors.
"Inside they spoke differently," Shamir told Reuters
during a campaign walkabout through a packed Jerusalem
pedestrian mall. "Outside they say to the media they do not
agree but they are very interested in continuing talks and that
is a good sign."
Palestinian spokeswoman Hanan Ashrawi called the latest
round "a waste of time."
The hardline Likud party prime minister, campaigning for
re-election on June 23, faces a tough challenge from the more
popular Labour party leader Yitzhak Rabin. He hopes to gain
support from moderates by styling himself a peacemaker.
Excited supporters shouted "Shamir to power" and "Death
to the Arabs" as he passed open-air cafes full of people
enjoying a sunny day.
The diminutive leader was hidden by a ring of police and
security guards a head taller than him but one supporter held up
a framed picture of him to let the crowd know he was coming.
Some Shamir supporters attacked a demonstration by Labour
party activists and tore down a banner they carried assailing
unemployment of 11 per cent, the highest in 20 years. Police
broke up the row as Shamir approached.
Shamir said he was satisfied with the fifth round of talks
that ended on Thursday. "There was progress towards more peace,
more understanding," he said.
Israel proposed the first municipal elections in the
occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip since 1976 and offered
Palestinians immediate control of their own health services.
Palestinians said the proposals were meaningless ploys meant
to make Shamir look good ahead of the elections. They called for
elections throughout the territories for a legislature to
administer self-rule.
The Israeli offer caught Palestinian negotiators between
their need to seize on any Israeli concessions and their desire
to deny Shamir any credit that could help his election campaign.
They did not reject municipal elections.
Two opinion polls published in Israeli newspapers on Friday
showed Rabin more popular than Shamir among both Israelis and
recent immigrants from the former Soviet Union who will vote for
the first time.
A poll of 800 immigrants showed 52 per cent backing Rabin
compared to 22 per cent for Shamir, with 26 per cent undecided.
Forty-three per cent said they would vote for Labour and 14
per cent supported Likud. A fifth were undecided and the rest
supported small parties.
A second poll of 1,000 Israelis showed 53.4 per cent backed
Rabin and 31.1 per cent Shamir, with 15.5 per cent undecided.
One third of those who voted for Likud in the last election
said they now preferred Rabin, a soldier-turned-politiciar who
favours a tough line with Palestinian protests while backing
territorial concessions for peace.
REUTER MLO HSG TG
Reut09:54 05-01
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BC-USA-RIOTS 3RDLD
DEATH TOLL CLIMBS TO 31 IN LOS ANGELES RIOTS
By Michael Fitzpatrick
LOS ANGELES, May 1, Reuter - California's governor rushed
additional troops to Los Angeles on Friday as racial violence
spread to the heart of the Hollywood movie community and other
cities across the United States.
The death toll in Los Angeles rose to 31, with more than
1,200 injured, in a two-day frenzy of looting and arson that has
left America's second-largest city shrouded in thick, black
smoke.
There were more than 3,000 arrests and 1,500 fires set, but
city officials said a dusk-to-dawn curfew had quelled the
rioting that has swept the city since Wednesday.
The streets were nearly deserted as dawn broke in south
central Los Angeles, where the riots erupted on Wednesday after
a jury acquitted four white policemen in the beating of black
motorist Rodney King.
"The fact is we have a show of force out there and things
are quieting down," said Los Angeles police chief Daryl Gates.
Violence spread on Thursday and overnight to San Francisco,
Atlanta, Seattle and the gambling mecca of Las Vegas, where
curfews were imposed to restore order.
In Los Angeles 2,000 rifle-toting National Guardsmen
patrolled troubled neighbourhoods, and Governor Pete Wilson,
responding to the city's plea for more help, sent 4,000 more on
Friday.
The racial violence spread to the heart of Hollywood.
Firefighters battled a blaze not far from the famous Mann's
Chinese Theatre where footprints and handprints of the film
capital's greatest stars are preserved in concrete.
Los Angeles mayor Tom Bradley said he may ask the federal
government to send troops to the city if National Guardsmen
cannot be mobilised quickly to restore order.
"It is clear now that we need more than 2,000 (National
Guard troops) to cover the city of Los Angeles and the other
cities within the county," Bradley said.
Samuel Skinner, President George Bush's chief of staff, said
early on Friday it was "possible" that Bush would order
federal troops into Los Angeles to help curb the rioting.
National Guard forces are under control of the governor,
while federal troops, which include the U.S. Army, are under
control of the president.
In San Francisco, Mayor Frank Jordan ordered an overnight
curfew after bands of youths broke windows and looted a number
of downtown stores. Police said 340 people were arrested.
A similar curfew was declared in Atlanta after about 200
club-wielding demonstrators tore through a downtown shopping
district.
In Las Vegas, Mayor Jan Jones clamped a curfew on the west
side of the city after two police stations were firebombed and
one policeman was wounded.
Seattle police reported more than 30 arrests overnight as
gangs of up to 200 youths roamed downtown streets, smashing shop
windows and overturning cars.
Protests were also reported in Dallas and Madison,
Wisconsin.
Bradley, following a helicopter tour of the wrecked
neighbourhoods, said, "I must tell you I was so touched, so
hurt by what I saw, it is difficult to describe."
Insured damage reached an estimated $100 million, said Patty
Lombard, spokeswoman for the Insurance Information Institute.
She said the figure could go higher.
The dead in Los Angeles were mostly male, aged 15 to 45. Two
men and a woman died in a traffic crash in Hollywood as they
were being chased by police.
The looting and arson began in poor neighbourhoods, but the
area affected by the roving mobs of all ages and races grew
during the day. Ten people were arrested for looting in
exclusive Beverly Hills, police said.
The normally crowded Los Angeles streets and freeways were
likely to remain quiet on Friday with most schools, courts and
many businesses shut down because of the riots.
All public schools in Los Angeles were ordered closed on
Friday. Fires burning near the University of Southern California
forced the cancellation of final examinations scheduled for
Thursday and Friday.
An extended run of the musical "Phantom of the Opera" was
temporarily shut down and sports events were postponed.
President Bush called the riots "outrageous" and appealed
for calm. "I urge all Americans to approach the situation with
calm, with tolerance and with a respect for the rights of all
individuals under the constitution," he said.
REUTER MP SR AB
Reut09: 52 05-01
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BC-YUGOSLAVIA-COMMUNITY (SCHEDULED, PICTURE)
EC MINISTERS DISCUSS HOW TO END BOSNIAN CONFLICT
By Andres Wolberg-Stok
GUIMARAES, Portugal, May 1, Reuter - European Community
foreign ministers met on Friday to discuss how to force Serbia
to pull Yugoslav forces out of Bosnia-Herzegovina, hours after
an upsurge in violence racked the newly independent state.
Diplomats said the ministers, meeting in a 15th-century
palace in the northern town of Guimaraes, were unlikely to
decide how to increase pressure on Serbia.
Among theoretical measures were withholding recognition of
the new state of Yugoslavia, proclaimed this week by Serbia and
its ally Montenegro, and sanctions against Serbia.
The new Yugoslavia wants to assume the mantle, including
arms, money, embassies and seats at world bodies, of the
Yugoslav federation, torn apart by ethnic warfare since
Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Macedonia broke away.
In Bosnia-Herzegovina itself, many people were feared dead
after a truck bomb demolished a bridge late on Thursday, the
third such attack in a day in the republic.
Earlier on Thursday between 15 and 20 people were killed in
bomb attacks on two bridges across the Sava river, further north
in the former Yugoslav republic.
Radio stations reported fighting in several towns, including
an overnight artillery attack on the Bosnian capital, Sarajevo.
Three people were killed in clashes in the southwestern city
of Mostar, Tanjug news agency said.
In Lisbon, sensitive EC-sponsored talks with leaders of
Bosnia's Serb, Moslem and Croatian communities fighting over
independence resumed on Friday.
The fighting has killed an estimated 300 people and forced
400,000 to flee their homes in the past two months.
The Moslem and Croat communities accused the Serbs on Friday
of wrecking the fragile progress made at the Lisbon talks this
week by launching ferocious artillery and bomb attacks.
"They just don't want peace. They are burning and
destroying everything," Bosnian Foreign Minister Haris
Siladjzic, a Moslem, told Reuters.
Western governments have threatened Serbia with
international isolation unless it withdraws from Bosnia, a
republic of 4.3 million people which won international
recognition last month.
The 12 EC states, which last December pledged to forge a
common foreign and security policy, have been unable to avoid
fresh splits as Greece supported Serbia and others disagreed on
whether the new Yugoslavia should be regarded as the successor
state to the old federation.
Greek Prime Minister Constatine Mitsotakis visited Serbia on
Thursday.
Mitsotakis was representing Greece as foreign minister in
Guimaraes after sacking the previous incumbent, Antonis Samaras.
Samaras had angered some fellow EC foreign ministers with
his refusal to accept EC recognition of Macedonia, another of
the breakaway Yugoslav republics, arguing that its name implies
territorial claims on Greece's own Macedonia region.
The EC ministers were also due to discuss institutional
arrangements for their common foreign policy and budget
proposals for 1993-97 which have split the Community's rich and
poorer states.
On Saturday, they were to travel to the city of Oporto, 50
km (32 miles) from Guimaraes, for the formal signing of a pact
embracing the 12 EC states and their seven European Free Trade
Association neighbours.
REUTER AWS ABD BM
Reut09:49 05-01
####
- Maybe Radio address
- Centralizerddress in David's
National Address Tonight
office
Might do tonight
- We have Tony's draft
on situation
5 page
what he's done
1
get quotes
New steps
MK-
1
what were done
what they've planned
Philosophy Circumstance of the
- First, Ind 3rd
- Tony did a 5-page
doaft we can use
John chrysostom
Fed law enforcement
1
7514-2061
diff trom fed
1,000 mais Feels
what have have troops we blone to date
to Justice
- whole justice peace
4,000 trops
— Accelerating review case
Not the
- Change proverb
MLK quotes
Cleveland -
Dallas- - Tuesday
6:50 a.m. Vans
Philadel
Wes
Pitt
Cleveland
South Bend
Dallas
People helpingthe helping the
Oictims
Quotes Civil Rights Leaders
MAY- 1-92 FRI 10:24 OPD
P.01
TELE-FAX COVER SHEET
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
OFFICE OF POLICY & COMMUNICATIONS
10TH AND CONSTITUTION AVENUE, NW
WASHINGTON, DC 20530
DATE: May', 1992
SEND
Michelle TO: Nixior Jennifer Mossnan
COMMENTS: URGENT!
FAX NUMBER:
456-6218
CONTACT PERSON: MaRy Kate Gant
PHONE: 5149205
NUMBER OF PAGES (INCLUDING THIS ONE): 9
OUR TELE-FAX NUMBER IS (202)-514-2424
MAY- 1-92 FRI 10:25 OPD
P.02
Department of Justice
1
CR
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 1992
202-514-2007
TDD 202-514-1888
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- John R. Dunne, Assistant Attorney
General for civil Rights, issued the following statement last
night regarding the verdict in Los Angeles:
"Pursuant to our long-standing policy of deferring to local
prosecution, the Department of Justice has been monitoring the
prosecution of four Los Angeles Police Department Officers in
Simi Valley. The Department's Civil Rights Division, in
conjunction with the United States Attorney's office for the
Central District of California, will now undertake a review of
this incident to determine what, if any, action may be taken
under federal civil rights laws."
####
92-147
1-92 FRI 10:25 OPD
P.03
Department of Justice
AG
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
202-514-2007
THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 1992
202-514-1888
STATEMENT BY ATTORNEY GENERAL WILLIAM P. BARR
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- I have a brief statement on the situation
in Los Angeles.
The verdicts yesterday on state charges are not the end of
this process. The Department of Justice is responsible for
enforcing federal civil rights laws, and we will do so vigorously.
The Department and the FBI have been closely monitoring the
Los Angeles case since the incident occurred. As is our the
established practice in such cases, we deferred action while
state completed its proceedings.
We have now moved forward with our own federal investigation
this incident to determine whether there was a violation of the
of civil rights laws. We began that process last night, immediately
after the verdicts were returned.
That investigation will be carried out jointly by the civil
Rights Angeles and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. I have
Division and the United States Attorney's office instructed in Los
them to complete this review as quickly as possible.
have asked Associate Attorney General Wayne Budd to
personally I oversee the investigation. I have asked the Associate all the
General to go to Los Angeles to meet with the
Attorney Department of Justice components on the scene to ensure and
also to coordinate with Governor Wilson and Mayor Bradley
investigation is being pursued as expeditiously as possible; with
respect to any futher assistance that may be required.
I join the President, local officials and community leaders in
calling on all Americans to obey the law.
take with gravest concern any allegation of police
brutality We and, as I said, we will pursue this particular allegation violence
aggressively. At the same time, we cannot tolerate public to an
and lawlessness. It is imperative that this violence come
end immediately.
# # #
92-148.
MAY- 1-92 FRI 10:26 OPD
P.04
PRESS CONFERENCE WITH ATTORNEY GENERAL WILLIAM BARR; FBI DIRECTOR WILLIAM
SESSIONS; AND JOHN DUNNE, ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL, CIVIL RIGHTS DIV.
J-4-1 page# 1
THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 1992
dest=s jd, fbi, crime, police, ca, civrts, doj, fns13684
data
ATTY GEN. BARR: Good afternoon. I have a brief statement to
make about the situation in Los Angeles, and joining me here at the
podium is the Director of the FBI Judge Sessions and the head of the
Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice John Dunne.
It's important for people to understand that the verdicts
yesterday on state charges are not the end of the process. The
Department of Justice is responsible for enforcing the civil rights
laws of the United States and WE will do SO vigorously. The
Department and the FBI have been closely monitoring the Los Angeles
case since the incident occurred. As is our established practice in
such cases, we deferred action while the state completed its
proceedings. We have now moved forward with our own federal
complete investigation of this incident to determine whether there
has been a violation of federal civil rights statutes.
We began that process last night immediately after the verdicts
returned. That investigation will be carried out jointly by
were the Los Angeles United States Attorney's Office, the Civil Rights this
Division, and the FBI. And I've instructed them to complete
review as quickly as possible.
I have asked Associate Attorney General Wayne Budd to
personally oversee the investigation. And 1 have asked the
Associate Attorney General to go to Los Angeles today to meet with the
all the Department of Justice components that are involved on
and to ensure that the investigation is being pursued as
scene expeditiously as possible, and also to coordinate Governor to Wilson
and Mayor Bradley and other local leaders with respect any
further assistance that may be needed.
I join the President, local officials, and community leaders in
on all Americans to abey the law. WE take with gravest
calling concern any allegation of police brutality. And as I said, time, we will we
SUB this particular allegation vigorously. At the it same is
pur cannot tolerate public violence and lawlessness, and
imperative that this violence come to an end immediately.
I. will take your questions.
General, with respect to the count on which the jury
deadlocked, D local officials have indicated they would take at least that
till May 15th to decide whether to vote for a new trial. with Does
mean you're -- you certainly are not going to go forward
anything in the way of a charge prior to May 15th?
ATTY GEN. BARR: No, it does not necessarily mean that. We
are now moving forward with our investigation.
Q
How long --
MAY- 1-92 FRI 10:26 OPD
P.05
Q
Do you have any assurances from the LA folks as to how
they're going to -- what they're going to do on that count?
ATTY GEN. BARR: We don't need any assurances. We are pursuing
now a federal criminal investigation.
Q
How long --
ATTY GEN. BARR: Yes.
0
-- how long --
ATTY GEN. BARR: Yes.
0
On what grounds would you pursue this case? I understand
perhaps a change of venue might be one thing that should be looked
at? What constitutes ---
ATTY GEN. BARR: No --
a
- a civil rights violation?
ATTY GEN. BARR: The statutes of particular relevance here are
18 USC 241 and 18 USC 242. 18 USC 241 prohibits a conspiracy to
deprive someone of their constitutional rights. Section 242
prohibits deprivation of constitutional rights under color of law,
including under color of state law. Those are the two relevant
statutes.
Q
Could you explain that and how you could prosecute on a
civil rights level when they've been here as criminals?
ATTY GEN. BARR: There are two -- there are -- nothing in the
state process is binding on us federally. There are two different
sovereigns, and 50 there is no issue of double jeopardy here. What
we are looking at is whether there was intentional infliction of
excessive force -- which may constitute a violation of the civil
rights laws, And SO we are not bound by any of the state
proceedings in that inquiry.
Yes, sir?
D.
Can you give us an estimate as to long it might take to
complete your inquiry, and are there additional FBI agents and
assistant US attorneys being assigned to this case? You said that
the associate attorney general is being sent out there. Is anybody
else being sent out there?
ATTY. GEN. BARR: I believe that John Dunne last night directed
several prosecutors in his division to go out to Los Angeles
immediately. I'm not going to predict a specific time frame. This
is now an active criminal investigation. We're obviously aware that
there is a strong interest that it be pressed forward and concluded
as expeditiously as we can, and all resources necessary to achieve
that will be devoted to the investigation.
Yes?
Q
Didn't the FBI already conduct a preliminary
investigation and come up with some conclusions that indicated there
might be some difficulties in bringing federal charges?
MAY- 1-92 FRI 10:27 OPD
P.06
GEN. BARR: I'll let Judge Sessions answer after I do,
there ATTY. -- you were correct that the FBI did begin a criminal what
but investigation, a review of the case, but we can't discuss
conclusions might have been reached because that is still part of
this ongoing criminal investigation.
Judge, do you want to add to that?
JUDGE SESSIONS: That would be correct, Ron. Those
investigative results, of course, were delivered to the United
Attorney and to the Civil Rights Division of the Department
States of Justice by Deputy Attorney General John Dunne, and those matters,
of course, are matters for them to consider.
Can you tell us when you started that investigation and
when D you stopped it in deference to the state trial?
ATTY. GEN. BARR: The investigation, of course, was begun
immediately. If you'll recall, the video presentation of the tape
shown, I believe, on a Monday evening, and we began first thing
WRS morning early in the morning hours. That was, of course,
Tuesday diligently to the point where we had conducted and completed And,
pursued preliminary investigation. At that point it was stopped.
our subject to the oversight of the Department of Justice, Civil Rights
Division, we will begin again.
Yes?
General, is there a Justice Department policy, maybe
0 the -- (inaudible word) -- policy, that states that you will
called not prosecute if the facts have already been adjudicated in evidence favor of
the defendant in a state court unless you come up with new
or something?
ATTY. GEN. BARR: There is no such policy.
General, may I just ask you: There is certainly a strong
perception amongst many people in the community that white officers have
accused of brutality towards black victims get off, that there
been a number of cases where this has occurred -- Miami, New Jersey, us
and now LA. Can you respond to that perception? Can you help
with that? Do you have any figures?
GEN. BARR: Since 1983, since October '88, we in the
ATTY. of Justice have brought charges against 123 law enforcement
officers Our conviction rate is running approximately the percent. state
Department for police brutality. That includes officers in, I 75 believe, 23
jurisdictions. cases usually that did not result in convictions at reached
These level are or where we were dissatisfied with the resolution that was
at the state level.
B
How many of those followed acquittals?
Did they involve civil rights violations? General, did
they 0 involve civil rights violations, these cases you're referring to?
ATTY GEN. BARR: Typically, yes.
0
Sir, did they follow acquittals?
MAY- 1-92 FRI 10:28 OPD
P.07
0
Were they across racial lines, in some cases --
(inaudible) --
ATTY GEN. BARR: I can't give you a specific figure on that.
Do you know that?
MR. DUNNE: Some were, some weren't. We don't keep statistics
on that because racial animus is not an element of a 241 or 242
violation.
ATTY GEN. BARR: I think that's an important point that that
question just raised, which is, there is no requirement of showing
racial animus under 241 or 242.
Yes, sir?
General, you had a moment ago said that you were looking
at the D possibility of intentional infliction of excessive force. Is
that the crime or the conduct that is encompassed under 241 and 242,
that may have occurred here? Or is there any other kind of conduct
that might be prosecutable under either one of those jurisdictional
statutes?
ATTY GEN. BARR: The -- under 242 the requirement is that the
conduct of the defendant must have deprived the victim of some
rights secured by the Constitution. And this includes the right not
to have excessive or unreasonable force inflicted upon one by an
officer of the state without due process. That's what I was
referring to.
Yes?
0
What do you think of the verdict? Did the jury do the
right thing here?
ATTY GEN. BARR: I'm standing here now in the capacity of the
federal prosecutor that has an ongoing investigation of this case,
50 it would be inappropriate for me at this stage to comment upon
that proceeding.
0
General, what is there left to investigate? Are there
some facts you believe are not known by now?
ATTY GEN. BARR: Obviously one of the sources of information
will be the entire proceedings of the case that's just gone forward.
In addition, there may be some additional evidence.
G
But basically you're going to review the transcript of
the trial?
ATTY GEN. BARR: That's obviously part of the investigation.
General, what is the President's attitude toward this?
Did he a give you instructions on how to proceed?
ATTY GEN. BARR: The President's obviously very concerned about
this. And he asked for me to brief him on our activities and the
investigation. While I was with him, he talked to Governor Wilson
and Mayor Bradley and offered whatever assistance we could give.
0
Does he have any views on how you should proceed with
MAY- 1-92 FRI 10:28 OPD
P.08
ATTY GEN. BARR: He wants us to proceed full apace.
Q
Has Wayne Budd already left for LA?
ATTY GEN. BARR: Wayne Budd is on his way here and then he will
leave for LA.
0
Can you expand more on what his role will be in LA? Mr.
Budd's role in --
ATTY GEN. BARR: I just -- I think Y just described his role.
I want not only the three components involved in the investigation; there
him to meet with all the various components that are there.
We have also have our community relations service that's been out
we is now very active in the community, trying to stop the
and And I want him to go out there and meet with them, give
violence. status report, make sure that all the resources that we need to to
me a there are there, and also to consult with the local leaders
have determine if there's any further assistance that we can give.
Will the fact that a jury already acquitted weigh in your
consideration Q at all whether to bring a federal indictment?
ATTY GEN. BARR: AS I say, double jeopardy is not a concern here.
I'm not talking about the legal -- I'm talking about
trial strategy and so forth.
ATTY GEN. BARR: I'm not going to speculate about various
that may come into play in a particular case in judging
whether factors it's appropriate to seek an indictment on. I'm just not
going to speculate on that.
0 that you've mentioned here? If I'm not mistaken, under that's the
General, could we go a little bit deeper into the
statutes equivalent statutes that apply at the state and local minimal level,
1985 of injury is prosecutable. Is there case law to not the have same
and 1983, the court has established that even
effect substantially injured? Any infliction of even minimal of injury, those
infliction under the federal statute even though Mr. King may
been perhaps including psychic injury, would be within the reach
statutes?
ATTY GEN. BARR: I'm not sure what you're driving at.
Well, what I'm saying is, as you know, the court -- the the
Q Court this term ruled that it can be a violation used at if
Supreme level of the right not to have excessive force
state only minimal physical injury and maybe also if there's
there's emotional injury. Is there case law that shows that statutes the
minimal same kind of thing is prosecutable under the two federal
you have articulated?
ATTY GEN. BARR: Do you know that, John?
MR. DUNNE: Yes.
there is. (Laughter.) Yes, in fact, there is a case
where Yes, you don't even have to have any infliction of physical
violence at all.
cart'd
MAY- 1-92 FRI 10:29 OPD
P.09
kind of -- what kind of legal injury has to to apply? be
suffered under So, what that precedent in order for these statutes
BARR: Well, it's a very interesting line physically of inquiry,
ATTY GEN. line is that this particular person was sufficient
but the bottom and we believe that the injuries were to statutes. a
injured, degree to warrant an investigation under these
What's the current maximum penalty to be received if he's
Q
prosecuted and convicted?
ATTY GEN. BARR: Ten years and $10,000, I believe.
the Department has internal guidelines Could for
determining what whether standard go or what threshold must be met to
Q General, to forward in a dual prosecution. proceed you with
describe the dual prosecution under those guidelines?
ATTY GEN. BARR: Im these particular federal cases, interest the was standard adequately is
Awnether whether or not the we believe state proceedings. that the I believe that's whether in the we United
vindicated in manual. So it's a judgment as to we understand
States Attorneys interest, given the facts as them, feel
believe vindicated the federal by the state proceeding. If it's not, then we
were free to proceed on a federal track.
Thanks.
0
Thank you very much.
END
to
just and 5000 31
37 death
2
# fires, death, injuries
CNN 5/1
8 today
$550m damage
3
S Central
In East LA ? <- separate
Xe
Distinct - Not correct.
Nal Bunting
Braelley Press Office
1064
TIMES: 05/01/92
Looting and Fires Ravage L.A.
23 Dead, 572 Injured; 1,000 Blazes Reported
Unrest: Troops begin
the greater Los Angeles area. Near
"It's scary, absolutely scary,"
the Los Angeles Memorial Colis-
said Staff Sgt. Jack Nix, a 19-year
deployment and a
eum, where three fires burned
guard veteran who lives in the Bay
dusk-to-dawn curfew is
heavily and a man was shot at
Area. A military police officer by
around 5 p.m, guardsmen were
profession, Nix was standing in
clamped into place in the
taunted as they tried to keep
front of a graffiti-covered wall
second day of violence.
control of the area.
with the message "This is for
Police rode shotgun for fire-
Rodney King."
fighters who had to dodge sporadic
"When it gets dark," Nix said, "it
By GREG BRAXTON
and JIM NEWTON
21/120/122
gunfire as they battled about 300
gets much worse." As he spoke,
blazes in stores and at least one
ashes from half a dozen fires in the
TIMES STAFF WRITERS
apartment building. As a pall of
immediate area landed on his hel-
met.
Thousands of looters ransacked
smoke fell across the region, much
stores and set fires Thursday in a
of Los Angeles' daily business
Many of the guardsmen ap-
chaotic rampage through the Los
ground to a halt. Government of-
peared jittery, although a number
fices, courthouses, law firms and
served in Operation Desert Storm.
Angeles area as National Guard
"This is a lot different from
troops moved into the streets and a
schools closed out of precautionary
fear.
attacking an Iraqi bunker," Col.
dusk-to-dawn curfew was clamped
As criticism of the Los Angeles
Roger Goodrich said. "There you
into force.
Police Department's handling of
know who the enemy is. Here
The violence showed no signs of
there are many unknowns
abating.
the crisis mounted, Chief Daryl F.
Triggered by Wednesday's ac-
Gates admitted that his troops
This is citizen soldiers facing citi-
zens."
quittals of four Los Angeles police
were overwhelmed in their initial
officers in the beating of black
response.
motorist Rodney G. King, the sec-
Flights were being rerouted
On the Streets
ond day of mushrooming violence
into the Los Angeles International
pushed the death toll to 23, while
Airport, causing serious delays or
With thick smoke clouding the
another 572 suffered injuries, 100 of
cancellations. "We want to keep
air and car horns and burglar
them critical.
them [jets] high enough over the
alarms blaring, crowds of looters
area of the looting to prevent
swarmed dozens of stores with
In a period of a little more than
small-arms fire from reaching
seemingly little fear of reprisal.
24 hours, about 1,000 structural
fires were reported in Los Angeles
those airplanes," a federal aviation
Businesses were sacked along ev-
County. It seemed as though, with
spokesman said.
ery major thoroughfare running
from Koreatown into South-Cen-
each passing moment, fresh flames
tral Los Angeles, and by midafter-
rose from new locations, sending
The Police Response
noon it spread into Watts, Compton
ripples of fear through neighbor-
and Westwood.
hoods both close to and miles away
As 2,400 National Guardsmen
slowly moved into place late
The looting rapidly became a
from the mayhem.
free-for-all. Entire families un-
As dusk approached, Police
Thursday, Gates admitted that his
abashedly made off with sacks of
Commission President Stanley K.
force was not prepared for the
eruption after the King verdicts-
food, clothing, tennis shoes and
Sheinbaum said even the National
despite his highly publicized warn-
auto parts snatched from dozens of
Guard and the California Highway
stores.
Patrol will not be enough to quiet
ings to officers of potential trouble.
unrest, which he said was spread-
"We were simply over-
Police periodically moved in to
clear an area, but as soon as the
ing throughout the city.
whelmed," Gates said in a news
officers were gone, the rush re-
"The problem is widening, in-
conference. He was dressed in full
sumed.
tensifying," Sheinbaum said. "You
police uniform with a holster on his
Israel Diaz, who works for a
have a whole social upheaval."
hip, and was flanked by Fire Chief
glass company, was boarding up
Unlike the Watts riots of 1965,
Donald Manning.
his second grocery store of the day
the violence this time has not been
The two said the rapid escalation
confined to an isolated area. Loot-
at the corner of Slauson Avenue
and spread of the violence caught
ers pilfered merchandise from
and Avalon Boulevard. Looters
authorities off guard.
mini-malls and swap meets
continued to run in and out of the
"For a period of time from mid-
throughout a combat zone that
market even as he worked.
night to about 3 o'clock, we were
"There were even little kids
stretched from near downtown,
getting about three new fires a
through South-Central neighbor-
minute," Manning said. "We had
running in for their parents," an
hoods and toward the Westside. At
numerous situations where there
astonished Diaz said. 'Go on in,
some sites, there was such a crowd
were attempts to kill firefighters.
run in there and get more,'' men
on the take that gridlock snarled
Here you have a group of people
and women told their children, he
the parking lots as looters attempt-
reported.
who are out doing their absolute
ed to drive off with their goods.
best to protect others' lives, and
In the Crenshaw District, preg-
people are trying to kill them.
nant women took food, and one
As they casually carted off ev-
"They tried to kill them with
woman yelled from a car to her
erything from guns to diapers,
axes, they tried to kill them with
9-year-old daughter to retrieve a
some expressed fury over the King
verdicts, but others went about
gunshots. They tried to kill them in
box of Pampers for her younger
a number of ways."
siblings.
their work in high spirits, seeming
to enjoy the anarchy of the mo-
Despite these comments, the
Along Washington Boulevard, a
National Guard was not immedi-
crowd of about 200 people raided
ment.
The rioters "chose the opportu-
ately deployed after Gov. Pete
markets as two raging fires gutted
nity to steal, loot, vandalize and,
Wilson authorized its use late
a portion of one city block.
indeed, to kill," Mayor Tom Brad-
Wednesday. Most arrived early
"It's kids, women with children,
Thursday but spent the morning on
an exasperated Thomas Gutierrez,
ley said in his second public appeal
40, said as he guarded his own auto
in less than 12 hours, as he strug-
refresher courses while awaiting
the order from Los Angeles au-
parts store. "We can't call the cops.
gled unsuccessfully to bring the
city under control. "That, we can-
thorities to take up positions.
We can't call anyone. You're on
not-and we will not-tolerate."
By late afternoon, guardsmen
your own. Is there ever going to be
an end to this?"
By late afternoon, after
armed with loaded M-16 rifles and
lengthy delays, hundreds of Na-
riding in armored cars were dis-
Some residents videotaped the
plunder.
tiona! Guardsmen started taking up
patched to numerous hot spots.
Some were stationed at the corner
"I don't believe in stealing," said
positions in hot spots around the
of Martin Luther King Boulevard
a security guard taping people
city, including one near Korea-
and Vermont Avenue where riot-
looting a Farmer John's meat
town, where rioters set stores
ers had battled over a strip mall
freezer, "but it's history, and I
ablaze and looted merchandise-a
most of the day.
want to have a piece of it.
scene played out countless times in
2064
TIMES 05/01/92
an opportunity to loot, and people
Mayor Bradley expanded an
Throughout portions of the city,
took advantage of it: Why else
overnight curfew to the whole city
sidewalks were littered with glass
would they break a glass door to
after Chief Gates warned that riot-
from shattered windows, trash and
our beer closet, when they could
ing had begun "leapfrogging" to
just open the door and get what
charred ruins.
communities beyond earlier estab-
Near the bustling intersection of
they wanted?"
lished boundaries.
Like many residents, she said
3rd Street and Vermont Avenue,
"This will have a negative im-
she believed that the violence has
residents were evacuated from an
pact on commerce in this city and
gone beyond rage over Wednes-
apartment building shortly before
the lives of those who live here,"
day's verdict.
noon after arsonists set it afire.
Bradley said at a news conference
"This whole area was just sitting
Yvonne Latchison, 22, was
Thursday afternoon.
on a powder keg," she said, "and
watching television coverage of
Bradley also said, however, that
the King verdict was the spark."
the unrest when someone ran
he expected police to use discretion
Carlos Garcia, a resident of the
through the building yelling that it
in enforcing the curfew. "There is
neighborhood around 3rd Street
was on fire. She and other resi-
no way the police can arrest ev-
and Vermont Avenue, agreed.
dents escaped unharmed.
erybody on the street," he said.
"Right now, they're bringing
With the fire eventually
"What we're really looking for
down the place," he said. "But two
contained, the scene at that inter-
here is voluntary compliance.'
days from now, when they'
section continued to verge on cha-
os most of the day, as a crowd of
Lines at supermarkets from one
laughing and their mom sends
end of the city to the other ranged
them out to get milk, they're going
several hundred youths surged into
from long to very long as consum-
to think: Where?"
grocery stores and mini-malls,
while overwhelmed police looked
ers stocked up on their way home
A block away from the First
Thursday, concerned about when
African Methodist Episcopal
on helplessly.
they would be able to buy food
Church, where black community
A Vons and Thrifty drugstore at
the intersection were stormed
again.
leaders had held an emotional rally
"The lines are 20-30 people long,
Wednesday night to urge nonvio-
shortly after noon to a chorus of
and every register is open," said a
lence, the scene Thursday was one
war whoops and cheers. A trash
can went through a window and
manager at the Hughes' market at
of utter disaster.
within minutes a woman emerged
11361 National Blvd. in West Los
Shopkeepers who arrived to finc
with eight bottles of champagne,
Angeles. "People are buying very
their small retail businesses in
several cartons of cigarettes and a
large orders-bottled water and
embers cried in grief. Others,
things like that. They want to get
boom box.
whose stores were spared from
A 31-year-old Altadena man,
enough stuff before the curfew."
flames, busily tacked up plywood
who emerged with similar booty,
At USC, final examinations were
to shore up their broken windows.
said, "This is not just us tearing
to begin Thursday but
apart our community. Everybody
poned until at least Monday, offi-
Fire consumed a market owned
cials said. Many frightened stu-
by a Korean family; a butcher shop
is pissed off. We have tried to be
peaceful, but that didn't work."
dents were leaving the campus and
owned by a Latino man; and one of
Looters also traveled west on
adjacent neighborhood for their
two buildings of A.N. Abell Auc-
tions, which had been in business
Wilshire Boulevard, tearing an
families' homes.
since 1916.
iron grill off a jewelry store at
"Everybody's really nervous.
Vermont Avenue. Women strolled
We're getting out of here," said
Occupants of at least three four-
Kacy O'Brien of Newport Beach, as
story apartment buildings along
the streets toting bright green and
she and fellow members of the
Adams Boulevard, most of them
orange laundry baskets piled high
Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority
Latinos, were burned out of their
with recently stolen detergent and
were hurriedly packing their cars
residences.
toilet paper.
and departing from the Greek Row
Dona Alicia Hernandez, who
At Mariposa Avenue, looters
on 28th Street.
came to Los Angeles from El
stormed a Big 5 sporting goods
Meanwhile, Gov. Wilson, his
Salvador five years ago, sat in
store, carrying out armfuls of rifles,
voice among many national leaders
shock on a piece of luggage on the
baseball caps and coolers. A few
shocked and dismayed by the
sidewalk of. Adams Boulevard. Left
children, who could not have been
events in Los Angeles, said he
homeless by a fire, Hernandez,
any older than 12, made off with
would travel to the city to inspect
head in hands, surrounded herself
crossbows under their arms.
damage.
with her meager remaining posses-
Another Big 5, where Wilshire
Saying he was stunned by the
sions: random shoes, pots and pans,
meets San Vicente Boulevard at
acquittals, he said: "There can be
cassette tapes and a large bottle of
the border of Beverly Hills, was
no excusing excessive force by a
vegetable oil stored in laundry
looted even as the store was open
police officer."
baskets, two dresser drawers and a
and customers milled about. The
And, he added, "There can be no
Salvation Army plastic shopping
manager rushed to the front to
excusing arson, theft, or deadly
bag.
connect the iron grill, but the mob
just pushed past him and began
assault by a citizen. We are not
Others whose residences were
snatching everything in sight.
going to tolerate either in Califor-
still standing stared at the remains
nia."
of laundries and markets and pon-
dered out loud whether they would
A City Crippled
The Grief
be able to get by without basic
By midday on Thursday, Los
services in their neighborhood.
Angeles was gradually becoming
Many of the burned and looted
"Now we'll have to go all the way
stores belonged to Korean-born
crippled by the spasms of violence,
to Boys Market-if it's still there,"
merchants. Tensions between
even in areas where disturbances
said Velma Phillips, 37, a nightclub
black and Korean communities
had not been reported.
manager.
have been at high pitch for some
Criminal proceedings in most
time, and were inflamed last year
Outside the remains of the New
county courthouses were sus-
when a Korean-born shopkeeper
Don-Re Market on Adams Boule-
pended, all city schools were closed
and scores of private offices shut
shot and killed a black girl.
vard, co-owner Bona Lee, 40
As rioters roamed the streets,
sobbed as she peered at the gutted
their doors and sent their employ-
some said they were avenging
interior of the block-long store.
ees home early. Trash collection
was curtailed, and even the U.S.
15-year-old Latasha Harlins'
Until Wednesday night, it had
death. But if the goal was to punish
housed a grocery, a coin laundry, a
Postal Service said it would not
Korean-Americans, the plan back-
butcher shop, a liquor store and a
deliver mail to 14 ZIP codes.
fired. Victims were people of all
hamburger stand. Thursday morn-
Professional sports teams can-
ethnic groups, residents of an eco-
ing, all that remained was the front
celed their games, including an
NBA playoff between the Los An-
nomically depressed neighborhood
wall, embers and the charred hulks
that once again suffers the brunt of
of a long row of washing machines.
geles Clippers and Utah Jazz.
the destruction.
"We didn't do anything wrong,"
Shopping centers from Eagle
Carol Clark, the black manager
said the tearful woman, who came
Rock to West L.A. closed early. At
the Beverly Center, shoppers be-
of a Thrifty Pharmacy that was
to Los Angeles from Korea two
emptied by looters, huddled in the
decades ago. "We worked like
gan fleeing amid semi-chaos in the
parking garage. People honked
parking lot with her employees,
slaves here."
horns and yelled for drivers to
fretting over their future. Can the
"Is this justice? What is it? We
store be repaired? Do they have a
did nothing, we worked here 365
hurry toward the exits. The
job?
days a year. What did we do to
parking fee was waived and the
"I cried last night, and I cried
them? Nothing."
exit arm lifted to allow people to
this morning when I saw what they
leave quickly.
had done," she said. "This was just
TIMES 05/01/92
Donald Martin, a 30-year resi-
dent who works in an agency that
30f4
provides housing to low-income
people, said the violence is rooted
deeply.
"This is a festering sore that at
some point or another has to come
to a head, and this is it," he said.
"This has probably been festering
since 1965.'
King Verdict Aftermath
Deaths: 23
Injuries: 572
Fires: 1,084
Arrests: 300
National Guard: About 2,400 troops have been deployed to support
local law enforcement, with 2,000 more ready to be put into service.
School Closures: All schools in the Los Angeles Unified School Dis-
trict will be closed today, and all school-related activities will be
suspended through Sunday. The superintendent will announce Sun-
day whether additional closings will be needed.
Government Offices: All county facilities will be closed except sher-
iff's stations, fire stations and county hospitals. Courts that closed
Thursday will remain closed today.
Postal service: Service was disrupted in at least 14 ZIP codes
Thursday. Reduced deliveries expected to continue today.
Bringing In the Guard
National Guardsmen are used for a variety of tasks-from quelling riots to aiding
flood victims. Here is how a mobilization works:
Step 1: Local authorities call
Step 2: Governor approves
Step 3: State office calls
state Office of Emergency
use of the troops and issues
National Guard, which alerts
Services. After determining
mobilization order (Gov. Pete
the guardsmen at home to
whether guardsmen are
Wilson issued such an order at.
report immediately.
needed, the office notifies the
3 a.m. Thursday).
governor.
Step 4: The guardsmen report
Step 5: Call comes. Guardsmen are deployed by truck, bus or
to their local armory and await
plane to the crisis area. It is up to the local government, in this
a call from local authorities on
case Mayor Tom Bradley and Police Chief Daryl F. Gates, to
how and where they are
decide how and where the Guard is used.
needed.
Gear and Responsibilities
Can they make
How are the units
By air: The Air
arrests?
chosen?
National Guard was
The guardsmen are
They are picked
the first Guard
expected to pair up
according to the
segment to take part
with police and help
specific duty. All
in riot assistance. Air
with questioning and
guardsmen undergo
Wing 146, based in
What they bring: In
searches. They are
16 hours of training
the Channel Islands,
this case, dog tags,
not allowed to make
in riot tactics. MPs
helped fly in
gas masks, first-aid
arrests unless
receive more
California Highway
kits and M-16 rifles.
emergency decrees
riot-related training.
Patrol officers
Some may also bring
allow it. No such
In this case, the
aboard six C-130s
45-caliber handguns
arrest powers have
units are expected to
beginning
as well.
been granted.
be heavy with MPs.
Wednesday night.
Source: California National Guard
Los Angeles Times
4064 L.A.TIMES: 05/01/92
SAN GABRIEL MOUNTAINS
5
405
210
Los Angeles
170
2
101
134
210
5
West
Hollywood
110
SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS
10
Civic
Center
60
Los Angeles
VERNON AVE
Santa
5
Monica
BLVD.
110
FWY.
Pacific
Inglewood
Ocean
405
Los Angeles County
CRENSHAW
U
BEACH
curfew area shown
by heavy black line.
Compton
e
91
Curfew areas,
include Los Angeles
LONG
Lakewood
and other cities,
Torrance
shown in white.
710
In addition, the
following cities also
have imposed a
LOMITA m AVE,
curfew: Lawndale,
Los
Gardena, Hawthorne,
Angeles
Carson and Lomita.
T
LL
TIMES: 04/30/92
Fires, Beatings, Looting
Erupt; Worst Since '65
Riot: Violence unfolds live on TV. Mayor Bradley
head. He just barely got away. If
declares a local state of emergency.
some black guy hadn't helped him,
he probably would be dead right
By MARC LACEY
21/120
The lack of response puzzled even
now.
the county's chief prosecutor, Dis-
"One Caucasian lady was driving
and SHAWN HUBLER
trict Atty. Ira Reiner.
down the street in a van with a
TIMES STAFF WRITERS
"I would have thought they
whole bunch of little kids in the
Rioting mobs ignited fires, beat
would have moved in immediately
back. I told her, 'Get out the neigh-
motorists and looted stores and
and quickly suppressed it," Reiner
borhood, you better get out of
offices Wednesday night through-
said. "The plan is a mystery to me."
here-look at all these people."
out Los Angeles as fears of race-
TV reporters also expressed dis-
related violence came to pass after
belief at the scene unfolding live
A
bout 200 people lined the inter-
the acquittal of four Los Angeles
before viewers. "I can't believe the
section, with many raised fists.
police officers in the beating of
cops are looking at this and not
Chunks of asphalt and concrete
Rodney G. King.
doing something," one anchorwo-
were thrown at cars.
Gov. Pete Wilson ordered the
man declared.
Some yelled, "It's a black thing."
National Guard to report for duty
P
olice initially said they lacked
as scattered demonstrations
sufficient forces to react to some
evolved into the city's largest riot
specific trouble spots.
"We didn't have enough numbers
'I don't think it's good, but
since Watts erupted in flames in
1965.
to go in," Cmdr. Robert Gil, a police
it's got to happen.'
In a drama that unfolded on live
spokesman, said early in the eve-
ning. "You can't go in if you have
MILLIE FELDMAN
television, violence erupted first at
only four or five officers. You have
South-Central resident
the intersection of Florence Boule-
to have a sufficient number."
vard and Normandie Avenue in
At about 7 p.m., as violence
South-Central Los Angeles and
radiated to areas throughout the
escalated, police commanders or-
Others shouted, "This is for Rodney
dered all off-duty officers to report
city.
King."
Before the night's end, more
for duty.
The city's longstanding racial
In gruesome scenes recorded by
than 100 fires raged in the city and
the TV news helicopters, an 18-
tensions, which many leaders have
sporadic gunfire flared in the
said were exacerbated by the beat-
wheel truck was stopped, in the
streets. Downtown, rioters massed
intersection, its driver dragged from
outside Parker Center, hurling
ing of King, reached their hottest
the cab and beaten by the mob. He
rocks and setting fire to a small
point on the streets after the ver-
dicts. Many of the perpetrators of
lay bleeding and motionless for
kiosk. Then they moved onto City
several minutes. Cars were aban-
the attacks were black; some vic-
Hall and the Los Angeles Times,
doned nearby, their windshields
tims were white and Asian.
smashing windows along the way.
smashed and fenders battered.
"I'm glad people are raising hell,"
Others set fires to palm trees lining
Two cars were smashed in the
said Millie Feldman, a 28-year-old
the Hollywood Freeway. Several
intersection. A brown Ford Wran-
South-Central resident who hurled
people ran onto the freeway.
a bottle at a late model Mercedes-
gler came to a stop when the
Violence also erupted at the
driver-who appeared to be an
Benz driven by a white woman past
Lake View Terrace location where
Asian male in his 30s or 40s-was hit
Florence and Normandie. "I don't
King was beaten 14 months ago.
think it's good, but it's got to happen.
by a rock thrown through the front
Demonstrators there later marched
"We don't have to put up with
windshield. When he got out of the
on the Foothill Division heaquart-
vehicle, he was smashed in the face
this," Feldman added. "This is not
ers, the home station of the officers
the right way, but it's the only way.
with a bottle, leaving him bloodied
accused of beating King. Gunshots
and dazed.
This is just beginning."
were heard in Lake View Terrace
A 20-year-old black resident who
A few people braved the mob to
at 9:15 p.m.
assist victims.
gave his name only as E.J. said
Mayor Tom Bradley called a
Meanwhile, looters declared open
anger simmered throughout the af-
local state of emergency shortly
ternoon. After a crowd gathered at
season on Tom's Liquor and Deli at
before 9 p.m., and Gov. Wilson
the corner of Florence Boulevard
the corner of 71st and Normandie,
ordered the National Guard to
and Normandie Avenue.
he said, police arrived at the scene.
report for duty minutes later. The
When patrol cars arrived and offi-
"They started looting, coming out
RTD shut down bus service.
cers attempted to make arrests, the
with bottles and cases, anything
A spokesman for Martin Luther
crowd got out of control, E. J. said.
they could grab," E. J. said.
King Jr. Medical Center said that
"They was shouting, 'Black pow-
Between 7 p.m. and 9:35 p.m., Los
between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m., the
er,' and then everybody started
Angeles city fire units responded to
100 structure fires "and 99% of them
emergency room admitted 22 peo-
throwing bottles and rocks at the
ple with injuries, including five
police cars," E.J. said. "The police
are down south," said Public Infor-
brought out their billy clubs or
mation Officer Bob Collis. On a
gunshot victims. The spokesman
said that the admissions were "a
something, I don't know what, but
normal night, Collis said, there are
very high number" and that the
people got real pissed."
only about two to three structure
After 15 or 20 minutes, he said,
fires reported an hour city wide.
injuries ranged from minor to criti-
cal. Two operating rooms were in
"the sergeant or whoever was in
"They'r coming in about one a
charge
got on his loudspeaker
minute
use to handle the flow, he said.
and I think it's going to
The anger over the King verdict
and started saying, 'It's not worth it,
go on like that all night," said Collis.
simmered through the afternoon
it's not worth it, let's get out of here.'
Among the scenes fire units re-
then turned ugly as dusk started to
"And after that, man, they left.
sponded to were City Hall, where
fall over the city. At Parker Center,
senior fire officials gathered to map
They just left. They shouldn't never
a line of police in riot gear faced off
strategy for dealing with the rash of
have left."
blazes.
against protesters gathered outside.
After that, E. J. said, the mob
But when anarchy erupted at Flor-
Collis said that all available cap-
surrounded and rocked cars that
tains and battalion chiefs were
ence and Normandie starting at
carried people "who were light
called in to manage the fire fights
about 5:30 p.m., police were no-
skinned or white There was one
where to be seen. No signs of law
and units from around the city were
guy, a guy in a gray Volvo, who
enforcement were evident for hours
being redeployed to South Los An-
jumped out of his car and started
as mobs dragged motorists from
geles.
taking pictures. But when the police
Some units from the Los Angeles
their vehicles and beat them, hurled
left, the black people chased him
rocks and bottles at passing cars and
County Fire Department joined the
back to his car, and jumped on him
looted a nearby liquor store.
effort, but as of 9:50 p.m. there had
and jumped on his Volvo, stole his
not been a general call up of all
Officers responding to the vio-
camera, his briefcase, pulled him out
available LAFD personnel, Collis
lence retreated after the mob grew
and started jump kicking him in the
said.
larger and angrier.
N.Y.TIMES 04/30/92
Verdicts in Beating Case Produce Anger
120/122
"The voice of this community will be
the community that the Police Depart-
By RICHARD W. STEVENSON
Special to The New York Times
heard," said Mark Ridley-Thomas, one
ment is a fair institution and is service
of three black members of the 15-mem-
oriented. There are internal investiga-
LOS ANGELES, April 29 - The ac-
ber Los Angeles City Council. "We can-
tions and other litigation that is yet to
quittals today of four police officers in
the beating of Rodney King stunned
not stand idly by and pretend this did
be completed."
When-the beating of Mr. King came
and angered many in a city that had
not happen."
Willie L. Williams, who has been
to light, police departments across the
come to regard the videotape of the
named to succeed Chief Gates, said he
country felt the sting of criticism, and
incident as incontrovertible evidence
could not comment on the verdict.
many of them pledged to review their
of brutality, racism and a police force
"There are obviously two camps oper-
procedures. Suzanne Trazoff, deputy
out of control.
ating out of Los Angeles, one that be-
commissioner of information for the
From the streets of south central Los
Angeles to City Hall, residents and
lieves the police officers are guilty, one
New York City Police Department,
that they are totally innocent," he said
said, "Since this incident we, with other
officials here said they had expected
convictions on at least some charges.
through a spokesman. "And whether
police agencies, have gone through a
we like it or not, we have to accept the
period of extensive self-examination.
And after more than a year of rancor-
ous efforts to overhaul the manage-
judicial process. It is a fair process. We
Ms. Trazoff said Police Commission-
ment of the Los Angeles Police Depart-
have to accept it and move forward
er Lee P. Brown was on his way back
ment and replace its chief, Daryl F.
and do what we can to prevent an
from a conference in South Africa and
incident like this from ever happening
was unavailable for comment.
Gates, the verdicts were seen by some
again."
Joe R. Hicks, executive director of
community leaders as a serious set-
Mr. Williams, who is now the Police
the Southern Christian Leadership
back for race relations.
In a news conference two hours after
Commissioner in Philadelphia, added:
Conference of Greater Los Angeles,
called the verdict "horrendous" and
the verdicts were read, Mayor Tom
"How it affects my role as police com-
Bradley, speaking in uncharacteristi-
missioner in Los Angeles is that it is
said, "Police officers will now feel
cally passionate terms, said: "The ju-
going to make it a little more challeng-
freed up to thump some heads and to
ry's verdict will never blind us to what
ing. It will place additional pressures
kick some butts, to do whatever they
we saw on that videotape. The men who
on me and the department to convince
feel like doing to keep people in line.'
beat Rodney King do not deserve to
wear the uniform of the L.A.P.D.
"We will not respond to this sense-
less jury's verdict with senseless an-
ger," Mayor Bradley, a former police
officer, continued. "We will summon
all the best in ourselves to make L.A. a
safe, fair and just city."
The verdicts evoked particular an-
ger in the city's black neighborhoods,
where emotions about the legal system
have been running high since a local
judge sentenced a Korean-American
shopkeeper, Soon Ja Du, to probation
late last year after she was convicted
of voluntary manslaughter for killing
Latasha Harlins, a 15-year-old un-
armed black girl, after a struggle in
her store.
"It just goes to show that prejudice
is still around," said Tameka Washing-
ton, a 17-year-old high school senior, as
she waited for a bus this afternoon.
"What more evidence do you need?
The videotape was even there."
City officials and black civic leaders
urged calm, and there were no reports
of disturbances immediately after the
reading of the verdicts.
"I urge people who have strong feel-
ings not to give vent to those feelings,"
said Ira Reiner, the Los Angeles Coun-
ty District Attorney, whose office pros-
ecuted the case against the four offi-
cers.
"There were four officers on trial,
not an entire department," Mr. Reiner
said. "We think they used excessive
and unreasonable force. We disagree
with the jury, but are obliged to accept
the integrity of that verdict. It's a time
for sober reflection, not recrimina-
tion."
Some black officials said they would
use the verdict to try to develop a more
politically potent voice for minorities
in Los Angeles. A number of city coun-
cil members said the verdict might
help rally support for a proposed
amendment to the city charter that will
be put to voters in June. The amend-
ment would remove the police chief's
position from the civil service rolls,
making it easier to remove a chief
from the job, and would give additional
power to the Police Commission.
1.f2
04/30/92
Los Angeles Policemen Acquitted in Taped Beating
By SETH MYDANS
Blacks Raising Charge
Addressing the jury, 10 of whose
120/122
members were white, 1 Asian and 1
Special to The New York Times
Hispanic, defense lawyers referred re-
SIMI VALLEY, Calif., April 29 -
of Racism as Storm
peatedly to the "thin blue line," to the
Four Los Angeles police officers were
role of a police force in protecting
acquitted of assault today in the video-
of Anger Results
society from "the likes of Rodney
King."
taped beating of a black motorist,
touching off a storm of anger in the
white and black spectators outside the
'This unpleasant incident is what we
courthouse in this Los Angeles suburb.
have police for," said Paul dePasquale,
city.
After hearing seven weeks of de-
"What race are you?" shouted a
the lawyer for Mr. Wind. "The circum-
stances here were consistent with the
tailed testimony and studying the 81-
black man.
job the man was hired to do. He was
second amateur videotape of the beat-
A white man shouted back, "I'm an
part of the line between society and
ing, the jury concluded that the police-
American!"
chaos."
men had not broken any laws when
The black man yelled in reply,
The videotape was shown repeatedly
they clubbed and kicked the mostly
"We're not judged as Americans!"
during the trial at slow, super-slow and
Stones were thrown at Officer Pow-
normal speeds, with the roar of a police
prone motorist, Rodney G. King.
They remained deadlocked on one of
ell as he left the courthouse, said Sgt.
helicopter, the muffled shouts of the
Dick Southwick of the Ventura County
police and the occasional crack of a
the 11 charges, and the prosecution
Sherrif's Department.
baton blow filling the courtroom.
said it might seek a new trial on that
The jury's verdict flew in the face of
In what seemed an effort to desensi-
charge, which affected only one of the
the verdict of public opinion, which
tize the jury to the violence, defense
defendants.
over the past year has condemned the
lawyers sometimes paced back and
The beating on March 3, 1991, with its
videotaped beating as police brutality
forth swinging a heavy metal police
kicks and its 56 swings of the baton,
in its rawest form.
baton. They displayed large color pho-
President Bush said the videotape
tographs of the battered and swollen
was captured on 81 seconds of amateur
sickened him, and police departments
face of Mr. King and pointed to the
videotape. Shown over and over on
in other cities played it for their offi-
locations of his fractures on a lighted
television, it immediately became the
cers as a cautionary lesson. But many
model of a skull.
most visible police use of force in this
civil rights groups and black communi-
Mr. King did not appear as a witness.
country's history and put the issue of
ty leaders said that Mr. King's beating
His lawyer, Steven Lerman, said, Mr.
police brutality on the national agenda.
was unusual only in that it had been
King has been confused and frightened
Immediately after the verdict, an
captured on videotape.
since the beating and has problems
unusually impassioned Mayor Tom
The tape became a symbol of what
with short-term memory.
Bradley of Los Angeles appeared on
many critics see as a chasm between
police officers and the communities
Sergeant Koon, a 14-year veteran,
television to appeal for calm in a city
not shown on the tape hitting Mr. King
where the videotape has come to sym-
they protect, of racial bias in law en-
forcement and of the bunker mentality
but was being held responsible for the
bolize complaints about police brutal-
actions of the men under his command.
of some police departments.
ity, racism and the violence of the
As a result of the publicity, United
He faced a maximum sentence of four
streets.
States Attorney General Dick Thorn-
years, eight months on charges of as-
sault with a deadly weapon, using ex-
Community leaders expressed out-
burgh ordered a review of police-bru-
cessive force as a police officer, filling'a
rage that what had seemed on the
tality complaints around the nation. An
independent commission headed by
false report and being an accessory
videotape to be a clear-cut instance of:
after the fact.
police brutality had gone unpunished.
Warren M. Christopher, a Deputy Sec-
He testified that Mr. King's erratic
The absence of blacks on the jury,
retary of State in the Carter Admin-
stration, recommended broad changes
and uncooperative behavior after the
picked from mostly white Ventura
in the Los Angeles Police Department.
traffic stop made it necessary to use
Country near Los Angeles after a
Under intense pressure, Chief Daryl
force. "Sometimes police work is bru-
change of venue to avoid pre-trial pub-
F. Gates announced he would resign his
tal. That's just a fact of life," he said on
tenured position, and although he has
the witness stand.
licity, was used to enforce their allega-
tions of racism.
continued to hold onto office, his re-
Officer Powell is shown on the tape
The prosecutor, Deputy District At-
placement, Willie L. Williams, the Phil-
delivering most of the baton blows and
torney Terry White, said the verdict
adelphia Police Commissioner, was an-
was described by prosecutors as mak-
nounced this month.
ing racial slurs and laughing about the
"sends out a message that whatever
The videotape was the central piece
beating. He faced seven years and
you saw on that tape was reasonable
of evidence at the trial As defense
eight months on charges of assault,
conduct."
lawyers sought explanations for this or
using excessive force as a police affi-
The jurors said it had taken them
that baton swing or kick, the prosecu-
cer and filing a false report. He was
only one day to reach their acquittals
tor, Mr. White, urged jurors simply to
also the subject of two special allega-
on the main charges against Sergeant
watch the tape and to believe their
tions of causing great bodily injury
Stacey C. Koon, 41 years old; Officers
'You don't see an example of uncon-
eyes.
Laurence M. Powell, 29, and Theodore
trolled police brutality," said Mr.
The defense brought experts in po-
J. Briseno, 39; and former Officer
Stone, Officer Powell's lawyer. THIS
lice procedures to testify about the
not there You see a controlled applica-
Timothy E. Wind, 31. The three officers
propriety of the actions shown on the
tion of baton strikes for the very obvt
have been suspended since the beat-
tape, arguing that Mr. King was mak-
ous reason of getting this man into
ing; Mr. Wind, a rookie without tenure,
ing potentially threatening movements
custody."
was dismissed from the department.
as he rolled on the ground under the
Mr. Wind, the rookie who was
The charges included assault with a
blows.
training with Officer Powell, is shows
deadly weapon, excessive use of force
"If reasonable police minds could
delivering about 15 baton blows and
as a police officer, filing a false report
differ over the propriety of the use of
several kicks. He faced a possible total
and acting as an accessory after the
force on March 3, 1991, then I suggest
of seven years on the same charges as
to you there is no proof beyond a rea-
Officer Powell, except for the charge
fact.
sonable doubt" that the beating was a
Jurors said they were deadlocked on
filing a false report.
criminal assault, argued Michael P.
a charge against Officer Powell of use
Officer Briseno faced a four-year
Stone, the lawyer for Officer Powell.
sentence on charges of assault and of
of excessive force as a police officer.
Mr. White, who presented his own
using excessive force as a police offi-
Mr. White said his office would seek a
expert to testify that the beating was
cer, based on a single kick to the back
new trial on that charge, but prosecu-
unjustified, countered that at some
of the neck or head of Mr. King ashe
tors later said they would reassess
point each juror would find himself
lay on the ground. He is also shown on
their plans. A hearing was set for May
saying, "Enough is enough."
the videotape trying at one point to
15.
"Once you decide reasonable force
block Officer Powell's baton, and he
The jurors refused to be interviewed
ends, you have assault," Mr. White
contended that his kick was an effort to
by reporters, issuing a brief statement
said. You have a violation and assault
get Mr. King to lie still so the beating
with a deadly weapon."
would stop.
that gave no indication of the basis on
In their closing arguments, the law-
which they reached their verdicts.
yers focused on an issue at the heart of
The defendants sat motionless and
the over the Los Angeles
expressionless, as they have through-
Police Department, what Mr. Christo-
out most of the trial, as a court officer
pher described as its "siege mental-
read out 10 separate verdicts of not
ity."
guilty. Then they rose and embraced
their lawyers.
In an indication of the mood here,
loud arguments broke out between
L.A. TIMES 05/01/92
Verdicts Spark Protests, Violence Across California
Reaction: Most rallies are
Outside Los Angeles, the largest and angri-
losses at $1.6 million.
est protests Thursday raged in the Bay Area.
In San Diego, more than 200 high school
peaceful. But there are fires in
Rampages in Berkeley, San Jose and San
students marched almost four miles to a
Riverside County, angry rampages
Francisco led to at least 75 arrests, and about
neighboring school, where they joined about
400 marchers snarled the evening commute
100 other students in a rally to protest the
in the Bay Area and a temporary
when they forced police to close some lanes
King verdicts.
shutdown of the Bay Bridge.
on the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge for
several hours.
E
Isewhere in California, indignation mostly
was confined to university campuses.
By JENIFER WARREN
21/120/122
I 100 people staged an early morning protest
n San Jose, police made eight arrests after
At UC Berkeley, about 1,700 students
TIMES STAFF WRITER
united in an angry rally that featured im-
march from the campus of San Jose State
promptu speeches and chants of "Hey, hey,
O
utrage over the verdicts in the Rodney
University. The marchers tipped over three
ho, ho, LAPD Got to Go." The protesters
G. King case rumbled to California's
university police motorcycles, threw rocks
marched around campus and through the
most distant corners Thursday as pro-
and bottles at officers, and then headed
streets of Berkeley. Some joined other pro-
testers temporarily shut down the San Fran-
downtown, where they robbed a bystander,
testers outside the Berkeley Police Depart-
cisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, set destructive
pelted motorists with debris and shattered
ment, and a few demonstrators hurled bricks
arson fires in Riverside County and went on a
the windows of 10 businesses.
through the building's windows.
looting binge that led to arrests and at least
In San Francisco, officials briefly closed
By late afternoon, about 300 Berkeley
one injury in Berkeley.
Interstate 280 after protesters spilled onto the
students and community members had
Most rallies across California were peace-
freeway from the campus of San Francisco
marched to the toll plaza on the Bay Bridge.
ful, involving students and community mem-
State University. Later, several hundred
Authorities were forced to close all west-
bers who felt a need to vent frustration,
people milled around 19th Avenue, a major
bound traffic lanes as the marchers filled the
denounce the Los Angeles police force and
thoroughfare near the campus, forcing clo-
lanes. Westbound commuters were slowed to
commiserate over the stunning acquittals.
sure of the street. Police made 65 arrests.
a crawl.
But in some areas tempers flared and gather-
Closer to Los Angeles, authorities in Per-
At UC Irvine, about 500 students of all
ings turned violent.
ris-a semirural city of 30,000 in southwest-
ethnic backgrounds demonstrated their un-
In response, some jittery residents began
ern Riverside County-blamed several ar-
happiness with the verdict, marching in a
arming themselves Thursday. Gun dealers
sons on King-related rioting. In the most
long, snaking line through campus and along
from Orange County to San Francisco report-
serious episode, fire destroyed the Cat Ballou,
nearby streets in the community, chanting,
ed a surge in business. Salesmen speculated
a popular, country-Western nightclub. There
"No Justice! No Peace!" and "Guilty! Guilty!
that customers were fearful.
were no injuries, but owners estimated their
Guilty!" and shaking their fists in the air.
TIMES: 05/01/92
A Divided Los Angeles
Rages Across the Abyss
City: To rebuild, we must find
Angeles' was never more clear than in the
angry questions posed about the conduct of
the will to narrow the gap
the city's leaders when the violence began
between haves and have-nots.
Wednesday night.
On the one hand were those-many of
21/120/122
them opponents of Charter Amendment
By TIM RUTTEN
F-who alleged that Mayor Tom Bradley's
Images. Scenes that flicker like tongues
denunciation of the verdict in the King
of flame: of reasoned indignation and
case virtually invited urban disorder. On
unthinking rage; of wanton destruction and
the other hand there were those-particu-
numbing fear.
larly in the black community-who angrily
And among them all-culled from the
attacked what they consider the mayor's
streets and the television and the newspa-
passivity.
per-one picture that deserves to be re-
On the one hand were people-mainly
membered: the Rev. Cecil P. Murray,
white-who charged that the Los Angeles
pastor of Los Angeles' First AME Church,
Police Department's tentative response to
his chin up and his cheeks bright with
Wednesday's first incidents of violence
tears.
was caused by months of political interfer-
As a columnist for The Times, I have
ence from City Hall. On the other hand
spent some of my most instructive hours in
there were people-many of them black-
"Chip" Murray's quiet study at First AME.
who speculated that LAPD Chief Daryl F.
It wasn't hard to imagine his thoughts-
Gates deliberately slowed his officers'
anger over the injustice that most African-
deployment in areas where criticism of his
Americans see in the acquittal of Rodney
stewardship has been most intense.
King's accused assailants; frustration that
Finally, you could see the gap between
his pleas for a nonviolent response have
our two cities in what might be called the
been so widely ignored.
battle of dehumanizing epithets. One year
But it is on precisely that response-one
ago, the officers accused of assaulting King
which recognizes both dimensions of our
were routinely referred to as "savages"
current civic crisis-that we can begin to
and "thugs." By Wednesday, those same
rebuild this city's future.
nouns were being used to describe the
It is a melancholy fact that Los Angeles
young people running riot through the
has been for many years the most segre-
streets.
gated of America's big cities. But over the
Two cities being pushed further and
past 12 years, economic and political forces
further apart. Two peoples shouting two
have pushed Angelenos further and fur-
sets of angry, anxious questions into the
ther apart.
empty abyss that divides them.
Today, more than ever before, we are
Can a city divided not only by the facts
two cities. One is overwhelmingly white
of life, but also by the very questions
and relatively well educated. Its residents
people ask about them find a common
have benefited disproportionately from
ground? The answer, as the response of
federal tax and spending policies and from
thoughtful leaders like Chip Murray sug-
their ability to find jobs in the so-called
gests, is yes, if people are willing to see
sunrise industries. The other Los Angeles
each other whole. And, perhaps more
is populated by poor-and poorly educat-
important, if they are willing to refrain
ed-blacks, Latinos and recent Asian im-
from using these tragic events as the
migrants. They have suffered dispropor-
excuse for further division.
tionately from federal policies and
The last time we spoke about the divided
economic restructuring.
city in which we live, Murray had this to
When they can find a job, it usually is in
say:
Los Angeles' fastest-growing occupational
"Ours is not a failure of resources; ours is
category: "salesperson." Its average entry
a failure of will. American know-how is
wage is $4.75 an hour. In this "other" Los
fabled. We can do anything we have the
Angeles, even a high-school diploma is no
will to do. If we have visionary leadership,
guarantee of a decent standard of living.
we can muster the will to solve these
Between 1973 and 1986, the average yearly
problems. There are not enough police in
income of African-American high school
America, there are not enough dollars in
graduates declined 44%; Latino earnings
America to do that if the will is lacking.
fell 35% during that period. During that
Americans right now are almost equally
same period, many of the city's poorest
divided in their feelings about race.
neighborhoods have been ravaged by un-
There is much to be done, but justice is
precedented increases in drug addiction
within our grasp. Now, if our leaders will
and violent crime. While the vast majority
stop feeding us to each other, and show us
of poor Angelenos, like all poor Americans,
that we can work with each other, we'll be
are law-abiding, 80% of all criminal de-
all right."
fendants in the city's urban courts now are
indigent.
Tim Rutten is a columnist for The Times'
The distance between these two Los
View section.
L.A.
TIMES:
05/01/92
The Social Contract
Hangs by a Thread
passionate form of justice that
We cede our impulse
empowers the frustrated and
for vengeance for
disenfranchised. The true victim
of the King verdict was the
the state's promise of
public perception of justice-
justice; now it seems
many have lost faith that our
criminal and civil justice system.
we've been betrayed.
can right wrongs.
The erosion of confidence in
By REX JULIAN BEABER
the legal system is felt in every
06/01/1/16
part of our society. The law and
T
he Rodney King verdict and its
lawyers have created a maze of cabalistic
tumultuous aftermath provide a
procedures, tricks and games that looks
frightening lesson on the tenuous
more like witchcraft than justice.
nature of our social order. A night of
The King verdict was the product of a
violence teaches us that when the percep-
legal trick and a subtle psychological
tion of a just society is replaced with a
manipulation. The legal trick was simple:
sense that our system of justice is capri-
changing the venue of the trial from
cious and possibly prejudiced, social order
multicultural Los Angeles to pristine Simi
is replaced by chaos.
Valley. He who controls who judges con-
At some unknown point in the evolution
trols the judgment.
from beast to man, we voluntarily surren-
The psychological manipulation rested
dered our right to individual justice. The
on the simple rule of desensitization. No
social contract that holds the fabric of
matter how horrific a visual scene, no
modern civilizations together is weaved
matter how obvious the injustice, repeated
from a simple bargain. Man gave up his
exposure, over and over again, saps the
right to individual vengeance, left his
natural emotional impact and undermines
spears at the doorstep of civilization, and,
our latent sense of justice.
in return, the state promised to create a
It is the principle of desensitization that
rule of law, a system of justice, which
allows soldiers to kill and surgeons to cure.
would fairly and systematically vindicate
Repeated exposure silences our gut sense
public and private wrongs.
of repugnance and justice, and most impor-
When man relinquished the right to
tant, allows the verbal magic of lawyers'
personal vengeance, he gave up a great
arguments and the hypnotic influence of
deal. Psychologically, the state's efforts at
pseudo-experts to triumph over the wis-
justice can never provide the impulsive
dom of our immediate emotional response.
satisfaction of hearing your victimizer plea
Surprisingly, the manipulations and
for mercy at your own hands. However, in
tricks in the King case were trivial com-
return, the state gives us two great gifts.
pared with what goes on every day in our
First, the state lends each of us its
court houses. As a result, we have become
awesome power so that even the weak may
so thirsty for simple justice that we
have revenge. Second, the state imposes
celebrate when just one killer is put to
order and reason on the process of social
death.
vengeance, hopefully ensuring that the
Businessmen in the corporate sector are
innocent will not be slaughtered by the
now searching for a way out of hiring an
blind passion that energizes personal ven-
army of lawyers to resolve civil disputes.
geance.
Supreme Court nominations are attended
In large measure, the public debate over
by the cacophony of full political cam-
the death penalty reflects a struggle to find
paigns. The growing perception that our
a correct balance between the desire for
court system is incapable of producing a
bestial revenge and the need for an
speedy, affordable and fair resolution of
objective and rational system of punish-
human conflict threatens a cherished social
ment.
contract.
The lesson from the violent aftermath of
Today the price of this perception is an
the King verdict is that when the percep-
eruption of violence; tomorrow it will be
tion of justice diminishes in the eyes of a
social retreat and depression.
significant cultural subgroup, they will, at
least temporarily, withdraw from the social
Rex Julian Beaber is a psychologist and
contract and return to the speedy and
trial attorney practicing in Los Angeles.
TIMES: 05/01/92
Crisis Shows LAPD Is
1062
Ill-Prepared for Riots
Response: But the rapidly unfolding violence might
have overwhelmed any police department.
Rodney G. King beating trial were
but the rioting exposed how thin
By DAVID FREED
21/120/122
the 7,900-officer LAPD has be-
and TED ROHRLICH
announced at 3:15 p.m. Wednesday
come. He stressed that Gates
TIMES STAFF WRITERS
before fully mobilizing.
"doesn't have the resources to do
By then, the majority of the
what needs to be done."
Where were the police?
force's more than 1,000 detect-
Nonetheless, Sheinbaum said the
That was the question that many
ives-who normally get off work
about 2:30 p.m.-had gone home
initial deployment of officers
in Los Angeles, including members
and needed to be recalled to rein-
Wednesday night will be investi-
of the city's Police Department,
were asking Thursday in the after-
force beleaguered patrol officers.
gated, particularly the "critical
question" of why police did not
math of televised beatings, burning
respond to the first scenes of
and looting that raged for hours in
A
t 6:30 p.m., as angry demon-
violence captured by television
South-Central Los Angeles before
strators began gathering out-
cameras.
officers made any attempt to stop
side police headquarters and TV
Police Chief-designate Willie L.
it.
stations began to air scenes of
Williams also appeared to come to
Even Chief Daryl F. Gates, who
violence near Florence and Nor-
Gates' defense, saying that putting
insisted beforehand that the LAPD
mandie avenues, Gates declared
more police officers on the street
was ready for "any emergency
that his officers were dealing with
before the King verdicts might
situation," conceded that his offi-
the situation "calmly, maturely,
have "aggravated the situation.'
cers were overwhelmed by how
professionally."
"Based on the history of this
quickly the crisis developed and
He then drove to a Brentwood
country," Williams said on NBC's
were "much too slow" to respond.
reception and fund-raiser for the
"Today Show," "massive police
"I asked the same question:
campaign against Charter Amend-
presence has usually not helped in
Where were the police?" Gates told
ment F, a police reform ballot
the early stages."
measure.
But authorities in Miami-one of
NEWS ANALYSIS
On Thursday, Gates said his
the few other major U.S. cities
presence at the event did not
reporters. "We moved in with
where widespread rioting has OC-
hinder the LAPD's response to the
substantial numbers but not with
curred in the last decade-disputed
mounting crisis in South-Central
the numbers needed to handle the
Williams' assertion, insisting that
Los Angeles because "not a great
situation."
quick, forceful police action is the
deal had broken out at that time."
Gates speculated, however, that
only way to quell a major disturb-
He said he remained at the event
ance.
had LAPD officers not retreated
for "a very, very short period"-
when rioting first flared, they
In 1982 and 1989, Miami officers
about 20 minutes. Gates returned
might have incited even greater
went on trial for the controversial
to the city's Emergency Response
violence.
Center between 8:30 p.m. and 9
slayings of ethnic minorities in that
But as the lame-duck chief
city. Days before each verdict was
p.m.
scrambled to defend his actions,
By that time, television viewers
announced, police began restrict-
the crisis demonstrated just how
around the country had been
ing access to and from potentially
ill-prepared the Police Department
watching small mobs drag motor-
troublesome neighborhoods, put all
was in coping with the first hours
ists from their vehicles and beat
officers on 12-hour shifts and can-
of the worst urban turmoil in Los
them near Florence and Norman-
celed vacations. Half of the de-
Angeles since the 1965 Watts riots.
die avenues without any attempt
partment's detectives, meanwhile,
Indeed, nearly 2,000 National
by police to stop the violence or
donned uniforms and hit the
Guard members were activated by
rescue the victims.
streets to help out.
Gov. Pete Wilson on Wednesday
Even when it became clear that
In each case, according to de-
evening, with nearly all in place at
the LAPD apparently could not
partment spokesman David Mag-
armories by 8 a.m. Thursday and
muster the manpower to put down
nusson, there was little trouble
ready to hit the streets, according
the unfolding unrest, officers made
after the verdicts were announced.
to Guard officials. However, none
no apparent attempts to barricade
Miami's Metro-Dade Police De-
were deployed until late afternoon,
streets or otherwise keep unsus-
partment, meanwhile, creates tem-
LAPD field commanders said.
pecting motorists out of harm's
porary "mobile field forces" to deal
Wilson said that police com-
with such incidents. More than 400
way.
manders apparently were slow to
"It is absolutely inexcusable for
riot-equipped officers can be or-
decide how to best use the troops.
the Police Department not to have
ganized and deployed within one
Delays were also encountered, he
cordoned off major streets and
hour of any emergency.
said, as guardsmen obtained neces-
reroute traffic," said one LAPD
"We try to get in there as
sary equipment, including ammu-
detective, Zvonko (Bill) Pavelic.
quickly as we can and stop it from
nition.
"They took no action to defuse the
spreading," said Lt. Angel Nieves
Police commanders countered
situation and stop citizens from
of Metro-Dade's Tactical Oper-
that they had a plan to use the
becoming victims."
ations Section. "If you don't do
guardsmen to help secure a perim-
Others in Los Angeles accused
anything, it gets bigger and bigger
eter around the worst riot areas, a
Gates of purposely delaying the
to the point where you're not going
move they said would free more
deployment of officers in the first
to have enough officers to control
police officers to arrest looters and
it."
critical hours of the crisis.
arsonists.
"It's his revenge against the
Cmdr. Ronald Banks, who was in
The Guard troops also were ex-
people who are trying to put him
charge of the 550 LAPD officers
pected to be stationed around the
out of office," said Craig Freis, a
assigned to the riot area Thursday,
city to secure stores after police
candidate for the Los Angeles
said Miami's strategy of mobilizing
chased off looters.
County Board of Supervisors.
in anticipation of a controversial
It was commonplace Thursday to
However, two of Gates' harshest
verdict would be impractical in Los
see looters return to stores after
critics on the Police Commission,
Angeles. He said authorities here
being dispersed by police, who
President Stanley K. Sheinbaum
had no certain knowledge that
were forced to leave after a short
and Vice President Jesse Brewer,
rioting would occur.
time to answer other calls.
said Thursday that the chief had
Unlike other large police depart-
handled the situation as well as
667
iami [has] more of a histo-
ments that have learned to take
possible.
Banks said. "We had
substantial precautions when fac-
"He's doing the best he can,"
1965."
ing similar situations, the LAPD
said Brewer, a former LAPD as-
waited until after verdicts in the
The cost of deploying the entire
sistant chief.
Police Department beforehand,
Sheinbaum said the department
Banks said, would have been pro-
had prepared for possible unrest,
hibitive and possibly wasteful,
L. TIMES: 05/01/92
2062
since there probably would have
been no rioting had the officers
accused of beating King been found
guilty.
In addition, Banks said, Los An-
geles' size argues against an ad-
vance mobilization.
"Had we known [the trouble]
was going to occur in South-Cen-
tral Los Angeles first
that's
very easy," he said. "But there's a
tremendous difference in the dem-
ographics of Los Angeles as com-
pared to Miami."
In Miami, Banks said, "they
pretty well know where it's going
to start. Even if you targeted
South-Central Los Angeles, it's
expansive enough not to know
where you were going to put up
your command post."
The first officers to arrive at the
scene at Florence and Normandie
set a tone for the LAPD's early
response to the riot-retreat.
"Our units that responded ini-
tially were assaulted," Banks said.
"Windows were broken out of their
police cars. Several received minor
and be taken hostage or incur more
"We don't have enough people,"
injuries. They were basically over-
injuries until we had sufficient
Banks said grimly.
whelmed. They did as their train-
personnel," Banks said.
Staff writers Rich Connell, Cheryl
ing dictated because they were
Yet while the LAPD has since
Brownstein-Santiago, Amy Pyle and
outnumbered. They retreated.
been fully mobilized, the violence
Daniel M. Weintraub contributed to
"We were not going to go back
still remains out of control.
this story.
1062
TIMES
05/01/92
young as 9 were carting off weap-
Outside the Los Angeles Police
Opportunists,
ons and guns by late evening.
Department's Foothill Division in
Although some apparent gang
Pacoima, where a crowd of 200 to
members were milling around the
300 people had gathered, youths
Criminals Are
store, many of the looters seemed
threw rocks and bottles at officers
to be motorists who just stopped
and set fire to two dumpsters in
Blamed for Riots
their cars to get in on the action.
back of a hamburger stand across
Two teen-agers-arrested for
from the police station. One teen-
allegedly shooting at police officers
ager fired several rounds from a
but later released-were being
By VICTOR MERINA
gun into the air-scattering the
and MARC LACEY
21/120/122
held near 3rd Street and Vermont
crowd and prompting police in riot
Avenue. At their sides were two
TIMES STAFF WRITERS
gear to advance across the street.
large duffel bags, each stuffed full
Elsewhere, angry crowds began
As Los Angeles firefighters and
of clothes stolen from a nearby
attacking motorists.
police spent a weary day and night
store. When asked why he was
Louise Robertson, 30, said she
battling arson blazes and looters,
looting, one of the youths said:
saw groups of people attacking cars
stunned residents and business
"Just for fun, you know."
in a largely black portion of South
owners grappled with the question
At John's Market in the Slauson
Los Angeles and watched as an
of who is torching and pillaging
area, people flocked to the store
Asian woman was hit in the head
their communities. The answer
after several youngsters broke into
with a brick thrown through her
seemed to be: both criminals and
it. A young mother with three
windshield. "Anyone whose skin
opportunists.
children sent in her 9-year-old
was light got hit," Robertson said.
The rampage, which began
daughter to get some diapers for
Other motorists were dragged
Wednesday within hours of the
her baby.
from their cars and beaten by the
acquittal of four white police offi-
A 43-year-old man who had
hostile crowd.
cers in the beating of Rodney G.
already purchased groceries earlier
"People started throwing bottles
King, continued Thursday with
said he had come back because the
through the windows and the next
scenes reminiscent of a war zone-
merchandise was now free. "I'm
thing I knew someone threw me
smoke billowing from dozens of
getting some food to put on the
out of the truck and started beating
fires, looters hustling out of stores
table," he said.
me," said Larry Tarvin, a Bellflow-
with merchandise, and gunfire
In some place, entire families
er truck driver, who suffered se-
echoing through the streets peri-
participated in the looting.
vere cuts and bruises until he was
odically.
"I'm really not like this," said
rescued by an unidentified black
But amid the pall, there also was
Karen, a 24-year-old mother who
man.
a carnival atmosphere among some
sat in her car at a mini-mall on
Many have blamed the violence
participants and onlookers who
Crenshaw Boulevard as her
on gang members, but some offi-
raced to stricken neighborhoods to
daughter and two nieces filled the
cials say a wide spectrum of people
watch. join the looting or record
back seat with video movies and
took part.
events with video cameras. And
beauty-care supplies stolen from a
there was the bizarre picture of
nearby store.
She laughed when she heard
S
teve Valdivia, executive direc-
gleeful teen-agers and families, as
tor of Community Youth Gang
if on a weekend outing, ignoring
gunfire and sirens in the distance.
Services, estimated that only 30%
outnumbered police and loading up
"Everybody else is grabbing and
of the rioters and looters were
on looted goods.
taking what they can take," she
members of gangs. "This was a
Although young black men made
said. "Why not me? This ain't
spontaneous explosion of anger,"
up many of the rioters and looters,
stealing. Ain't nobody in the store.
he said. "If there were a lot of gang
Latinos, Anglos and Asians also
It's free now."
members. you'd have seen a lot
took part. Some were as young as
more shooting."
7; others were in their 60s. Mothers
A
S the injury toll rose and
Jim Galipeau, a veteran deputy
brought their children. Gang mem-
property damages escalated,
probation officer in his depart-
bers were clearly evident, but
many watching the spectacle on
ment's gang unit, said there was a
entire families also took part.
television or in person expressed
strong gang presence on the
"You had 7- and 8-year-olds all
anger at those responsible for the
streets but discounted any notion
the way up to 60-year-olds-it's
maelstrom that charred their
that the activity was organized.
not just gang members," said Doro-
neighborhoods and ruined busi-
"This is just people who are greedy
thy, a woman who watched the
nesses from Koreatown to South
and immoral and opportunistic," he
rioting in the Crenshaw area. "You
Los Angeles.
said. "They don't give a [expletive]
had everyday citizens.
I
"Blacks did it to themselves this
about Rodney King."
thought about participating my-
time," said Ron Marshall, 42, an
Though some of those who
self."
African-American who owns a
smashed windows and set fires said
business in the Slauson area.
they were acting in response to the
A
t intersection after intersec-
"They shot themselves in the
King case, others said they were
tion, cars crept along jammed
foot."
expressing outrage over what they
streets in stricken areas and mo-
"It's crazy out here now," said
see as a general pattern of racism
torists leaned out of windows and
another onlooker as he watched.
typified by the acquittals.
flashed "black power" signs and
"It's really out of control. I mean,
Some Korean merchants, who
shouted greetings to each other.
I'm Hispanic and we're killing our
have clashed with black customers
Many honked their horns and
own. It's ridiculous, man."
in the past, saw their businesses
shouted slogans vilifying police.
Much of the rage and destruction
burned. But most black-owned
In some South Los Angeles
had started innocently enough late
businesses-despite some efforts
neighborhoods, looters could be
Wednesday as vocal-yet peace-
by owners to identify themselves
seen carting away armloads of
ful-demonstrators gathered
that way-were not spared.
stolen merchandise while others
throughout the city after the ver-
Lola Davis, whose husband owns
made multiple trips from their
dict. But in a matter of hours, the
a Firestone tire dealership in South
homes using shopping carts to
mood had turned ugly.
carry the heavy items. Motorists
In the Civic Center, hundreds of
backed up their cars to a store to
angry protesters marched through
load, and then drove away.
the mostly non-residential area
At one auto parts store, flocks of
hurling rocks and bottles and shat-
young men could be seen carrying
tering windows at police head-
boxes out of the front door while
quarters, courthouses and newspa-
police entered the back way. And
per offices. Chanting
as the store was looted, skate-
demonstrators burned several au-
boarders and bicyclists whizzed by
tomobiles-including a police car
on the sidewalk. If the police
outside City Hall-and torched
arrived, looters merely waited un-
restaurants and businesses before
til they had left and then contin-
dispersing.
ued.
In South Los Angeles, businesses
and homes were set afire. Smaller
A
t a pawnshop on Jefferson
blazes broke out in the city's
Street just west of Arlington
Fairfax and Westwood sections and
Avenue, -men and some boys as
in mostly white communities in the
San Fernando Valley.
L. TIMES 05/01/92
flects profound population change,
injustice and neglect set the stage
which has brought new tensions:
COLUMN ONE
for violence. And behind the veil of
As recently as 10 years ago, most of
1062
smoke and chaos, a pessimism also
the population was African-Amer-
An Area
seemed to rise-a pessimism that
ican; since then, an influx of Kore-
tomorrow might not be better than
an-American merchants and Lati-
today, after all.
no residents has turned
Baciliso Merino, a short, muscu-
South-Central Los Angeles into a
Burns and
lar construction worker, said that
melting pot.
life in the city has turned out far
But the black residents have
worse than he ever dreamed when
long complained that some of their
Grieves
he brought his family to South Los
newer neighbors, who often own
Angeles from central Mexico a year
small shops, do not treat them with
ago. Wednesday night, he had to
respect.
climb to the roof of his yellow
"It's sad," said Moddie V. Wilson
Life has been hard in
stucco home to hose down embers
III, who posted hastily scribbled
that were landing from nearby
signs on the front windows of his
South-Central Los Angeles
fires.
hardware store at Crenshaw and
for years. But now, as
43rd Place, saying "Black-Owned
self-inflicted wounds
B
ut even in normal times, he
Business," to ward off potential
worries about drive-by shoot-
looters.
mount, residents fear for
ings and other crime. The unset-
"Black people are disenfran-
tling roar of police helicopters is
chised in this community. We don't
the future.
21/120/122
common background noise; police
have many stores, but some had
routinely close off streets in pur-
started to come back. Now I don't
suit of drug dealers, leaving law-
By JONATHAN PETERSON
know. It's gotten beyond Rodney
abiding residents marooned in the
and HECTOR TOBAR
King. Rodney King was just the
neighborhood.
straw that broke the camel's back."
TIMES STAFF WRITERS
America has turned out like "a
One looter, casually walking
In a smoky parking lot in South-
golden cage," he said, quoting a
along Western Avenue with a
Central Los Angeles, Ruby Galude,
Mexican song, as black ribbons of
brand-new stereo speaker, voiced
55, stared in disbelief at the wreck-
smoke rose to the north, south and
the outrage of many black resi-
age of her local grocery store. "I'm
east of his home near Slauson.
dents toward some of the immi-
a diabetic. This is where I get all
"You expect to find so much
grant merchants: "These business-
my juices and foods," she said,
wealth, but instead you find a
es [we] burned down don't care
peering at shards of glass and
prison."
about us," he said. He further cited
soaked debris. "What am I going to
In part, the deprivation is in
the case of Latasha Harlins, the
do now?"
everyday commercial life, where
15-year-old high school student
A few miles away, Paul C. Hud-
people often have to pay higher
who was shot to death by a Korean
son arrived at his family-run sav-
prices with fewer choices, where
storekeeper. The storekeeper, con-
residents who want to cash checks
ings and loan, a community fixture
victed of voluntary manslaughter,
sometimes wait in endless lines
since 1947 in a neighborhood that
was placed on probation. "They
more reminiscent of Moscow than
has a grave shortage of banks. On
just charge high prices and take
Wednesday night it burned down.
Los Angeles.
our money. Now we are taking
Since the days of the Watts riots,
"Just the exterior wall was left
some back."
most major supermarket chains
standing," he said.
have cut back their stores in South
Property seemed to have special
Anthony Wright and his wife,
symbolism to the street vandals.
Los Angeles. Other retailers are
Jaye. meanwhile, sat in lawn
While residents raised their fists at
wary of settling there altogether.
chairs, as radio news blared from
On Thursday, Thrifty Drug-
police cars and cried, "No justice!
their pickup truck. Just a few.
which lost four outlets during the
No peace!" it was retailers, facto-
blocks away, hundreds of people!
ries and other enterprises that
1965 Watts riots-reported that it
were on a looting rampage on
has lost three stores this week,
received the brunt of a rage that
Vermont Avenue.
some residents and community ex-
shut down 11, and may not rebuild
Hard times fuel the fury, said
those that are destroyed.
perts say stems from a painful
Jaye Wright, a teacher's aide. "It's
Dazed residents worried that life
economic isolation.
not a recession for minority com-
in the worst neighborhoods will
Carl Dickerson, president of the
munities. It's a depression."
become even more thankless, with
Black Business Assn. of Los Angel-
the help of self-inflicted wounds.
es, spoke of the perceived analogy
Long before this week's spasm of
People "won't have anywhere to
between injustice in the courthouse
destruction, daily life in parts of
eat. They won't have anywhere to
and injustice in the job market.
South-Central Los Angeles was
grueling in ways much different
buy gas. They won't have any-
from elsewhere in the city. In
where to buy groceries," said Jac-
T
he outpouring of rage, he
quie Wade, who had ventured into
maintained, comes in part be-
ordinary. mundane ways-from al
shortage of grocery stores and
a strife-torn neighborhood to see if
cause many people associate the
her church was still standing. It
verdict in the King case with
credit at normal interest rates to a
"economic injustice" in their own
scarcity of jobs and the more
was.
publicized ills of crime and drugs-
The frustrations are also a prod-
lives.
it was harder to get through a
uct of limited jobs. Famous manu-
"Reacting to this miscarriage of
typical day.
facturers, such as General Motors,
justice
prompts people to con-
Goodyear, Firestone and Bethle-
clude that the system has also
The rising toll in human life,
hem Steel, all used to provide
treated them unfairly," Dickerson
torched businesses and destroyed
South-Central residents the
said. "They should have jobs and
property added insult to an already
chance for a living wage and
opportunities, but they don't. The
dangerous, frustrating existence.
upward mobility-including those
recession has resulted in a reduc-
On Thursday, some residents
without education.
tion of jobs, mergers have led to job
spoke in determined voices about
By the 1980s, most such jobs
loss, the aerospace industry is los-
getting on with the job of rebuild-
vanished, a result of declining U.S.
ing jobs and there is a flight of
ing their community.
competitiveness. In the ashes, resi-
industry from California."
"We have an obligation to re-
dents were forced into a lower-
With fewer than 35 major su-
open." said Hudson, president of
wage economy of light industry,
permarkets and 20 banks and
Broadway Federal Savings & Loan,
welding shops, furniture makers,
thrifts serving a 35-square-mile
a green, two-story structure on
garment factories, fast-food res-
area of more than half a million
45th Street that survived the
taurants and other employers.
people, South-Central has grown a
Watts riots but not this week's
world apart from the traditional
mayhem.
B
ut even those are taking a
wheels of commerce as businesses
But there were other voices as
pounding in this week's vio-
have fled.
well-voices of profound disap-
lence, with a further loss to the
Today, in some sections of
pointment in this country, angry
community.
South-Central, the nearest full-
accusations that years of economic
"You're talking about janitorial-
service grocery stores are often at
maintenance companies, clothing
least two bus rides away and
stores, restaurants, cleaners," said
neighborhood mom-and-pop stores
Gene Hale, chairman of the Afri-
sometimes charge as much as 30%
can-American Chamber of Com-
more than bigger retailers.
merce. "You can go across the
Meanwhile, there are so few
board-these are little shopping
banks and thrifts that residents
centers, with businesses nailed to-
routinely stand in lines for hours to
gether. One fire will get them all."
make a deposit or cash a check. In
Much of the new business re-
fact, financial institutions are so
TIMES 05/01/92
scarce, that in some areas of
something to gain."
South-Central armored trucks
Other witnesses were outraged,
2062
rumble to job sites on paydays to
and drew a clear connection be-
cash checks for workers.
tween the destruction and the
"I don't think black people really
future of their neighborhoods. For
want to put anybody out of busi-
example, William Small talked
ness," said Patsy Brown, a well-
with other neighborhood residents
known Crenshaw-area business-
as looters hauled goods from Car
woman who kept her Papa's Gro-
Sound, a car stereo retailer on
cery store on Vernon and Van Ness
Vermont near 25th Street.
open all day Thursday amid the
"These looters may not realize it,
raging fires and looting in nearby
but this is criminal activity," Small
blocks.
said. "If they're caught and put in
"But they are angry that they
jail, they will understand just how
have no choice [of merchants] in
criminal this is."
their community. People have sup-
Small said many business own-
ported me not because I'm black,
ers with riot-related losses have no
but because I give good service to
insurance and will not reopen their
them. A lot of these other stores
enterprises.
can't" make that claim, Brown
"People will have to leave the
said.
area just to shop," he said. "I don't
Near a corner mini-mall on Fi-
have a car. That means I'll have to
gueroa Street, two young men
take a bus to get what I need."
discussed the eerie drama unfold-
Amid the destruction, some
ing before their eyes, as the rem-
business leaders vowed to rebuild
nants of a store, now unrecogniz-
the community, and there were
able, smoldered. Firefighters
countless acts of heroism and de-
continued to put out the embers.
cency. But on the day that South-
Alex Zendejas, 18, said he ex-
Central continued to burn, the
pected damaged or looted busi-
lasting image was far more dark
nesses to be reopened. However,
and bewildering.
he expressed some regret about
At the corner of 43rd Place and
certain short-term economic losses
Crenshaw, more than a dozen
resulting from the disturbances.
laughing and animated patrons
"M
aybe people should have
packed the tiny Crenshaw Cafe's
taken their protest to
outdoor tables, sipping coffee and
some other neighborhoods," he
dining on a hearty breakfast of
said.
pancakes and eggs. Across the
His friend, Sadi Dukes, 17,
street a ferocious fire was blazing,
agreed. "I'd rather see this hap-
sending a trail of destruction
pening in Pasadena or Simi Val-
through a manicure shop and the
ley," he said. "I don't think people
Muslim Community Center.
should mess up their own neigh-
Times staff writers Steven Braun,
borhood."
Paul Feldman, Jube Shiver, George
Many of the looters, Zendejas
White and Patrick Lee contributed to
added, "have nothing to lose and
this story.
TIMES 05/01/92
Comment
ON CALIFORNIA
In that sense, economic conditions
have not improved much since the
The Challenge
Watts insurrection.
The political results of the city's
changing demographics add to the
of Holding the
African-Americans' sense of power-
lessness. Once solidly African-Ameri-
can, South Los Angeles is now heavily
City Together
Latino. African-Americans fear loss
of political power when new City
21/120/122
Council districts are being drawn to
reflect the city's fast-growing Latino
By BILL BOYARSKY
and Asian-American populations.
And, with no star African-Ameri-
A
S incomprehensible as the ver-
can political performer waiting in the
dict was, it's history and Los
wings, blacks are all but certain to
Angeles must live with it.
lose the mayor's office when Tom
Live with the judgment of white
Bradley leaves-although he has said
suburbanites on a Ventura County
nothing about his intentions.
jury who can return to their neigh-
Black leaders fear that this will
borhoods while L.A.'s leaders and
result in policy changes harmful to
residents try to hold their city togeth-
their community.
er.
The council and future mayors will
Thanks, Simi Valley, thanks for
also have to allocate resources to
your judgment in the Rodney King
Latinos, founders of the city who are
beating case.
reclaiming the power denied them
So now, as incoming Police Chief
more than a century ago. The Asian-
Willie L. Williams said, "the real
Americans, California's fastest-grow-
challenge is for the people of Los
ing minority, also want a share.
Angeles to go on from there."
At this point, an Anglo reader might
Much of the responsibility will fall
ask: "What about us?"
on L.A.'s creaking political system
A good question. Actually, even
and its politicians, already over-
though Anglos are now a minority in a.
whelmed with racial and economic
city of minorities, they have more
class divisions. The verdict will no
clout than any other group. That's
doubt exacerbate these tensions.
because the electorate-as opposed to
To the African-American commu-
the total population-is predominant-
nity, it comes as confirmation of a
ly Anglo. This Anglo voter domina-
growing feeling of political and eco-
tion raises a troubling issue.
nomic powerlessness and exploitation
Political control is shifting to the
felt by the poorest and the affluent.
fast-growing predominantly white
I saw evidence of that Sunday at
suburbs. This is happening in Los
the First African Methodist Episcopal
Angeles County as well as in other
Church, where the Rev. Cecil L.
metropolitan regions of California.
(Chip) Murray ministers to a congre-
This means that the inner city will
gation that includes some of L.A.'s
have less voice in the state Legisla-
most influential black citizens. The
ture and in the state's congressional
congregants applauded and nodded in
delegation.
agreement when he talked about
In other words, the people who
powerlessness:
freed the four cops in the Rodney
"We take $100 on Friday night,
King case will speak for urban L.A.
with our eyes wide open, and give it to
Thinking about this Tuesday night,
a hotel where we don't even work.
with angry crowds outside police
We take $150 shopping for a family of
headquarters in Parker Center, it's
four with our eyes wide open and we
hard to be optimistic. Arson fires
give it to where there is not one of us
brought back memories of the bleak
on the board of directors. We drink
days of Watts.
60% of the Scotch whiskey in this
Despite all this, the city's political
country, and we don't own one distill-
structure has the potential to hold
ery. All we own is some bad breath
things together, much more than it
and some red eyes from drinking it."
did in 1965.
It's easy to forget, in the tension
and gloom of the moment, that city
government has responded to the
Rodney King beating, fairly quickly
for a bunch of politicians.
The Christopher Commission
plumbed the depths of the Police
Department. And soon the city will
have a new police chief.
If you think of that through the
gloom and smoke, you might even be
hopeful, you might even believe that
L.A. can hold itself together.
1062
L.A. TIMES 05/01/92
KING CASE AFTERMATH: A CITY IN CRISIS
Violence Erupts in Atlanta as Other Cities Brace for Trouble
to contain gang violence in the
Capitol, and then moved into the
By DAVID TREADWELL 21/120/122
inner-city Central District have led
crowds, trying to persuade them to
TIMES STAFF WRITER
to friction between residents and
break up and move on.
NEW YORK-Hundreds of
police in recent weeks, Norm Rice,
Afterward, Jackson traveled to
black youths went on a rampage
the black mayor of a city that is
the Atlanta University complex to
through downtown Atlanta on
90% non-black, called the King
urge calm. He later told a local
Thursday, while in cities elsewhere
verdicts "shocking" and said that
television reporter that he saw in
officials and police braced for pos-
he and other civic leaders were
the students there a "real feeling of
sible violence as the verdicts in the
taking steps to prevent a clash that
hopelessness" and "a level of frus-
Rodney G. King beating case ap-
could touch off violence.
tration and anger" that he had not
peared to touch a raw nerve
"You don't know what can set it
seen in a long time.
around the country.
off," added the Rev. Samuel Mc-
About 100 people were arrested
In Madison, Wis., the wind-
Kinney, pastor of Seattle's Mt. Zion
and at least 17 admitted to à
shields of 34 parked police cars
Baptist Church. "Unrest can catch
downtown municipal hospital with
were shattered and a note at the
on like a conflagration. I hope it
injuries from the rioting, authori-
scene read, "Justice for King." In
doesn't."
ties in Atlanta said.
New York City, black and white
In contrast to Atlanta, Miami
students at a Catholic school in
P
rotests and rallies, almost all
remained calm well into the eve-
Queens walked out of their classes
peaceful, were held in cities
ning. "No incidents, not a single
chanting "Rodney, Rodney, Rod-
around the country to denounce
one," said Miami police spokesman
ney." In Providence, R.I., and
the King verdicts.
Angelo Bitsis.
Seattle, city officials and black
In Atlanta, more than 400 people
Bitsis added, however, that Mi-
community leaders appealed for
gathered at a nonviolent rally in
ami police-who have perhaps
calm as public anger mounted.
front of the white marble crypt of
more riot experience in the past 11
Municipal authorities prepared
slain civil rights leader Martin
years than any other urban police
for the worst in the face of what
Luther King Jr. They carried signs
force in the nation-are not taking
many described as already volatile
reading "L.A. Has No Justice,"
chances. "We do have some people
racial conditions in their communi-
"Put Justice in the Justice Sys-
standing by," he said. "We're mon-
ties.
tem," "King Verdict Was a Wak-
itoring the situation, and we'll be
In Washington, D.C., all police
eup Call-Stop the Killing" and
able to respond quickly."
officers' leaves were canceled and
"Live as Brothers or Perish as
A peaceful protest against the
units put on alert in anticipation of
Fools."
King verdict on the steps of Cleve-
trouble.
"If Dr. King were here today, I'm
land's City Hall nearly erupted into
"Everybody's on pins and nee-
almost certain that he would have
violence when a 31-year-old white
dles in my ward right now," said
been on the first thing smoking out
man drove by in a van with a Nazi
H.R. Crawford, a city councilman
of Atlanta on his way to L.A.," said
flag and a Confederate battle flag
who represents a heavily black
King's daughter Bernice, an Atlan-
flying from it.
ward encompassing parts of north-
ta attorney and minister. "God has
Demonstrators chased after the
east and southeast Washington.
created us, and if nothing else we
vehicle but failed to catch it. How-
"Anything could set it off. We're
owe it to God Almighty to do
ever, an off-duty policeman fol-
working double time to prevent
something about this tragic situa-
lowed the van to the man's home
any tragedies here."
tion" in Los Angeles.
and arrested him.
Not long after the peaceful rally
Civil rights leaders across the
N
ew York City's police oper-
at King's tomb, however, hundreds
country were vigorous in denounc-
ations and community affairs
of black youths poured into down-
ing the King verdicts.
network also were put on alert.
town from the direction of predom-
"You can never be too prepared,"
inantly black Atlanta University
and went on a rampage.
W
e are here to express our
said Deputy Mayor Bill Lynch,
outrage, our indignation
recalling last summer's outbreak of
Chanting "Rodney King, Rodney
at the appalling decision rendered
racial violence in the Crown
King," one group of about 70
yesterday in California," Joseph P.
Heights section of Brooklyn. "We
rioters attacked Macy's depart-
Fowlkes Jr., president of the Prov-
want to be ahead of the curve
ment store on downtown Peach-
idence, R.I. NAACP chapter, told
instead of behind it."
tree Street, smashing two big dis-
reporters at a news conference.
In Chicago, police Supt. Matt
play windows and overturning
Tom Jenkins, president of the
Rodriguez said the department's
racks of merchandise and displays
Denver Urban League chapter,
command operations and commu-
of shoes and jewelry. The store was
said of the jury decision in the King
nity assessment centers were eval-
forced to close early and employees
case: "It is a good indication
uating all reports of "unusual inci-
were sent home.
that justice is not blind. Justice is
dents or conditions" in efforts to
Another group marched on the
peeping out from underneath that
defuse potentially volatile situa-
state Capitol, hurling rocks and
blindfold to see who justice is being
tions.
bottles at buildings and cars. A
applied to, and it is being applied
John Dineed, president of Chica-
woman was beaten and kicked on
differently to poor people and peo-
go's biggest police union, added:
the steps of a state office building.
ple of color than it is to others."
"There's supposed to be a heat
State police in riot gear closed
Although he anticipated no im-
wave tomorrow. Hopefully, it
down the gold-domed Capitol.
mediate violent reaction among
won't [spark violence], but the
Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson
blacks in Denver to the King
officers are alert to the fact that
spent the afternoon trying to calm
verdicts, he said that they will
anything could
even a traffic
the rampaging protesters. He
fester in their minds. "And on one
ticket."
spoke through a bullhorn from the
of these hot summer nights, when a
In Seattle, where police efforts
steps of City Hall, which is near the
cop pulls up and says the wrong
thing to the wrong African-Ameri-
can young male who happens to
have an Uzi right beside him in the
car, it's goodby Denver police-
man," he said. "There is no ques-
tion, the seeds are there."
Gary Peter Klahr, a Phoenix
attorney who was the first private
citizen to sit on the Phoenix Police
Department's advisory committee
on the use of force, was among
many civic leaders throughout the
nation who called on the U.S.
Justice Department to seek an
immediate federal indictment of
the four Los Angeles police officers
involved in the King trial.
"The grand jury should start
meeting tomorrow," he said, add-
ing that he did not expect the
violence in Los Angeles and Atlan-
L.A. TIMES 05/01/92
Bush Asks Justice Dept. to Step Up Probe
Government: The President will meet with black
cused Bush of failing to exercise
had gutted the Civil Rights Com-
leadership and said his "kinship"
mission and downgraded the Jus-
leaders today. Some lawmakers call for hearings on
with Police Chief Daryl Gates
tice Department's Community Re-
"throughout all of this shows his
lations Service.
expanding the Civil Rights Act.
disregard for justice and fairness."
Fletcher said that he met with
6/120/122
The White House said Thursday
Bradley about the L.A. racial situa-
could explode into violence.
By JACK NELSON
night that black leaders invited to
tion after the King beating but that
The reports have been filed by
TIMES WASHINGTON BUREAU CHIEF
today's meeting with Bush include
the Reagan Administration had so
the commission's state advisory
Benjamin Hooks, executive direc-
"decimated" the commission that
WASHINGTON-President
committees, Fletcher disclosed in
tor of the NAACP; Dorothy Height
there were not enough resources to
Bush, stunned by the Los Angeles
an interview. Fletcher, a black
of the National Council of Negro
develop adequate intelligence
racial violence and concerned that
who will attend today's meeting
Women; John Jacob, head of the
about the situation.
it will spread to other cities, Thurs-
with Bush, said the Los Angeles
National Urban League; Joseph
day expressed frustration at the
riots sprang from "a cancer of
Lowery, head of the Southern
acquittals in the Rodney King
Christian Leadership Conference;
O
ther sources said the Commu-
racism that's been eating away at
the nation's moral fiber and infil-
nity Relations Service, which
beating case but denounced the
the Rev. E. V. Hill, pastor of a
trating and infecting practically
Reagan also downgraded, has been
riots as "purely criminal" and
church in the Watts section of Los
called for the re-establishment of
every major institution in govern-
ineffective in monitoring the na-
Angeles, and Coretta Scott King,
ment, education, health-and the
tion's racial problems.
law and order.
widow of Dr. Martin Luther King,
At the same time, he directed the
judicial system, the cornerstone of
Grace Flores Hughes, director of
the slain civil rights leader.
our democracy."
the service, declined to be inter-
Justice Department to step up an
Fletcher and another Adminis-
viewed, but Ron Tomalis, a
investigation to determine whether
tration black official-Constance
F
ears that the violence could
spokesman, said the service was
to prosecute the officers in federal
B. Newman, director of the Office
spread also were voiced by
"assessing the situation" in L.A.
court for violating King's civil
of Personnel Management-will
many members of Congress and
The President is scheduled to
rights.
also attend.
civil rights leaders who expressed
travel to Los Angeles next Thurs-
And the President, in telephone
Atty. Gen. Barr, stressing the
outrage at the outcome of the trial
day, and White House officials said
calls to Mayor Tom Bradley and
seriousness with which the Justice
and demanded that the Justice
there has been no indication that
California Gov. Pete Wilson, of-
Department is conducting the civil
Department prosecute the four po-
he might postpone that trip.
fered federal aid to help repair the
lice officers involved in the King
rights investigation in the King
Instead, Bush appeared to be
riot damage, although White
case, spoke at a press conference
case for civil rights violations.
hopeful that by using his presiden-
House officials said Bradley and
Several lawmakers said they will
Thursday flanked by FBI Director
William S. Sessions and John R.
tial pulpit, he might be able to help
Wilson told Bush it is too early to
organize congressional hearings to
restore calm and order in the area.
know what will be needed.
Dunne, assistant attorney general
examine the possibility of expand-
ing the Civil Rights Act to address
for civil rights.
Times staff writers Douglas Jehi
Describing the violence, fires
"It's' important for people to
contributed to this article from Colum-
and looting in Los Angeles as "mob
questions of police brutality more
understand that the verdicts yes-
bus, Ohio, and Ronald J. Ostrow and
brutality" and "wanton destruc-
specifically.
California Rep. Don Edwards
terday on state charges are not the
Michael Ross contributed from Wash-
tion," the President said: "We sim-
end of the process," Barr said. "The
Ington.
ply cannot condone violence as a
(D-San Jose), chairman of the
House Judiciary Committee's sub-
Department of Justice is responsi-
way of changing the system."
committee on civil rights, said he
ble for enforcing the civil rights
He spoke to a group of broad-
laws of the United States and it will
casters and later attended a $1,000-
plans hearings on police brutality
a-plate fund-raiser for his reelec-
for next week, and Senate Judici-
do so vigorously."
The Justice Department could
tion campaign in Columbus, Ohio,
ary Committee member Arlen
after a trip from Washington that
Specter (R-Pa.) said the Civil
seek indictments against not only
the four officers but also 17 others
was postponed for several hours
Rights Act should be amended to
who stood by and did nothing while
because of developments in Los
incorporate specific statutes
against police brutality.
King was beaten, according to a
Angeles.
Congressional Black Caucus
key federal law enforcement offi-
cial.
members said they will discuss the
B
ush aides announced that he
King case next week with Willie L.
was scheduling a White House
Williams, the newly appointed Los
arr dispatched Associate Atty.
meeting for today with black com-
B
Angeles police chief.
Gen. Wayne Budd, a black and
munity and government leaders to
Civil rights leader Jesse Jackson
the department's third-ranking of-
discuss a course of federal action.
and Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Los
ficial, to Los Angeles to head the
Although Bush could dispatch
Angeles) urged Atty. Gen. William
investigation into the King case.
federal troops to Los Angeles to
P. Barr to move quickly to bring
Barr himself has been scheduled
help control rioting and prevent
federal charges against the police-
to travel to California on Sunday
looting, White House Press Secre-
men implicated in the beating.
for a visit that would include a
tary Marlin Fitzwater said that "at
After meeting with Barr and
speech before the Los Angeles
this point there has been no con-
other officials, Waters, whose dis-
Chamber of Commerce. However,
sideration" of such a move.
trict includes the area of the worst
there were reports Thursday that
Meanwhile, Arthur Fletcher,
rioting, said: "We let them know
because of the sensitivity of the
chairman of the U.S. Commissions
that we think the situation not only
case and the situation in Los An-
on Civil Rights, underscored the
in Los Angeles but across the
geles he would postpone the trip.
urgency of the racial situation not
nation is extremely volatile and we
Meanwhile, sources said the fed-
only in Los Angeles but also in
want them to make the decision
eral government, clearly caught by
other parts of the country, saying
with all due haste."
surprise when the riots broke out,
that commission files are filled
Jackson, declaring that justice
lacked adequate intelligence about
with reports warning that other
must be done to protect the credi-
the Los Angeles situation because
cities also are "tinder boxes" that
bility of the judicial process, ac-
the Ronald Reagan Administration
TIMES: 05/01/92
Bush, Rivals Call
for End to Violence
By DAVID LAUTER
TIMES STAFF WRITER
6/120/122
WASHINGTON-Televised scenes of Los Angeles burning
confronted national leaders Thursday once more with the nation's
rawest wound: racial division.
President Bush issued statements appealing for calm and
condemning violence, with only scant mention of the verdict. And
although he delayed his departure from Washington to issue a
televised message appealing for calm, he stuck to his schedule for a
speech and a political fund-raiser in Ohio on Thursday.
"We simply cannot condone violence as a way of changing the
system," Bush said in his speech.
"Mob brutality, the total loss of respect for human life was
sickeningly sad," Bush said, adding that he would "make no
apology for the rule of law or the requirement to live by it.
"I call on every American to show restraint and to respect
people's rights and property," Bush said later to applause at the
$1,000 a plate fund-raising dinner.
In response to questions about why the President avoided direct
comment on the verdict, a senior Bush aide insisted the President
really had been surprised by the outcome but believed that he
could not say so publicly for fear of "stirring up emotions."
Although Bush condemned bigotry and briefly remarked on
sharing the "frustration and anguish" about the verdict, his chief
spokesman carefully insisted that Bush's remarks should not be
interpreted as criticism of the jury's decision.
B
ill Clinton, Bush's probable Democratic opponent, began the
day sharply criticizing the King verdict but saying little about
the rioting.
By day's end, he was continuing to criticize the jury's decision,
saying "most of us who have seen the film don't understand the
verdict," but in increasingly strong language, he denounced the
street violence.
"The verdict in the King case is not an excuse," he said in a
speech in Birmingham, Ala. "The abandonment of the poor in our
cities cannot be avenged" by "savage behavior" and "lawless
vandals."
Clinton appealed to the people of Los Angeles "no matter how
angry you are" to "stop the violence and stop it now" and asked his
audience to pray for peace in the city and for an end to "the evil
and hatred that has gripped the souls of people."
Former Gov. Edmund G. (Jerry) Brown Jr. cut short a
campaign day in Nebraska to fly to Los Angeles, where he tried to
focus attention on social problems. "People are desperate for jobs,
and there are no career ladders for many," Brown told reporters.
The rioting, he said, is "irrational on the part of those people, but
it was also irrational on the part of the jury" to acquit the four
police officers accused of beating King.
Ross Perot, the potential independent candidate, issued a
statement from his headquarters in Dallas saying he was
"disappointed" by the verdict and calling the rioting "a tragedy
because it further divides and weakens our country."
Only conservative Republican Patrick J. Buchanan seemed to
find the day's events easy to respond to. The verdict "was decided
in a fair trial by a conscientious jury," Buchanan said as he
campaigned in North Carolina. The rioting, he added, was
"inexcusable and indefensible."
Times staff writers Douglas Jehi In Colombus, Ohio, Ronald Brownstein
In Birmingham, Ala., William Eaton In North Carolina, Robert L Jackson in
Los Angeles, and Robert Shogan in New Orleans contributed to this
story.
05/01/92
Angry, Bewildered,
Confused King Asks
'Why? 120/122 Why? Why?'
in the criminal trial are an indica-
He kept his 7-year-old car with
By RICHARD A. SERRANO
tion of what lies ahead.
the 85,000 miles on it, but also has
TIMES STAFF WRITER
"He's upset, and he's angry, and
been provided newer model vehi-
he's very disappointed," said An-
cles, asking for a different one
S
tunned, speechless and shak-
gela King, his aunt and one of his
when he tired of the color.
ing, Rodney G. King retreated
closest family members, who sat
Most of his days before the trial
late in the afternoon to the
through almost every day of the
were spent watching television,
solitude of his bedroom.
three-month trial. "He's got
particularly the Discovery Channel
On the television screen, the four
enough headaches and heartaches
and shows about animals. But once
Los Angeles police officers accused
for any one man to bear."
the trial started, he became fixed
of beating him had just been found
"Right now, the guy's complete-
on the screen, watching the pro-
not guilty. They were hugging and
ly unglued," said his attorney,
ceedings live each day.
smiling in the courtroom. But King,
Steve Lerman. "I got a client who's
During the prosecution's case, as
the 26-year-old Altadena motorist
on the edge of his seat. He's trying
they brought in witnesses and
whose life took a dramatic turn on
desperately to hold onto his san-
evidence indicating that King was
a midnight drive in the San Fer-
ity."
struck unnecessarily in the head,
nando Valley 14 months ago,
Said a third confidante, who was
he began to relax. He began to feel
locked himself inside his bedroom.
with King on Wednesday night as
enough peace and inner strength to
The lights were turned off; the
news of the verdicts continued to
finally stop smoking.
television was down low. Through
wash over his emotions: "He's got
But then the defense attorneys
the doorjamb, his occasional
so many people pulling at him in so
took their turn before the jury, and
screams could be heard. "Why?
many directions he doesn't know
three of the accused officers took
Why? Why?" he groaned. "Why
what to expect next."
the stand to defend themselves.
are they beating me again?"
Life was not always like this.
Believing in his heart that they
As night came, and rioters and
were lying, King began feeling
looters spread mayhem on city
T
hree months before the beat-
low, concerned that without his
streets, King still refused to come
ing, King had been released
testimony to refute the officers, the
out of the bedroom, according to
from prison and returned to his
jurors would side with them.
recollections Thursday from rela-
wife and family. He took a job
Lerman, trying to bolster his
tives, friends and members of
working at Dodger Stadium. He
client's spirits, took him out to
King's growing legal entourage.
renewed old acquaintances, two of
dinner one night at a Benihana
By 10 p.m., a psychiatrist was
whom rode with him shortly after
restaurant in West Los Angeles.
called in. The therapist adminis-
midnight on March 3, 1991, on a
"He was kind of nervous because
tered an antidepressant drug and
trip intended to take them to
he'd never been to one of these
tried to coax King out of his sinking
Hansen Dam. They never made it.
restaurants before," Lerman said.
state.
Instead, King was tracked
Later, as he was being driven
speeding on Interstate 210. He was
home, he decided he wanted a
K
ing has repeatedly declined to
chased by police to a Lake View
pizza, so they picked up a carry-
be interviewed since his beat-
Terrace neighborhood, where an
out. A large man, muscular and
ing, and he maintained that silence
amateur cameraman caught on
well-built, he ate the whole thing.
Thursday. But the doctor who
film the images of King rolling on
He seemed to be feeling better.
spent four hours with him
the ground under a flurry of police
And then, Wednesday afternoon.
Wednesday night and finally
baton blows and kicks.
Wearing shorts-his injured
emerged from the small room with
If King had been called to testify
right leg still wrapped in an athlet-
him gave this assessment:
in the trial, his relatives and
ic support brace-King watched
King feels as though he is being
friends say, he would have told the
the verdicts unfold on television.
pulled apart by forces he can no
12 jurors-none of them black-
Stunned as they were read, he
longer control.
that not only did the officers beat
instinctively reached for a pack of
He is extremely angry that he
and kick him, but they hurled
Marlboro Lights.
was never called to the witness
racial epithets at him, a charge he
"He wasn't talking in clear sen-
stand during the officers' trial in
made during a talk with prosecu-
tences," said one friend. "He
Simi Valley to tell his version of
tors last year.
wasn't coherent. He wasn't talking
how the officers beat and shot him
He would have testified that he
in full sentences.
with an electric stun gun at the end
was trying to get up off the ground
"It suddenly was like he had no
of a high-speed car pursuit.
and flee, to get out from under the
idea who he was or what time it
He is confused and bewildered
56 baton swings directed at him,
was or where he was. He would
about the rioting sparked by
that he was not combative or
start to make sense, and then 10
Wednesday's verdicts and during
resisting arrest, as three of the
seconds later he couldn't even tell
which his name frequently is
officers said in court.
you what room he was in. Then he
chanted. But he is afraid to speak
But prosecutors made a decision
went in the bedroom."
out publicly against the ugliness,
not to bring King into the court-
Thursday morning, he called his
fearful that his words might be
room. After the verdicts, Deputy
[aunt. They talked about how the
misinterpreted and only further
Dist. Atty. Terry White said he did
King family was besieged by re-
ignite the protests.
not want to switch the focus of the
quests for him to speak out publicly
He is upset that his personal life
trial from the defendants to King.
against the rioting, but also about
has been forever changed. And he
Defense attorneys also were re-
how he can't bring himself to do so.
is dismayed that for the past year
luctant to put King on the stand,
"He's upset and he's angry and
he has lived incognito, moving
concerned that he would come off
he can't understand why people
from apartment to apartment
as a sympathetic victim. He almost
are out there running in the
around Southern California, rarely
got his chance in the trial's waning
streets," she said. "But you can't
able to attend a movie or a sporting
weeks when Paul DePasquale, who
use his name as the excuse for all
event.
represented Officer Timothy E.
that's happening in the city now.
King sold the rights for his story
Wind, decided to call him. But
And you can't use his name as the
to movie producers, but his con-
several subpoenas went unserved
salvation."
tract fee was small. He relies on
because defense investigators were
the generosity of relatives who
unable to locate King.
contribute to a fund administered
by his attorney.
I King was moved to new loca-
n the months after the beating,
Even his massive federal civil
rights lawsuit against the city,
tions around the city. Concerned
once considered a sure win because
that he was unsafe in his Altadena
of the videotape of his beating,
home, he was given new quarters,
could be in jeopardy, if the verdicts
supported by his relatives and
money from his attorney, Lerman.
TIMES 05/01/92
name not be used for fear of
tions on that count took a day and a
Jurors Rattled
retaliation against him and his
half. It was very thorough. There
family. At least two left their
were a lot of discussions back and
homes Thursday, including a pan-
forth. The majority said not guilty,
by Aftermath,
elist from Santa Paula, whose fam-
and I [initially] was undecided, and
ily was in tears, according to a
there were those-more than
neighbor. "They were in fear for
one-who felt there was guilt."
Defend Verdicts
their lives," the neighbor said.
But this juror eventually joined
The jurors had been thrown
the rest in voting to acquit Powell
21/120/122
together in the highly sensitive
of the most serious charge against
case after a state appeals court
him: assault with a deadly weapon.
By PAUL LIEBERMAN
ordered the trial moved from Los
"By Sunday midday, everyone
and STUART SILVERSTEIN
Angeles County because of "exten-
but myself had agreed on not
TIMES STAFF WRITERS
sive and pervasive" media cover-
guilty, and I felt that was a point
Some of the jurors fled their
age and intense political fallout.
where I could not convince myself
homes, fearful for their lives. Oth-
They were the survivors of a
of guilt beyond a reasonable
ers retreated behind locked doors
painstaking, monthlong process of
doubt-which is the key phrase in
and struggled to comprehend the
jury selection in which 248 other
my mind. My feeling was that
violent aftermath of their verdicts.
Ventura County residents were
there was guilt but I couldn't prove
At least two, shaken to the edge
eliminated.
it to myself beyond a reasonable
of tears, wondered whether they
Six men and six women, they
doubt."
could possibly be responsible for
ranged in age from 38 to 65, and
He was distraught to hear critics
the rioting and fires that were
represented many corners of soci-
later say the jury had whitewashed
spreading through Los Angeles.
ety-a cable splicer, a bank clerk, a
what had seemed to be an open-
"I've gotten some calls saying
retired real estate broker, a phone
and-shut case.
that I'll have to live with this for
company technician, a computer
"The law is set up in such a way
the rest of my life," said one juror,
analyst, a housekeeper, a retired
in our country that sometimes
who was among the last holdouts-
naval aviator, a park ranger, a
guilty men go free to ensure that
pushing for at least one guilty
college groundskeeper, program
innocent men are not locked up
verdict against at least one of the
manager, retired mental health
unjustly," the juror said, "Some of
four officers in the Rodney G. King
worker and nurse. But the fact
the people protesting, making
beating trial that consumed them
most often pointed out is that none
comments about the jury, have to
for two months.
of the jurors are black.
realize if they were arrested they
"Personally, it's been a little
At the end of deliberations, they
would want that same consider-
hell," he said. "I would not want to
agreed that none of them would
ation."
do this again."
talk to reporters, and the only
As he watched the fires spread
Thursday, indeed, was a shatter-
statements in court-by the 65-
Thursday, he said: "I can't believe
ing day for many of the 12 people
year-old forewoman-suggested
all of this is a reaction to what we
who just hours before had left a
that the panelists had been almost
did."
Simi Valley courthouse, thanked
immediately united on all their
Another juror-looking exhaust-
by the judge for their service after
verdicts. She said the panel spent
ed and bleary-eyed, smoking a
they acquitted the four Los Angel-
the vast majority of time debating
morning cigarette-would not
es police officers charged in the
the one charge on which they
even discuss what had happened.
celebrated videotaped beating.
could never agree-ending up
"I need some time alone with my
Then sheriff's deputies whisked
deadlocked 8 to 4 in favor of
family to think about what hap-
them out of the courthouse and, for
acquitting Officer Laurence M.
pened," he said. I need to be
a brief moment, it seemed like a
Powell of an assault charge.
alone."
game, almost, with all the maneu-
But four jurors who have since
Some resolutely stood by their
vering to avoid the mobs of re-
discussed the case with The Times
actions.
porters.
said the panel was more divided
One woman juror even speculat-
Next came feelings of relief and
than it initially appeared.
ed that the scene on the streets
liberation, culminating in the ca-
One juror said that he and others
would have been much the same
thartic hugging of fellow jurors,
pushed to the end for a guilty
even if the panel had convicted the
their newfound family-first in the
verdict on the assault charge
officers. "It looks to me," she told
hotel where they had been seques-
against Powell, who was caught on
Cable News Network, "as though
tered, and finally in the parking lot
videotape delivering the most ba-
the people that are involved with
of the Thousand Oaks sheriff's
ton blows against King.
all the beatings and the killings and
station.
"It was highly charged. I broke
the marauding, I believe they
But by the time they returned
down crying. Several other people
would be incited to riot had we
home-some in Simi Valley, others
did too," the juror said. "Delibera-
voted the policemen guilty."
as far off as Oxnard and Ventura-
the first hints of fire and looting
were darkening their TVs, and
political and legal analysts were
second-guessing their seven days
of deliberations, many attributing
the acquittals to pro-police bias of
the jury, and to racism.
"This is the worst experience of
my life," said one male juror. "I
don't know what's in the hearts of
the others. But I know in my heart
I'm not a racist."
Like others who agreed to dis-
cuss the case, he asked that his
TIMES 05/01/92
Voices
21/120
"We didn't anticipate it
blowing up this quickly.
"In the midst of this grave
Looting has gone on and
civil unrest, I ask the
we have not done much
prayers of Your Holiness.
about It."
Recalling your pastoral
Daryl F. Gates,
visit among us nearly five
Los Angeles police chief
years ago, I now ask you
to keep the City of Angels
"We should burn down their
very much in your prayers
neighborhoods, not ours.
during these days."
We're going to take it to
Cardinal Roger M. Mahony,
Hollywood and Beverly
in a message sent to the Pope
Hills."
A black resident, shouting
"There is this deeper, larger
through a megaphone in the
problem of the feeling of
midst of the rioting
neglect and abandonment
that millions of Americans
"This Is everybody's worst
have and has now broken
nightmare. We've seen
into the open in Los
some of the most brutal
Angeles."
stuff I've ever seen."
Bill Clinton, candidate for the
Ira Reiner,
Democratic nomination for
Los Angeles district attorney
President
"The court system has
"No matter the anger over
worked and what's needed
the verdict in the Rodney
now is calm and respect
King case, it was decided
for law."
in a fair trial by a
President Bush
conscientious jury."
"I'm angry, shocked,
Patrick Buchanan, candidate
devastated.
There is
for the Republican
no justice here."
nomination for President
Angela King,
"Why tear down something
Rodney King's aunt
you own? We all have to
"It may be that 12 white
make a living here. I just
jurors are not going to
don't understand it."
convict four white cops for
Miles Taylor, 49, a black man
who has lived in
beating a black
South-Central Los Angeles
man. I think Mr.
since 1965, the year of the
King right now Is in a state
Watts riots.
of shock,"
Steve Lerman, King's lawyer,
"While we think this verdict
who heard the verdict read in
is a great miscarriage of
the courtroom in Simi Valley,
justice, we certainly don't
60 miles northwest of Los
condone the violence. It's
Angeles.
wrong.
I watched In
"If I was a black male, I'd be
horror [the beatings of
motorists on
scared to death."
Patricia Lafrance, who lives in
Wednesday].
The
the Watts section of Los
last 24 hours have been a
Angeles.
real low point in my life. At
this point, I'm not proud to
"I feel that this is being
be an American. I'm
done by blacks who don't
sickened. He
understand the system. I
[Gates] should resign
knew what the verdict
immediately. It would go a
would be when they moved
long way toward
the trial to an all-white
de-emotionalizing the
county. The system can do
situation."
whatever they want to a
George Jackson, 33,
black."
co-producer of "New Jack
Lawrence Hardge, 27, near
City" and a Los Angeles
54th and Arlington
resident for 10 years.
The Jury Was Never
TIMES: 05/01/92
Meant to Be Rational
Bias: In America, which
mugging and recited her testimony with a
Chinese accent.
witness you believe
The police officer was a straightforward
and articulate witness and his testimony
has a lot to do with what
could not be shaken by the able defense
walk of life you come from.
attorney. By contrast, the Chinese woman
stammered out what she had to say. The
By
JEROME
H.
SKOLNICK
120/122
defense attorney asked her if she was
excited when she witnessed the event. She
As Los Angeles smolders in the wake of
answered affirmatively.
the acquittal of the officers who beat
The day before, the jurors had seen on
Rodney King, people everywhere are as-
television news the videotaped beating of
tonished, asking, how could the King jurors
Rodney King. They suspected that the
have acquitted the police officers?
cops who administered the beating would
The answer, in part, is that the jury is not
lie about it. Some of the jurors had
an entirely rational fact-finding institu-
disbelieved cops before. Nothing they had
tion, and was never meant to be. Judges
seen on the videotaped beating generated
are perfectly capable of hearing evidence
much confidence in the validity of police
and deciding guilt or innocence. Historical-
testimony, whether in Manhattan or Los
ly, juries were conceived as a check on
Angeles. Consequently, they did not be-
judges who were perceived to be so close to
lieve the New York cop.
the authorities that ordinary folks would
Most of these jurors of the first America,
be treated unfairly in the courtroom. The
however, credited the woman's testimony
independence of juries is so valued that
despite her acknowledgement that she had
they are allowed to nullify the evidence
been hysterical, and voted to convict the
and fail to convict, when it is perfectly
mugger. Had the woman not seen the
clear, as in the King trial, that the
mugging, and had she not corroborated the
defendants are guilty.
policeman's testimony, the mugger would
The problem is that those who sit on
have walked out of the courtroom, free to
juries are supposed to be representative of
find other victims.
the community where the crime occurred.
It's not that jurors in the first America
But tragically, when venue is shifted, that
are less susceptible to bias than those in
does not necessarily happen.
the second-it's just that they nullify
The verdict showed us how divided we
different kinds of evidence. They tend not
are as a nation. America is, culturally
to believe cops.
speaking, two countries. One is urban,
In the second America, viewers have
cosmopolitan and multi-
other biases, racial bias-
cultural. It suffers dis-
es. They saw Rodney
proportionately from
King and they thought
crime, poverty and
he got what he deserved.
homelessness. The other
So they did not perceive
is suburban, relatively
police brutality in the
prosperous, and most im-
videotaped beating.
portant, unicultural. Like
Overzealousness, per-
Simi Valley, and the
haps, but not brutality.
When some of the offi-
King trial jury, it is pre-
dominantly white and
cers testified that King,
middle-class.
who suffered multiple in-
If one observes resi-
juries and bone fractures
dents of the second
after repeated blows, dis-
America, one notices a
played "superhuman
distinct likeness between
strength" and resisted
their appearance and
arrest when he first got
those of the Los Angeles
out of the car, the jurors
doubtless believed the
cops who were on trial in
the Ventura County
officers, even though
town. So the defendants
four were assaulting
charged with assaulting
King and 15 were watch-
King committed their
ing.
crimes in the first Amer-
Sgt. Stacey Koon tes-
ica, but they were tried
tified that King had not
in the second. Had they
responded to a torrential
been tried in Los Angeles
KIRK McKOY / Los Angeles Times
number of blows, leading
or San Francisco, Chica-
Koon to fear that he
Vermont and Manchester,
go or New York or Hous-
would have to shoot or
Wednesday night
ton, they would not have
choke King. Koon ex-
been acquitted.
plained that King was
In the first America, even among a
"buffed out," that is, muscular and black, a
public earlier nurtured on "Dragnet," or
sure sign that King was an ex-con. Koon
later on its raunchier and more realistic
decided to go with the option of serious
successors, like "Hill Street Blues," view-
injury and severe pain. This was when he
ers had not come to expect anything like
instructed his officers to do and, Koon
the beating of Rodney King. Shocked by
told the jury, they did exactly as they
what they saw, many asked themselves: Is
were told and exactly as they had been
this what cops are really like? Like police
trained.
corruption, with which it has much in
The jury believed him despite testimony
common, police brutality in the first Amer-
to the contrary by an LAPD captain that
ica shakes the confidence of the public in
the officers violated their training. The
the police.
jury understood that the defendants were
Let me illustrate this with a true story. A
cops, not criminals, and that Rodney King,
an ex-con, was a criminal. They voted
friend was called to serve on a New York
accordingiy.
City jury. Eight jurors were black or
Should we eliminate the institution of
Latino, four were white. The defendant
the jury? That's not the answer. But we
was a young African-American accused of
need to be sure that when a crime occurs in
a mugging. He had assaulted a woman and
the first America, jurors are representive
had run away with her pocketbook. A
of that venue, not the second.
white police officer witnessed the assault,
chased down and subdued the offender and
Jerome H. Skolnick is the co-author of a
testified in court. There was one other
casebook on criminal justice and a professor
witness, an older women, who also saw the
of law Boalt Hall, University of California.
TIMES 05/01/92
It's the Fire
Every Time, and
We Do Nothing
Violence: The King verdict is
the immediate cause, but the
hopelessness of an economic
dead end is the foundation.
120/122
By MELVIN L. OLIVER
The Rodney King trial verdict unleashed
a rage and anger that still resonates
through every person in our black commu-
nity. But that rage and anger saw two very
different expressions Wednesday night.
The black middle and working classes
chose to vent their anger in an organized,
Any faith that this group of young and
nonviolent and traditional manner, with
hopeless people had in their leadership has
institutional backing and the voices of
evaporated in a frenzy of violence and
political and religious leaders. But others
arson that no black middle-class leader
chose as their instrument of protest a
could have stopped. The behavior was
violence of an ugly and unproductive kind.
savage indeed, but the context was ration-
If we are to believe the TV commenta-
al. Why follow a political leadership that
tors and pundits, the perpetrators of vio-
cannot deliver? With no faith in traditional
lence represent an aberrant group of
political protest, many South-Central resi-
"savages" who were lying in wait for just
dents called on their only collective memo-
the right opportunity to plunder and loot.
ry of extralegal protest-the 1965 Watts
Such an explanation relieves all of us of our
riot. The models of behavior that this
complicity in the making of the conditions
group chose to follow went back not to a
that bred this tragic situation.
Dr. Martin Luther King of nonviolence but
Rather than savages, these people are
a Malcolm X of "freedom by any means
the throwaway, the unredeemable and the
necessary."
superfluous, who we as a society have
The precursor to this violence was
nurtured during 20 years of social and
another savage act, the police beating of
economic neglect.
King, which the jury in its acquittal
While celebrating the success of the
legitimized.
black middle class, America has failed to
We can begin to remedy a corrupt police
address the issues facing the growing
apparatus through a vote for Charter
group of African-Americans who have
Amendment F on June 2. But how do we
been left out of the gains of the civil-rights
remedy the savagery that is the social
movement.
dynamite now exploding in the black
This group has depended, more or less,
community? We cannot do it by seeing it as
on conventional black leadership to resolve
an aberration or the act of only a tiny
the economic and social neglect that befall
group of extremists. We must address the
them on an everyday basis. But in Los
economic marginalization of so many in the
Angeles as elsewhere, this leadership has
black community that has bred hope-
failed them one too many times: A black
lessness and despair in the young and
mayor is powerless to stop the economic
driven so many to an underground econo-
disinvestment that has lost thousands of
my of gangs and drugs. If we do not do this,
jobs for South-Central blacks; black politi-
then we run the prospect of continually
cal power cannot ensure that the killer of
having, in the words of James Baldwin, "a
Latasha Harlins receives just punishment;
fire next time."
and-the straw that broke the camel's
back-the Rodney King verdict harkens
Melvin L. Oliver is associate director of the
back to Mississippi justice, even to its
Center for the Study of Urban Poverty and
delivery by a jury with no blacks.
an associate professor of sociology at UCLA.
TIMES 05/01/92
View of Model Multiethnic
1062
City Vanishes in Smoke
Relations: Disturbances bare a simmering racial
anger that community efforts never fully quelled.
Sitting forlornly in his ransacked
it came to reforming the Police
By STEPHEN BRAUN
and ASHLEY DUNN
21/120/122
car audio store in the 1700 block of
Department, for example, the per-
Vermont Avenue in South Los
TIMES STAFF WRITERS
ception among whites has seemed
Angeles, Eddie Rho, 36, the Kore-
to be that because the reforms
Like a bandage stripped off an
an-American co-owner, surmised
have started, blacks ought to be
open wound, the civil unrest
that the anonymous looters who
happy because the element of rac-
sweeping through South Los An-
plundered his business were black.
ism is being extricated. But many
geles in the last two days has
The store was targeted, he said,
blacks see changes in the Police
exposed and intensified the painful
because of the expensive stereo
Department as only the tip of the
strains of racial anger and ethno-
equipment he sold, but he also
iceberg, that it's only a part of a
wondered if it was because he is
centrism that have long simmered
broader issue."
Korean.
between the city's myriad ethnic
And in the wake of the first full
"They knew we were Koreans
communities.
day of riots, said another race
here," said Rho, who expects that
The popular notion advanced by
relations between blacks and Ko-
relations expert who declined to be
Mayor Tom Bradley and other
reans will now "be tougher. From
named, there appears to be a
civic leaders in recent years that
now on I can try to be close to
schism in how blacks, on the one
Los Angeles was transforming it-
them, but they won't be close to
hand, and whites and a lesser
self into a harmonious, multiethnic
us."
number of Asians and Latinos, may
model city appeared to waft away
His assumption that the looters
be perceiving the city's current
amid the acrid smoke billowing
were African-American was belied
crisis.
by the multiracial composition of
"Whites, for the most part, will
over the city's ghettos.
Each new graphic televised im-
rioters that swept through many
look at these scary scenes on
age-looters rampaging through
parts of the city. Latinos and
television and conclude that the
ruined stores, police officers and
blacks both took part in Thursday's
greatest concern right now is
National Guard soldiers advancing
looting sprees. And black activist
quelling the unrest, staving off
to retake city streets by force,
Michael Zinzun, who led Wednes-
black people that they see as
dazed Anglo and Latino passersby
day's protest at Los Angeles police
threats to their welfare," the ob-
beaten by angry black assailants,
headquarters, blamed much of the
server said.
frightened Korean-Americans
violence that followed the rally on
"But even though a lot of blacks
guarding their shuttered ghetto
Anglo punk-rockers, radicals and
are equally frightened," he added,
markets with threatened to
college students.
"that concern is matched by their
reinforce the long-held fears and
At the corner of a devastated
stretch of Martin Luther King Jr.
anger and their dismay over the
prejudices gnawing at the city's
Boulevard and Western Avenue,
failure of the judicial system. With
populace, worried community
where a mini-mall was raked by
that kind of gap over the most
leaders and race relations experts
said Thursday.
flames, a car stopped in the middle
basic issue confronting us-what
"My fear is that all that we've
of the street and disgorged a group
we need to solve right away-I
worked toward could be lost if
of young black women, who per-
worry that we'll come away from
people let their basest instincts
formed a taunting dance a few feet
these last few days permanently
take over," said John Mack, presi-
away from six shotgun-wielding
divided."
dent of the Los Angeles Urban
police officers facing off with a
The boiling rhetoric of black-
League. "I worry about the reac-
crowd of angry residents.
against-white and white-against-
tions we will get from the white
After stalling traffic for 10 min-
black, evoking riots that swept
community. Just because there are
utes, the dancers piled back into
Watts, Detroit and other American
irresponsible black people out
their car. As they drove off, they
cities in the 1960s, resurfaced
there exploiting this situation is no
shrieked at the officers, "White
Thursday as if it had never left.
reason to assume that all black
devils! White devils!"
"Justice is supposed to be blind,
people are looting and burning.
but in this case, justice is black and
"In the same way," he added, "it
M
uch of the anger underlying
white," said Frank Holoman, own-
would be dangerous for the black
the tensions between the
community to assume that the
city's ethnic groups could be found
actions of a few white officers
any place that different racial
stand for the beliefs of the entire
groups are thrown together, said
white community. Now is not the
Michael Preston, an associate pro-
time for generalizing."
fessor of political science at USC
who has studied race and politics in
B
ut even as Mack spoke, after a
Southern California.
round of meetings Thursday
But those currents are stirred
with anxious civic leaders, his fears
more by the fact that several of the
seemed to be coming true. Across
city's most visible groups-blacks,
South Los Angeles, blacks, whites,
Latinos, Asians, working-class and
Latinos and Asians met in scores of
poor Anglos-are all jockeying for
violent confrontations city resi-
position in the scramble to win a
dents will not soon forget. And
limited number of jobs, dwellings
inside untold numbers of homes
and economic opportunity.
and offices, Angelenos took in the
"At the elite level in Los Angel-
numbing scenes of violence and
es, you'll see a surprising degree of
reacted instinctively with words of
cooperation between Asians,
anger and fear.
blacks, Jews, Hispanics," Preston
A white Simi Valley doctor said
said. "But below those levels, you
the riots gave credence to the
have clear tensions because the pie
officers' defense that their lives are
is shrunken. Everyone wants a
threatened every day and that
piece and resents it when another
they saw King as another deadly
group of people have something
threat.
they don't. And unfortunately,
"I had felt they were guilty of
blacks always seem to be the last
excessive force from watching the
ones who get to the plate."
video," he said. "But I feel more
Preston and other race relations
empathetic to the officers after
experts say that tensions in the
this.
I hope the jury did the
aftermath of the King beating were
right thing. Yesterday, I would
inflamed by gaps in perception
have found them guilty. Today I
between racial groups.
probably wouldn't."
"In general, blacks perceive
much more discrimination than
whites perceive," Preston. "When
TIMES 05/01/92
er of the Blvd. Cafe on West Martin
Mack said. "But people haven't
Luther King Jr. Boulevard. "This is
listened. People with the power to
2062
a message that will go all around
bring about meaningful change
the world. If you're a black man or
have sometimes gone through the
black woman in L.A., don't expect
motions. Many segments of leader-
justice."
ship are culpable."
And at a coffeehouse in South
Richard Riordan, an attorney
Pasadena, a black man pitched a
and businessman who plays a cen-
table through a plate glass window,
tral role in city affairs-and who
screaming, "The party's over!"
pledged Thursday to help riot-torn
Terrified white patrons cowered
businesses rebuild-defends the
behind ice cream freezers and un-
city's leadership. In Riordan's
der tables while the man smashed
view, the "process worked."
mirrors, neon signs, the espresso
"In the Christopher Commission,
maker and the counter, said Colette
we had the best minds in the
Richards, the shop's 28-year-old
city-Republican, Democrat,
owner.
blacks, whites, all different col-
Afterward, the shaken owner
ors-work together on solutions to
could only conclude that the shop
the major problems facing us,"
was attacked because it is a night-
Riordan said.
spot popular among affluent white
customers.
B
ut at the same time, even
"We were the perfect target,"
Riordan has acknowledged his
Richards said. "They hit us be-
cause there are all these people
frustration recently in trying to
outside, and a majority of them
persuade the city's corporate pow-
ers to donate funds to the effort to
white people.
pass a charter amendment to enact
Some Los Angeles civic leaders
reforms within the LAPD.
and community activists suggested
Yet even as the drab commercial
bluntly Wednesday that the city's
frayed political coalitions can only
strips of South Los Angeles burned
survive after the riots if leaders are
to cinders Wednesday night, some
able to broaden their membership
angry black residents were clearly
and toughen their dialogue.
giving up-not only on Los Angel-
Local leaders said that will re-
es' Establishment, but on their own
quire powerbrokers to attract and
as well.
empower new leaders from the
Midway through the rally for
city's most disadvantaged commu-
civil order at the First AME
nities who have not had a voice in
Church in South Central Los An-
the city's political process. And it
geles, Mayor Tom Bradley's call for
will require leaders to listen more
peace was interrupted by catcalls.
closely to their hard-edged plaints
"What are you going to do?
and back up their promises with
What are you going to do?" one
action.
woman yelled again and again.
"Sit down!" another woman
"T
here's a lot of anger, partic-
shouted.
ularly in the underclass,"
A few minutes later, a young
said Bill Hayling, founder of 100
black woman pushed her way to
Black Men, one of the city's most
the podium, stepping ahead of the
influential minority leadership fac-
clergy and elected officials who
tions. "A lot of people have been
had been invited to speak. When
left out of the system. Because
the crowd began chanting, "Let
they were left out, this boiled over.
her speak!" rally organizers briefly
As leaders, we have to heal. It's
gave her the floor.
doable. But it will take an awful lot
"We can't rely on these people
of effort."
up here to act," she cried out,
A dispirited John Mack said that
pointing behind her at the assem-
some powerful figures in the city's
bled community leaders and politi-
power structure simply "did not
cians, among them City Council-
listen" when black leaders urged
man Michael Woo and State Sen.
them early last year to back their
Diane Watson.
demands for systemic change in
"I believe they have our best
the Police Department following
interests at heart, but we cannot
the King beating.
rely upon them," she said sternly.
"We've expressed the anger,"
"You know what you need to do."
TIMES: 05/01/92
Dannemeyer
Blasts King,
Backs Officers
30/120/122
From a Times Staff Writer
Rep. William E. Danne-
meyer (R-Fullerton) on
Thursday came out in sup-
port of the four officers
acquitted in the beating of
motorist Rodney King,
saying that "one could only
conclude that the force
used was justified."
Dannemeyer, a U.S. Sen-
ate candidate, released a
statement criticizing King,
"who resisted and had to be
subdued in order to be
arrested."
"I was impressed by the
trial juror who said that if
you looked only at the
initially shown videotape,
one would tend to vote to
convict the officers of ex-
cessive force," said Danne-
meyer. "However, if you
heard the testimony re-
garding what happened
before the footage shown
on television, one could
only conclude that the
force used was justified."
Dannemeyer said the
beating and turmoil that
followed the verdict had its
roots in a moral breakdown
of society.
"When America re-
moved voluntary prayer
from public schools in 1962,
we said to the next genera-
tion, everyone has rights,
duties are no longer bind-
ing on any of us," the
congressman said. "Chil-
dren raised in this environ-
ment are sometimes in-
clined to do what Rodney
King did, as determined by
the jury, 'No one will tell
me what to do, ever.''
TIMES: 05/01/92
ta to spread elsewhere, "but it
might if Bush doesn't show some
20f2
leadership."
In Memphis, Tenn., Brodie Clay-
ton, 40, asked rhetorically: "What
do I tell my kid now? How can I tell
my kid to respect the law and he
sees something like this? When I
saw that video, I said the world is
getting ready to wake up. This
stuff has been happening for as
long as I can remember."
But, he added, referring to the
verdict: "This has just brought it
out that ain't nothing going to
change."
M
att Foreman, executive di-
rector of the New York City
Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence
Project, contended that, besides
reinforcing the "complete cyni-
cism" that minorities have in the
justice system, the rioting by
blacks in places such as Los Angel-
es and Atlanta would bolster the
notion among many majority
Americans that "some people de-
serve to be beaten."
"The whole thing is extremely
painful," Foreman said. "It's going
to embolden those police officers
who choose to act out their hostili-
ties in a violent way. It gives them
a clear signal that this kind of
behavior is tolerated."
But Doug Elder, president of the
Houston Police Officer's Assn.,
spoke for many law enforcement
officers when he said that he
supported the verdict because he
supports the judicial system.
"I have spent my entire law
enforcement career supporting this
system," he said. "There is more
than one side to a story. Obviously,
the people that were on that jury
had more information than those of
us who just saw small parts of the
tape on television."
Lt. Charles Peckat, a white offi-
cer with the North Little Rock,
Ark., Police Department, said:
"We're trained to look at the whole
picture, not just part of it. There
are at least 12 people who got to
see the whole picture."
Contributing to this story were
Times staff writers John Balzar in
Seattle, John J. Goldman in New York,
Ron Harris in Los Angeles, Richard E.
Meyer in Little Rock, Ark., and Marilyn
Yaquinto in Washington D.C.; re-
searchers Doug Conner in Seattle,
Lianne Hart in Houston, Ann Rovin in
Denver, Edith Stanley in Atlanta, Tracy
Shryer in Chicago and Anna Virtue in
Miami and special correspondents
Mike Clary in Miami and Laura Laughlin
in Phoenix.
L. A. TIMES: 05/01/92
Los Angeles, said the couple was
watching the news Wednesday
night when they saw pictures of
20f2
their business going up in flames.
"I'm very. angry. I'm mad at all
of this," she said Thursday as she
sifted through the rubble. "It was a
struggle for us to sacrifice. It took
10 years to build this store, and
now it's all gone."
M
eanwhile, an assistant man-
ager at the store, Steve An-
derson, said he had just signed
papers to purchase a house only
hours before the fire destroyed the
company-and his job.
"It just didn't need to happen,"
he said. "It's a catastrophe."
In a mini-mall at Crenshaw and
Stocker Street, a youth minister
from Compton was trying to per-
suade people to cease looting and
go home. But no one apparently
was paying attention.
"This is not unity," said David
Scott, 22, a member of the House of
Prayer Church in Compton. "This
is destroying. This is like getting
angry and setting your own house
on fire. I'm praying for these
people."
1062
TIMES 05/01/92
A Long Night of Anger, Anarchy
Riots: Looters leave a
But that didn't make sense to L.
Griffith, 29. He didn't take part in
trail of destroyed dreams.
It was late when the elderly
the violence-he even tried to put
black couple pulled up to the 77th
Some Good Samaritans
out the fires blazing through busi-
Street police station in a white
nesses near his home-but he un-
Cadillac. Slumped in the back seat
brave violent mobs and
derstood the rage that ignited
was a Latino man with a gunshot
them.
jittery police to aid the
wound in the head.
"Sir, how would you feel if you
The man needed help. He des-
injured.
21/120/122
were driving home and they pulled
perately needed help.
you over for nothing?
That
Any other day, these Good Sa-
happens to me all the time."
maritans would have been hailed
By CHARISSE JONES
The older man looked at the
as heroes. Not tonight. Los Angeles
and MARC LACEY
younger. "That done happened to
was at war with itself. The city was
TIMES STAFF WRITERS
me," the older one said. "That done
ablaze. No one felt safe and it was
Carlos Mejai was one of the lucky
happened to me several times. I've
impossible to know friend from foe.
ones. He had a large bandage taped
gotten to the point, I don't go out
"Stop there
or I'll kill you!"
to his head and dried blood
that much at night anymore. And
shouted an officer posted outside
smudged on his face, but he was
that's one of the reasons."
the station as he pulled a revolver
leaving the hospital alive.
But he said, "I just don't feel
on the couple.
there's anything I can do about it."
Mejai was driving near Man-
The Cadillac screeched to a halt.
He seemed almost paralyzed by
chester Boulevard and Western
Moments passed. The man and
his pain. "I'm past anger," Ray
Avenue on his way to pick up his
woman sat motionless, not know-
said. "I'm hurt and I'm angry. I
cousin at work when a mob con-
ing what to do. Only when the
don't know which one outweighs
verged on his car Wednesday
jittery officer realized who was
the other."
night.
inside did the tension subside.
"Five came from one side, and
five came from the other," he said
Near the corner of Florence and
On Vermont Avenue near Jef-
outside the hospital, still dazed
Normandie avenues, J.T. felt help-
ferson Boulevard, the president of
hours later. "They asked me if I
less as looters picked his South-
the Beverly Hills-Hollywood
was white and then they started
Central neighborhood clean.
branch of the NAACP stood and
throwing bricks at the car."
"Stop it! Stop it!" he yelled.
cried as she watched a neighbor-
One of the bricks came crashing
"You're all ruining my block!"
hood market burn.
through the windshield, striking
J.T., 18 years old and dressed in
The tears, Sandra Evers-Manley
Mejai, 18, in the head. Gushing
shorts and a T-shirt, watched as
said, were for her community.
blood nearly blinded him but he
the mob grazed on a liquor store,
"We've got a crisis in our city and
kept driving, not knowing what
an auto body shop and then the
right now there seems not to be a
else to do.
corner gas station.
solution. There's a lot of frustra-
"I thought if I stopped, they
"Look at that fool," he muttered,
tion."
would kill me," he gasped.
pointing at a man setting a small
"I understand it," she said. "I've
For Los Angeles, it was only the
pickup truck on fire. Then it was
been in the middle of it. We've
beginning. The worst outbreak of
just too much. J.T. took off for
gotten hate letters over the last
violence in 27 years was to follow,
home, grabbed some water and
four weeks, saying Rodney King
a seemingly capricious demonstra-
drenched the flames.
got what he deserved. We've got
tion of anger, frustration, folly and
"These fools are just going to
people calling up saying what do I
anarchy consuming neighborhoods
burn it again," he said, defeated.
tell my children?"
from South-Central Los Angeles to
He was right. Half an hour later, a
On Wednesday night, she no-
the San Fernando Valley.
pack of youths circled the unat-
ticed something odd. "Normally,
The rioters, looters and maraud-
tended truck, setting it afire.
when I come home, in our commu-
ers left a horrific trail of human
An hour later, Eugene stood
nity, police are very visible.
suffering, destroying lifelong
defiantly at the same corner, rocks
There's not a night that goes by
dreams and instilling a paralyzing
flying across the street. He ac-
normally without hearing a heli-
fear in a city that some thought had
knowledged taking a few beers
copter. Tonight, the police were
grown numb to random violence.
from the liquor store, even trying
not visible.
"It reminds me of the Watts
to break into the gas station safe
Evers-Manley walked off to
riots, but here you got it in the
earlier that night. He wasn't
check on an elderly neighbor, and
west, you got it in the north, you
afraid-not even after invading
69-year-old Earle Renaux walked
got it in the east," said Norma
rival gang turf.
up. People call him "Godfather."
King, a retired nurse from South-
The everyday rules of gang war-
He stood, wearing a Carolina
Central, out late Wednesday night.
fare had been summarily sus-
Gamecocks hat, eating peanut
"I'm upset with the verdict, but
pended. Crips and Bloods had
M&Ms, and watched the Sorbonne
this is incredible," said King,
joined ranks, all in the name of
market burn.
whose brother was wounded by
ransacking the community.
"I'm taking my kids out of the
police during the street violence of
"Ain't no reason to be afraid,"
area," said Renaux, the father of
1965.
21-year-old Eugene scoffed. "Ev-
two teen-age sons. "Next school
The rebellion, which entered its
erybody's together. I see Hoovers
year, they'll be gone. We're going
second day, painted a murky, sur-
and 8 Trey Gangsters, even Bloods.
up north out of Los Angeles."
realistic picture of Los Angeles-
There's nothing to be afraid of
Why?
one not always easy to grasp, but
when everybody's together. There
one with real victims, heroes and
ain't anybody scared of nothin' out
Because "I go to the bus stop to
villains.
here."
pick up my wife. They ask me for
As police approached the devas-
I.D. I say, we're not in South
Africa."
tated intersection, Eugene stood
Two black men, one old, one
his ground. "We ain't afraid of
As for the Sorbonne market, he
young, stood near the intersection
them," he blasted. "We got guns
didn't like it too much. You paid too
of Figueroa and Vernon and
just like them."
much for too little. They never
watched businesses burn before
When the police stopped, they
hired blacks, he said. So, he'd just
dawn Thursday. In the glow of the
met outright hostility.
go there to buy his Scotch and
flames, they echoed the complex
"Go on, harass me!" another
cigarettes. Still, burning it down
emotions of the night-emotions
young black man yelled at a group
was not the way.
that, depending on whom you talk-
of officers. "You know that verdict
ed to, which corner you stood on,
wasn't right.
Smiling, are
ranged from simmering outrage to
you? Are you going to beat me like
At the Payless Shoe Store at
hopeless resignation.
Rodney King?
Come on. Just
Western and Slauson avenues, two
"I don't know where to turn,
try it."
what I can do," Al Ray, 57, said of a
Just then, several more police
system that acquitted four white
cars screeched to the intersection
police officers accused of beating a
and the young man and his friends
black man. "All I do is try to stay
suddenly were gone.
out of trouble."
"Where you running?" one offi-
cer jeered.
2062
TIMES 05/01/92
teen-age girls waited patiently be-
off the racks at a dry cleaners.
trying to do was cross the street,
hind a band of men prying open an
At a pawn shop on Jefferson just
and this car hit him."
iron security gate. Dashing
west of Arlington, men and boys-
The injured man, his neck blood-
through the streets with armloads
some as young as 9 years old-
ied, was placed on a stretcher. He
of merchandise, young children
hauled off guns and ammunition.
said his leg hurt.
were looters. So were senior citi-
Although some gang members
"It's all because of these white
zens. But the actual break-ins
were milling around the store,
[obscenity]!" a woman in the van
were left to the young men.
many of the looters were passing
screamed. A hospital security
"I'm getting me some pumps,"
motorists who just stopped to get in
guard knelt by her side, comforting
one of the teen-agers exclaimed.
on the action.
her.
"Lots of 'em too."
Inside, dozens of people filled the
hospital lobby, seeking medical
The gate finally gave way. The
A gray van pulled up to the
attention or waiting for friends and
men burst into the store. The girls
emergency entrance of Daniel
loved ones. A ceiling-mounted
followed close behind.
Freeman Memorial Hospital in In-
television broadcast live reports
"Quick!" one man yelled.
glewood. Several people-frantic,
about still more violence.
Not far away, two men carted a
panicked-climbed out, begging
"It's all in Jesus' hands now,"
washing machine out of an appli-
for help. A man had been run over
one woman told another weeping
ance store, loading it into the back
at Florence and Western avenues.
on her shoulder. "There's nothing
of a pickup truck. A woman and
They had him inside the van.
you can do."
two children ran from a furniture
"All these cars were swerving
store, an oversized playpen in tow.
around the street, trying to keep
Times staff writers Greg Braxton,
Half a dozen people picked out
out of all this glass," said one
Dean E. Murphy and Eric Young con-
clothes covered in plastic wrapping
passenger in the van. "All he was
tributed to this story.
White House News Summary
Friday, May 1, 1992
CNN
Editor's Note: I have seen a report on citizens helping
firefighters with hoses.
Ann McDermott reports from Los Angeles:
Tony Clark reports from Los Angeles:
In many cases, business
owners and friends tried to do what they could to put the fires
out, but often there was too little water and too little left to
save
5.1.92
LOS ANGELES TIMES / WASHINGTON EDITION
Beaten Driver
a Searing Image
of Mob Cruelty
By LAURIE BECKLUND
and STEPHANIE CHAVEZ
TIMES STAFF WRITERS
At every watershed through
time, it seems a face emerges to
transfix a moment in history. In
Vietnam, a naked girl fled napalm.
In Tian An Men Square, a single
student stared down a line of
Chinese tanks. In Los Angeles last
year. Rodney G. King lay prone
and beaten.
Now, a white cement truck driv-
er beaten nearly into oblivion in
South-Central Los Angeles has
become the face on the flip side of
the Rodney King coin, the unoffi-
cial black-on-white response to
the official white-on-black beat-
ing.
His name is Reginald Oliver
Denny. He is 36. He is alive
because four strangers-four black
strangers from the very crowd that
had beaten him nearly to death-
emerged to drive his unwieldy
-wheeler out of pandemonium to
safety.
The rescuers were two women
and two men: a young nutrition
consultant, a laid-off data control
worker, an unemployed aerospace
worker and a still-unidentified
young man in black whose fellow
rescuers first feared was a gang-
Please see DRIVER, A8
Continued from A1
pulled two loaded bins. He took the
banger coming to finish Denny off.
usual route, San Bernardino Free-
"Those people didn't even know
way west, south on the Harbor, off
him and risked their lives to aid
at Florence.
him," said Don Kelley, 28, Denny's
About 6:30 p.m. the rig trundled
roommate. "If no one had helped
to the intersection where the first
him, he would be dead."
violence had erupted-bottle and
The rescue came almost too
rock throwing, overturned trash
late-as long as 20 to 30 minutes
cans. As Denny slowed in the midst
after the beating. At least two of
of the melee, the rig was surround-
the rescuers found themselves
ed by about five black men.
lured to the scene by the power of
As thousands watched at home
television pictures, broadcast live
on their television sets, one rioter
from near the intersection of Nor-
yanked open the truck door and
mandie and Florence avenues.
pulled Denny from his cab. At least
"We were watching TV at
two others beat his head and
home," said T.J. Murphy, 30, the
kicked him. knocking him to the
aerospace engineer. 'Somebody's
asphalt. After kicking him. one
got to get that guy out of there,' we
man raised up his hands and waved
said to each other."
to the watching crowd. Denny
tried to move, turning on his side.
T
hey assumed police would help
Another man then bashed Denny's
the man, but got in their car to
skull with a fire extinguisher from
drive over for a look at the brewing
the truck.
neighborhood confrontation.
As he lay on the ground. another
When they arrived, the police
man walked up and for about eight
were nowhere to be seen at the
seconds rifled through his pockets,
site, where a television camera-
sprinting away with Denny's wal-
man, shooting from a helicopter.
let.
had captured that image of Denny
being beaten by angry thugs.
Instead, the gravely injured
B
y the time T.J. Murphy. 30,
man-his face awash in blood and
arrived with his friend Tee
his eyes swollen shut-had some-
Barnett, 28, the pair saw no choice
how managed to get back behind
but to intervene. "It was just like
the wheel and was now trying to
Rodney King," Murphy said.
make his getaway an inch at a
"They beat, beat and beat him."
time.
A young nutrition consultant on
Braving hostile onlookers,
her way home from work had
stalled cars and general chaos,
already jumped into the fray. As
Murphy and his friend joined two
the injured Denny tried desperate-
others who eventually helped de-
ly to drive his rig out of the war
liver Denny to the door of the
zone, she hoisted herself onto the
Daniel Freeman Memorial Hospital
side of the truck and was shouting
emergency room. Just as the big
steering instructions to Denny,
rig drove up to the door. Denny
whose eyes were swollen shut. To
went into convulsions and started
the right, she would yell, now to
spitting up blood.
the left.
"One more minute, just one more
As the truck inched forward, a
minute, and he would have been
black clad young man-who Mur-
dead," one of his rescuers said a
phy initially thought was a gang
paramedic told him at the door.
member-jumped in the driver's
The incident started a couple of
seat of the truck. The consultant
hours after a white jury acquitted
climbed inside the cab to console
four Los Angeles police officers of
the injured man, and Murphy took
beating King. Denny, a $16.70-an-
over the job of guiding the new
hour driver, had been dispatched
driver, who was unable to see
from an Azusa quarry at 5:39 p.m.
through the shattered windshield.
just as news of the acquittal was
"You're going make it," the con-
getting out.
sultant kept telling Denny, even as
His job was routine: to deliver 27
she had to hold him upright.
tons of sand to an Inglewood ce-
"You're going to be OK."
ment mixing plant. His red cab
As the black-clad driver tried
him.'
Shelly Montez. 29. Denny's for-
mer wife, found out about the
incident from her mother, who also
had recognized Denny on TV. At
one point she heard a news report
of a death at Daniel Freeman
hospital.
"I can't tell you what I felt like to
have to make that call to the
hospital." said Montez. of Santa
Clarita. "I never felt SO over-
whelmed with emotion.
Montez kept their daughter Ash-
ley from the television, telling her
only that "daddy happened to be in
the middle of big fight and people
took their anger out on him."
D
enny underwent three hours
of emergency brain surgery
about midnight to remove two
blood clots. By daybreak he had
stabilized. Montez said. He was in
critical but stable condition Thurs-
day afternoon.
"We got the most wonderful
news this morning," she said
Thursday. "He can squeeze his
hands and wiggle his feet. He
nodded 'no' when a nurse asked
him if he was in pain."
When Denny's neighbor and
roommate reached the hospital,
they could barely recognize their
friend. Cole said Denny's head was
swollen like a "big round ball of
water." His fingers and arms were
crusted with blood. His eyes were
'It was just like Rodney King. They beat, beat and beat
swollen shut, a respirator tube
jammed down his throat.
him.'
"I told him everything was going
to be OK. We care about him. we
T.J. MURPHY
love him," Kelley said. He believed
Rescuer of Reginald Denny, above, with daughter Ashley
that Denny heard him and saw a
tear that rolled from his right eye.
In the end. Denny's friends and
rescuers reached out to find each
other-his rescuers in hopes of
desperately to speed up the awk-
the television. watching the may-
finding out how Denny had fared.
ward. heavy rig, Barnett drove in
hem in Los Angeles streets. And
and his family in hopes of thanking
front of the truck. putting on her
then he noticed the long blond hair,
them.
hazard lights to try to clear the
the red cab and a pair of familiar
"We found out that both Denny
way.
black boots.
and I had 8-year-old daughters."
Eventually, the truck sped up to
"My heart sank to my stomach.
said Barnett on Thursday.
40 m.p.h and inched toward 50.
It was Reggie," Cole said.
"Black boys playing with white
After a trip that seemed to take
Denny's roommate was horrified
boys-that's what Dr. King talked
hours. the rig screeched into the
by the same televised scene.
about. Working together. Playing
driveway at Daniel Freeman hos-
"I couldn't believe what I was
together. But his dream doesn't
pital.
seeing," said roommate Don Kel-
stand a chance. does it? Not until
Twenty miles away in Covina.
ley. 28. "He was just lying there.
people learn to get along. Evident-
Jerry Cole. Denny's next-door
No one was helping. We got two
ly, we're not living the same
neighbor and friend, was riveted to
baseball bats and said 'Let's go get
dream."
5.1.92
los Angeles Times
A Long Night of Anger, Anarchy
Riots: Looters leave a
trail of destroyed dreams.
Some Good Samaritans
brave violent mobs and
jittery police to aid the
injured.
By CHARISSE JONES
and MARC LACEY
TIMES STAFF WRITERS
Carlos Mejai was one of the lucky
ones. He had a large bandage taped
to his head and dried blood
smudged on his face, but he was
leaving the hospital alive.
Mejai was driving near Man-
chester Boulevard and Western
Avenue on his way to pick up his
cousin at work when a mob con-
verged on his car Wednesday
night.
MIKE MEADOWS / Los Angeles Times
"Five came from one side, and
A resident of South Central Los Angeles attempts to fight a fire at
Please see NIGHT, A5
79th Street and Normandie Avenue using only a garden hose.
Continued from A1
five came from the other." he said
But that didn't make sense to L.
"Ain't no reason to be afraid.
outside the hospital, still dazed
Griffith. 29. He didn't take part in
21-year-old Eugene scoffed. "Ev-
hours later. "They asked me if I
the violence-he even tried to put
erybody's together. I see Hoovers
was white and then they started
out the fires blazing through busi-
and 8 Trey Gangsters. even Bloods.
throwing bricks at the car."
nesses near his home-but he un-
There's nothing to be afraid of
One of the bricks came crashing
derstood the rage that ignited
when everybody's together. There
through the windshield. striking
them.
ain't anybody scared of nothin' out
Mejai, 18. in the head. Gushing
"Sir, how would you feel if you
here."
blood nearly blinded him but he
were driving home and they pulled
As police approached the devas-
kept driving, not knowing what
you over for nothing?
That
tated intersection. Eugene stood
else to do.
happens to me all the time."
his ground. "We ain't afraid of
"I thought if I stopped. they
The older man looked at the
them.' he blasted. "We got guns
would kill me, he gasped.
younger. "That done happened to
just like them."
For Los Angeles, it was only the
When the police stopped, they
beginning. The worst outbreak of
me." the older one said. "That done
violence in 27 years was to follow,
happened to me several times. I've
met outright hostility.
"Go on. harass me!" another
a seemingly capricious demonstra-
gotten to the point, I don't go out
that much at night anymore. And
young black man yelled at a group
tion of anger, frustration. folly and
of officers. 'You know that verdict
anarchy consuming neighborhoods
that's one of the reasons."
But he said, "I just don't feel
wasn't right.
Smiling. are
from South-Central Los Angeles to
the San Fernando Valley.
there's anything I can do about it."
you? Are you going to beat me like
He seemed almost paralyzed by
Rodney King?
Come on. Just
The rioters, looters and maraud-
ers left a horrific trail of human
his pain. "I'm past anger," Ray
try
said. "I'm hurt and I'm angry. I
Just then. several more police
suffering, destroying lifelong
don't know which one outweighs
cars screeched to the intersection
dreams and instilling a paralyzing
and the young man and his friends
fear in a city that some thought had
the other."
suddenly were gone.
grown numb to random violence.
'Where you running?" one offi-
"It reminds me of the Watts
Near the corner of Florence and
cer jeered.
riots, but here you got it in the
Normandie avenues, J.T. felt help-
west, you got it in the north. you
less as looters picked his South-
got it in the east." said Norma
King, a retired nurse from South-
Central neighborhood clean.
It was late when the elderly
Central, out late Wednesday night.
"Stop it! Stop it!" he yelled.
black couple pulled up to the 77th
"I'm upset with the verdict. but
"You're all ruining my block!"
Street police station in a white
this is incredible," said King,
J.T., 18 years old and dressed in
Cadillac. Slumped in the back seat
shorts and a T-shirt, watched as
was a Latino man with a gunshot
whose brother was wounded by
the mob grazed on a liquor store.
wound in the head.
police during the street violence of
an auto body shop and then the
The man needed help. He des-
1965.
corner gas station.
perately needed help.
The rebellion. which entered its
"Look at that fool." he muttered.
Any other day. these Good Sa-
second day, painted a murky, sur-
pointing at a man setting a small
maritans would have been hailed
realistic picture of Los Angeles-
pickup truck on fire. Then it was
as heroes. Not tonight. Los Angeles
one not always easy to grasp, but
just too much. J.T. took off for
was at war with itself. The city was
one with real victims, heroes and
home. grabbed some water and
ablaze. No one felt safe and it was
villains.
drenched the flames.
impossible to know friend from foe.
"These fools are just going to
"Stop there
or
I'll
kill
you!"
burn it again," he said, defeated.
shouted an officer posted outside
Two black men, one old. one
He was right. Half an hour later. a
the station as he pulled a revolver
young, stood near the intersection
pack of youths circled the unat-
on the couple.
of Figueroa and Vernon and
tended truck. setting it afire.
The Cadillac screeched to a halt.
watched businesses burn before
An hour later. Eugene stood
Moments passed. The man and
dawn Thursday. In the glow of the
defiantly at the same corner. rocks
woman sat motionless, not know-
flames, they echoed the complex
flying across the street. He ac-
ing what to do. Only when the
emotions of the night-emotions
knowledged taking a few beers
jittery officer realized who was
that, depending on whom you talk-
from the liquor store. even trying
inside did the tension subside.
ed to, which corner you stood on,
to break into the gas station safe
ranged from simmering outrage to
earlier that night. He wasn't
hopeless resignation.
afraid-not even after invading
more
"I don't know where to turn,
rival gang turf.
what I can do," Al Ray, 57, said of a
The everyday rules of gang war-
system that acquitted four white
fare had been summarily sus-
police officers accused of beating a
pended. Crips and Bloods had
black man. "All I do is try to stay
joined ranks. all in the name of
On Vermont Avenue near Jef-
teen-age girls waited patiently be-
ferson Boulevard. the president of
hind a band of men prying open an
the Beverly Hills-Hollywood
iron security gate. Dashing
branch of the NAACP stood and
through the streets with armloads
cried as she watched a neighbor-
of merchandise, young children
hood market burn.
were looters. So were senior citi-
The tears. Sandra Evers-Manley
zens. But the actual break-ins
said. were for her community.
were left to the young men.
"We've got a crisis in our city and
right now there seems not to be a
"I'm getting me some pumps,"
one of the teen-agers exclaimed.
solution. There's a lot of frustra-
"Lots of em too."
tion."
"I understand it." she said. "I've
The gate finally gave way. The
been in the middle of it. We've
men burst into the store. The girls
gotten hate letters over the last
followed close behind.
four weeks. saying Rodney King
"Quick!" one man yelled.
got what he deserved. We've got
Not far away, two men cart
people calling up saying what do I
washing machine out of an at
tell my children?"
ance store. loading it into the
On Wednesday night. she no-
of a pickup truck. A woman
ticed something odd. "Normaily,
two children ran from a furn:
when I come home. in our commu-
store, an oversized playpen in
nity, police are very visible.
Half a dozen people picked
There's not a night that goes by
clothes covered in plastic wrap
normally without hearing a heli-
off the racks at a dry cleaners.
copter. Tonight. the police were
not visible.
At a pawn shop on Jefferson just
west of Arlington, men and boys-
Evers-Manley walked off to
some as young as 9 years old-
check on an elderly neighbor. and
hauled off guns and ammunition.
69-year-old Earle Renaux walked
Although some gang members
up. People call him "Godfather."
were milling around the store.
He stood. wearing a Carolina
Gamecocks hat. eating peanut
many of the looters were passing
motorists who just stopped to get in
on the action.
M&Ms. and watched the Sorbonne
market burn.
"I'm taking my kids out of the
A gray van pulled up to the
area." said Renaux. the father of
emergency entrance of Daniel
two teen-age sons. "Next school
Freeman Memorial Hospital in In-
year. they be gone. We're going
glewood. Several people-frantic,
up north out of Los Angeles."
panicked-climbed out, begging
Why?
for help. A man had been run over
Because "I go to the bus stop to
at Florence and Western avenues.
pick up my wife. They ask me for
They had him inside the van.
I.D. I say, we're not in South
"All these cars were swerving
Africa."
around the street, trying to keep
As for the Sorbonne market. he
out. of all this glass," said one
didn't like it too much. You paid too
passenger in the van. "All he was
much for too little. They never
hired blacks. he said. So. he just
trying to do was cross the street,
go there to buy his Scotch and
and this car hit him."
cigarettes. Still. burning It down
The injured man, his neck blood-
was not the way.
ied, was placed on a stretcher. He
said his leg hurt.
"It's all because of these white
At the Payless Shoe Store at
[obscenity]!" a woman in the van
Western and Slauson avenues. two
screamed. A hospital security
guard knelt by her side, comforting
her.
Inside, dozens of people filled the
hospital lobby, seeking medical
attention or waiting for friends and
loved ones. A ceiling-mounted
television broadcast live. reports
about still more violence.
"It's all in Jesus' hands now,"
one woman told another weeping
on her shoulder. "There's nothing
you can do."
Times staff writers Greg Braxton,
Dean E. Murphy and Eric Young con-
tributed to this story.
Lino Romero tries to spray water on a fire at 47th Street and Central.
TIMES 05/01/92
21/120/122 Stop the Violence, Start the Renewal
The King verdict spawns unwarranted violence, but also acts of courage and leadership that show the way to a better future
It's true that peo-
all too often in the
L
os Angeles is a great city, and we
ple who feel burned
must not allow it to self-de-
face of thrown bot-
by the system
tles, hurled insults
struct.
might think of
The highly questionable-and un-
and even gunfire-
wanting to burn
deniably volatile-jury verdict that
have confronted
something down in
found four local police officers not
fierce fire after fire
an atavistic act of
guilty in the world-renowned video-
with courage and
revenge.
taped police beating of Rodney King
determination.
And it's true that
has created a war zone of violence,
Police officers of-
when people play
burning and looting that is outra-
ten reached for, and
by the system and
geous, unacceptable and morally
found, their profes-
then get the short
wrong. Worse yet, the widespread
sional best to put
end of the deal, the
violence is defeatist.
duty above emotion
anger deepens and
Let there be no doubt, the American
and help ease tensions and calm
grows into an emo-
system of justice misfired horribly in
nerves.
tion that can develop into a self-de-
Simi Valley Wednesday. But that is
And SO many good Samaritans-
structive-force.
from all walks of life-have helped
not the last word.
The Simi Valley verdict-and the
A huge and infinitely valuable po-
the city cope with this hooligan's
woefully inadequate sentence meted
lice reform movement is under way,
holiday by extending a hand, provid-
out to the killer of 15-year-old La-
with a new police chief-Willie L.
ing a lift home (or to the hospital) or
tasha Harlins, shot by a Korean gro-
Williams-coming in and the June 2
helping out in ways above and beyond
cer- just added to the growing sense
vote on all-important Charter
a citizen's normal call of duty. Some
that African-Americans do not get a
Amendment F in the offing. Some
even put themselves in danger to save
fair shake in the American criminal
voices can be heard in Los Angeles
strangers.
justice system.
denigrating the reform movement and
Perhaps in no area of the city was
Indeed, the distance that America
the hopes represented by new leader-
the crusade of dogged good Samari-
still must travel to elevate the 14th
ship, but make no mistake-before
tanship more in evidence than at some
Amendment's guarantee of equal pro-
long a new day in Los Angeles
of the churches in the very neighbor-
tection to all citizens, regardless of
policing will arrive that will usher in a
hoods most impacted by the destruc-
such things as skin color, is vast, even
far better era and atmosphere for both
tion.
after all these decades of effort.
community and police.
Consider the honest, decent, hard-
But rightful anger is no justification
What's more, a separate and pur-
working people who live there, now
for violence. Think, in that context, of
poseful federal investigation into the
held hostage by fear and violence.
Gandhi-or for that matter of the Rev.
beating case is under way. President
Consider the sales clerks and floor
Martin Luther King Jr.
Bush not only confirmed that fact
managers of the Thrifty stores now
Thursday-it's being headed by
burned to the ground. What did they
THE CITY'S FUTURE
Wayne Budd, former U.S. attorney in
do to deserve this?
Boston-but emphasized that its work
But admire the pastoral efforts of
The need now is to rise above the
was now being accelerated. That point
many of the city's churchmen, includ-
evil and unreason that now stalk too
was underscored later in the day by
ing the Rev. Cecil P. (Chip) Murray of
many streets of Los Angeles. The
U.S. Atty. Gen. William P. Barr.
the First AME Church in the Mid-City
imperative now is to ask all Angelenos
Those expressions of concern and
area. From an all-night vigil to bring
to renew their commitment to the
involvement were helpful and timely.
the neighborhood together to organi-
very idea of this extraordinary me-
After all, the use of the Federal
zing teams of young men to go out into
tropolis.
Bureau of Investigation's civil rights
the streets and try to reduce tensions,
Thursday there was some evidence
unit to probe violations of the civil
Murray and other church leaders in
of the city coming together.
rights laws after local authorities
those areas have offered the city a
Regardless of what preceded that
were unable or unwilling to do the
clinic in good citizenship.
morning's news conference with the
right thing is scarcely unprecedented.
Without them we would have been
mayor and the chief of police-what-
In the 1960s the procedure was in-
the poorer not only in leadership but
ever slips each might arguably have
voked often and well in the pros-
in spirituality.
made, whatever questionable com-
ecution of crimes against blacks in
ment here or there-it was a reassur-
states like Mississippi and Alabama,
NEGATIVE ERUPTIONS
ing moment. Mayor Tom Bradley
where white juries or white prosecu-
spoke with an assurance and determi-
These sunbursts of citizenship con-
tors would not act in the interests of
nation that reminded some people of
trasted starkly with the vile ugliness
justice. And the reputation of this FBI
the Bradley of old. Chief Daryl F.
of all the looters, arsonists and plain
unit is not to be underestimated: It is
Gates joined the mayor at the press
thugs who assaulted innocent pass-
conference and seemed more interest-
known for being thorough and impar-
ersby.
ed in calming fears than roiling emo-
tial and serious about its work.
Whatever the probity of, and justifi-
tions.
cation for, the outrage that erupted
Together the two of them seemed to
POSITIVE AFFIRMATIONS
after the verdict in Simi Valley, the
be saying that the city must now come
To overcome the trauma, sadness
consequent orgy of destruction was
together. That is the message all must
and horror of these past two days, this
without reason, integrity or honesty.
hear now.
It was little more than base thug-
city will also require the commitment
This is no time for finger-pointing
and help of all Angelenos who care
gery when it was not mere petty
or recriminations, no time to assess
about their community, who deplore
pilferage. Consider that for more than
blame.
two decades-in the aftermath of the
any and all justifications for taking the
President Bush as well as state and
law into unwarranted hands and who
Watts riots-people have been trying
local authorities must also work to-
are dedicated to the process of ending
to figure out how to get more services
gether to help the city work its way
to the inner city, more investment,
the violence and
out of this dark moment. This is now
more development. But in the last two
rebuilding the city.
not simply a Los Angeles matter, or
days all that seemed to have been for
This group consti-
even a California matter; it is an
naught.
tutes the vast ma-
international incident.
Yes, there is a
jority of our citi-
difference between
In the eyes of the world, America is
zens, and many of
on trial as much as this city. The
looting and protest-
them have been
world will insist that if America can
ing. There is a dif-
abundantly in evi-
ference between
save Kuwait from foreign occupation,
dence since the
criminality and po-
help save Russia from economic col-
strife began.
litical activity.
lapse and propose a grand new world
Heroic firemen-
There is a differ-
order, it can turn its attention to its
working without
cities and now, especially, to Los
ence between cow-
rest, beyond their
ardice and citizen-
Angeles.
normal shifts and
This is the agenda America must
ship.
organize and deal with after the last
L.A. looter is arrested, the last fire is
put out and the last wisp of smoke
clears
WASHINGTON POST 5/1/92
and a few Stores were looted. At the Univer
lice to protect firefighters, WHO were targets
de Mayo [May 5] noliday; scheduled Sun-
S
sity of California in San Diego about 500 stu-
of gunfire and rock-throwing, before sending
day at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, was
dents gathered for a day-long protest and
police squads into south-central Los Angeles.
postponed until May 24.
burned three effigies of police officers. In
The First African Methodist Episcopal
Late into the night, fires continued to
8
Ventura, 55 miles west of Los Angeles, malls
Church, the city's oldest black church, was
burn.
"n-
were closed because of concern that violence
a safe haven in the war zone. Its pastor, the
might spread.
Rev. Cecil Murray, had tried to head off the
Staff writers Ruben Castaneda, Al Kamen,
out
The 2,000 National Guard troops ordered
violence with an impassioned sermon Sun-
Gary Lee, Carlos Sanchez and Avis
m-
out by Wilson at Bradley's request were de-
day urging residents to "cool it" if the offi-
Thomas-Lester and special correspondent
ployed in armored personnel carriers to help
cers were acquitted.
Kevin E. Cullinane in Los Angeles and
ri-
police in the heart of the riot area. Asked if
Today, as apartment houses smoldered on
staff writer Don Phillips in Atlanta
p-
2,000 troops would be sufficient, Bradley
one side and looters roamed on the other, the
contributed to this report.
White Driver Pulled From Mob
4 Black Strangers Guide Man in 18-Wheeler to Safety
Los Angeles Times
his face awash in blood and his eyes swollen
LOS ANGELES, April 30-Thousands
shut, had somehow managed to get back be-
watched live on television as a white truck
hind the wheel and was now trying to make
driver, Reginald Denny, was beaten nearly
his getaway an inch at a time.
into oblivion shortly after a jury virtually
Braving hostile onlookers, Murphy and
exonerated four white police officers of
Barnett joined two others who eventually
helped deliver Denny to the door of a hos-
beating motorist Rodney G. King.
pital's emergency room. Just as the big rig
Denny, 36, is alive because four black
drove up to the door, Denny went into con-
strangers-two women and two men-
vulsions and started spitting up blood.
emerged to drive his 18-wheeler out of pan-
"One more minute, just one more minute,
demonium to safety.
and he would have been dead," one of his
At least two of the rescuers found them-
rescuers said a paramedic told him at the
selves lured to the scene by the television
door.
pictures that were being broadcast from a
A young nutrition consultant on her way
helicopter.
home from work had already jumped into
One assailant yanked open the truck door
the fray. She had hoisted herself onto-the
and pulled Denny from his cab. At least two
side of the truck and and was shouting
others beat his head and kicked him, knock-
steering instructions to Denny, whose eyes
ing him to the asphalt. After kicking him,
were swollen shut.
one man raised up his hands and waved to
As the truck inched forward, a black-clad
the watching crowd. Denny tried to move,
young man-who Murphy initially thought
turning on his side. Another man then
was a gang member-jumped onto the driv-
bashed Denny's skull with a fire extinguish-
er's seat of the truck. The nutrition consul-
er from the truck.
tant climbed inside the cab to console the
As he lay on the ground, another man
injured man, and Murphy took over the job
walked up and for about eight seconds rifled
of guiding the new driver, who was unable
through his pockets, sprinting away with
to see through the shattered windshield.
Denny's wallet.
As the black-clad driver tried desperately
"We were watching TV at home," said
to speed up the awkward, heavy rig, Bar-
T.J. Murphy, 30, an aerospace engineer.
nett drove in front of the truck, putting on
" 'Somebody's got to get that guy out of
her hazard lights to try to clear the way..
there,' Murphy said he and his friend Tee
Eventually, the truck sped up to 40 mph
PHOTOS BY DAYNA SMITH-THE WASHINGTON POST
Barnett said to each other.
and inched toward 50. After a trip "that
ough a window during the looting of a supermarket
elow, Mike Kwon stands with a neighbor, holding the
When they arrived in their car, the police
seemed to take hours, the rig screeched
arned-out pet shop-a soft-shelled turtle. Asian-owned
they thought would be there were nowhere
into the driveway at Daniel Freeman Hos-
al of the destruction.
to be seen. Instead, the gravely injured man,
pital.
L.A. Residents Take Risks
To Rescue Victims of Riot
SAMARITANS, From A1
"I was afraid I was going to get hit," said
Henry, 41. "I didn't feel secure. At least I
He
was
helnless"
above, prepares to nuri is a WILLOW norms THE moving 01 a supermarket
.h-central Los Angeles yesterday. Below, Mike Kwon stands with a neighbor, holding the
When they arrived in their car, the police
seemed to take hours, the rig screeche 1
ay thing he was able to save from his burned-out pet shop-a soft-shelled turtle. Asian-owned
they thought would be there were nowhere
into the driveway at Daniel Freeman Hor
pu
businesses were the targets of a great deal of the destruction.
to be seen. Instead, the gravely injured man,
pital.
A
IM
I-p"
L.A. Residents Take Risks
up
}
'O'
day
To Rescue Victims of Riot
em
uon
SAMARITANS, From A1
"I was afraid I was going to get hit," said
Henry, 41. "I didn't feel secure. At least I
s10
his family, and stayed with him until police
was moving. He was helpless."
arrived about 20 minutes later.
The young man who helped Henry pull
5
Amid the thick smoke of chaos, the anger
Aguilar off the street, who gave his name
dso
and the violence that the King verdict
only as Jerome, said he diverted some of the
IOM
touched off, there were individual acts of
attackers by pointing them to an abandoned
ep
decency and valor such as Henry's, the kind
motorcycle and urging them to take that
H
of actions that the moniker "City of Angels"
instead of what was left of Aguilar.
Bury
ONE
conjures up.
The Henrys' son, Jacques, watched>the
110
In other instances, people came to the aid
of victims who had been pulled from their
cars and savagely beaten, pulling them to
safety. Others, including Henry and his
"This is going to be with
wife, Barbara, warned people-including
him the rest of his life.
IIII
reporters-not to go to the corner of Flor-
ence and Normandie because they ran the
-Barbara Henry, speaking of ther
JO
risk of being beaten or worse.
10-year-old son watching the violence
Я
The Henrys allowed a Washington Post
reporter (who had already absorbed a punch
bloody drama play out through his 10-year-
to the face from a Crip gang member) to
old eyes.
0110
stay on their porch to observe the mayhem
Fear showed in his eyes with each
on the street below, even though they ran
beating, with each pelting of a car with
the risk of drawing unpleasant attention
rocks and bottles. At one point, the boy,be-
gan crying as his mother tried to reassure
from some of those who were attacking any
him.
non-blacks and some blacks who happened
"This is going to be with him the rest:of
to pass by.
his life," Barbara Henry said. "He doesn't
After police finally arrived and put the
understand. This is killing him. He doesn't
victim, Raul Aguilar, on a stretcher and
understand this hate."
took him away, Henry spoke of the victim's
At the same time, Henry said she Was
attackers in anger and disgust.
having a difficult time explaining to her son
"They were SO
bad. Where are they
the reasons for the hate and the anger.
now?" Henry said. "All those guys who were
"I told my son that things were going to
so bad are gone."
be better for him, to use the system," she
Though he was in his own neighborhood,
said.
Henry said he felt far from safe when he
Referring to the King verdict, she added,
went out to help Aguilar.
"Now what do I tell him?"
WASHINGTON POST 5/1/92
e driver raised his arm. Tatum and nie
ends started to duck. But then they re-
bottles of cognac he found Wednesday night
ing güns, and as the nighttime curfew and
Aftermath of verdict: other stories infa section
alized that the outstretched arm was not
in the debris of a looted liquor store. "I got
See VOICES, A32, Col. 1
Compassion Amid Chaos
Case Casts
Residents Take Risks to Save Riot Victims
D.C. Area Ponders
the face one more time before walk-
By Sue Anne Pressley
By Ruben Castaneda
ing away.
Washington Post Staff Writer
Washington Post Staff Writer
The attackers were only about
It may have happened on the
LOS ANGELES, April 30-Not
40 feet away from the victim, who
posite end of the country, but
more than 100 feet away from the
was lying in the street, when sev-
tance did not diminish the an
safety of his front porch on Flor-
eral cars careened by, one running
outrage and even depression n
ence Avenue, James Henry watched
over the man's legs.
a horrific scene unfold.
That was too much for Henry.
Washington area residents felt
Five young black men swarmed
Though the attackers were still
terday about the verdict in the
nearby, though numerous menacing
ney King case. On down'
on a Hispanic man whose van had
broken down in the worst place and
young men grasping bottles and
streets, during car-pool ride:
large rocks were running amok,
offices and classrooms and St
at the worst time anyone could
though police were nowhere to be
ban homes, everyone seemed
imagine-Florence Avenue near
Normandie Street about 3½ hours
seen, the solidly built Henry, who is
talking about the case-not ju
after the Rodney King verdict Wed-
also black, calmly left the security
a news event in California but
of his porch and took to the street
reason to raise fundamental
nesday night.
to assist the man.
tions about race relations and
The five men punched and kicked
With the help of another man,
inal justice in this country.
the man mercilessly, then gleefully
bounced away, flashing gang hand
Henry pulled the victim to the rel-
At the University of Maryla
ative safety of the sidewalk, got him
College Park, about 100 stu
signals as they walked.
One man came back to rifle the
a blanket, got the phone number of
BY DAYNA SMITH-THE WASHINGTON POST
yesterday burned an effigy 0
victim's pockets and punch him in
See SAMARITANS, A32, Col. 4
Moon Kang, right, is consoled by daughter Jennifer after their store was looted.
Angeles Police Chief Daryl F.
INSIDE
Navy Harassment Probe Stymied
'Hare Auto Accident
Campaign Overl
A car driven by an 87-year-old
Aviators Refuse to Help Identify Culprits at Tailhook Party
man careened out of control
Senate Sends Measure to B
yesterday and jumped a curb at
Chicago's O'Hare International
The Navy and Marine Corps, which con-
By John Lancaster
Airport, killing a 10-year-old
By Helen Dewar
sidered the convention a "professional devel-
third-grader and injuring 74 other
Washington Post Staff Writer
Washington Post Staff Writer
opment seminar" and allowed aviators to at-
pupils and adults, four critically.
Despite overwhelming evidence of sexual
tend on Navy time, provided free transpor-
The Senate approved and sent to President
tation to Las Vegas on board military aircraft
NATION, Page A3
assaults and misconduct at a convention of
Bush yesterday a bill to overhaul Congress's
Navy and Marine aviators in Las Vegas last
for 1,700 of the event's estimated 5,000 par-
South African Sentence
much criticized system of campaign financing
September, Navy investigators have been
ticipants. The event is sponsored by the Tail-
but, like the House, failed to produce enough
stymied in their attempts to identify the cul-
hook Association, a private group named for
A South African judge
votes to override an expected veto.
yesterday sentenced a senior
prits because of "closing ranks and obfusca-
the hook used by carrier-based planes to snag
It was the first time in a decade of effort
white police officer to death for
tion" on the part of most who attended, Navy
the cable that allows them to land.
that legislation to limit campaign spending
masterminding the 1988
Although Navy investigators interviewed
has passed both houses, and Democratic
officials said yesterday.
massacre of 11 people mistakenly
more than 1,500 Navy and Marine officers
leaders vowed to continue pushing for en-
A report on the seven-month probe by the
identified as anti-apartheid
who attended the convention, Navy officials
actment of the bill despite the likely partisan
activists aligned with the ANC.
deadlock.
SENT BY:Xerox Telecopier 7020 ; 5- 1-92 ; 2:28PM ;
2024566218;# 3
The New York Times
FRIDAY, MAY 1, 1992
Journalists Face Attacks and Injury
in Trying to Cover Riots
By KATHERINE BISHOP
Special to The New York Times
SAN FRANCISCO. April 30
store that was being looted. A spokes-
Throughout the night and into today,
man for The Associated Press said
reporters, photographers and camera
Craig Fuji, a staff photographer, was
crews struggled to cover the story of
sent to a hospital with a concussion but
the Los Angeles riots close-up without
did not know what him or who stole his
endangering their own lives. Members
cameras.
of various news organizations were
Bart Bartholomew, a freelance pho-
shot, at, beaten and chased by mobs,
tographer working for The New York
limiting their ability to gather the
Times, said he was able to shoot one
words and pictures that broaden the
roll of film as the police retreated from
story beyond distant shots of burning
a mob armed with clubs and rocks
buildings taken from helicopters far
chanting "Cops gonna die tonight" be-
above the streets,
fore being attacked by people demand-
Two. cameramen with KCBS televi-
ing his film. Hit in the face with a two-
ston in Los Angeles were attacked and
by-four and in the head with a brick,
injured during the night and a bullet
Mr. Bartholomew said he was saved
hole was found in one of their vans.
from greater injury because the bullet-
Lisa DeLucia, a spokeswoman for the
proof vest he was wearing deflected
station, said, "We're telling our people
to cover an event and get right out of
punches 10 his kidneys. One civilian on
there."
the street helped him ges to his car, and
he was able to drive off.
Television sometimes benefited
from the fact that many looters were
"I was just lucky 10 get out." he said.
"When I think about it today, this wave
Reporting while
of emotion washes over me and 1 start
crying and have to take a couple of
being shot at and
deep breaths."
Even those not out reporting the
chased by mobs.
story were affected by it. The Los
Angeles Times building in the heart of
downtown Los Angeles was attacked
on four separate occasions during the
unconcerned that they were being
night and all the windows on the ground
filmed. "People don't care." Ms. DeLu-
-floor were broken. At one point, two
cia sald. "They're smiling for the cam-
copy messengers armed with fire ex-
eras while they loot the store. It's in-
tinguishers held off looters trying to
credible."
steal television sets from the building.
Threatened With a Knife
But if rioters were posing for televi.
sion cameras; they were beating and
threatening still photographers with
weapons, stealing their cameras and
demanding that the photographers
give up their film.
Jim Wilson. a staff photographer for
The New York Times, said a man with.
a knife threatened to slit his throat if he
took any pictures at an electronics
SENT BY:Xerox Telecopier 7020 ; 5- 1-92 ; 2:27PM ;
2024566218:# 1
News Summary
THE WHITE HOUSE
OFFICE OF THE PRESS SECRETARY
WASHINGTON
FACSIMILE TRANSMISSION
pnonex7750
fax x 6218
TO:
JE NNIFER
FROM: BRUCE WILMOT
News Summary
OEOB 412
Washington, D.C. 20500
voice (202) 456-2950
fax (202) 456-6422
COMMENTS:
FOR R. L.A. KING RESEARCH
White House News Summary
Friday, May 1, 1992
CNN
Greg Lamont reports from Los Angeles:
Firefighters have been
shot as well. Even so, some say that overall, the people have been
helpful.
(Firefighter #1: "There's a lot of support. There's more support
than there is negative towards us. It's just the negative is
easily seen.")
Well, then, let's get that word across. -- you want to expand on
that?
(Firefighter #2: " There are a lot of people out there helping,
giving us water, their last can of soda that they 've been saving.
And it's a lot of good people out there. And non-violence is what
they want. Just a few guys that are bad and want to flex their
muscle at this time, and that's what we're seeing. But on the
X
whole, I think everyone's trying to do their best to do what the
law enforcement agencies asking them to do -- and, if they can,
lend a hand.")
###
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2024566218:# 2
RIOTS IN L.A.
OUTRAGE AFTER THE VERDICT
FRIDAY. MAY 1, 1992
THE MIAMI HERALD
11A
Outrage leads to an act of heroism, too
Washington Post Service
The attackers were only about 40 feet from
LOS ANGELES - Barely 100 feet from the
the victim, who was lying in the street, when sev-
safety of his front porch, James Henry watched a
eral cars careened by, one running over the
horrific scene unfold.
man's legs.
Five young black men swarmed on a lone His-
That was too much for Henry. Though the
panic man whose van had broken down at the
attackers were nearby, though menacing young
worst time anyone could imagine - about 3½
men grasping bottles and rocks were running
hours after the Rodney King verdict.
amok, though police were nowhere to be seen,
The five men punched and kicked the man,
Henry. 41, who also is black, left his porch.
then bounced away, flashing gang hand signals
With the help of another man, Henry pulled
as they walked. One man returned to rifle the
the victim to the sidewalk, got him a blanket, got
victim's pockets and punch him in the face one
the phone number of his family and stayed with
more time.
him until police arrived about 20 minutes later.
May 1, 1992
MEMORANDUM FOR DAN
FROM:
JAG
SUBJECT:
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ACTION ON L.A. SITUATION
Spoke to M.K. Material on what we will do was considered
too sensitive (by Barr) to be directly sent to us -- it was faxed
to Skinner and now Dave is getting it directly from him. She did
read me over the phone what we have done up to this point. As
follows:
Immediately following the case, Dept. of Justice resumed
investigation into the Los Angeles case.
The night of the verdict, the Community Relations Service
(CRS) --- a justice team of 10 conciliators -- went to L.A.
Thursday, associate A.G. Wayne Budd (overseeing
investigation) sent to L.A. with a lawyer from his own staff
and 5 federal civil rights division prosecutors.
Val Bunting press sec. Mayor Bradley's othice [213-485-3311]
approximately or
about 4,000
(DDDMAF)
May 1, 1992
[almost]
Draft Three
LA
PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS ON CIVIL DISORDER IN LOS ANGELES
MAY 1, 1992
9:00 PM
Tonight, my heart goes out to those who have felt betrayed
by a system of justice that seemed to have gone wrong -- and to
those who have suffered since from the angry reaction of a
frustrated and misguided mob.
Weds. 29, 1992
Two days ago, in a highly controversial court case, a
April
verdict was handed down by a California jury. To Americans of
all races who were shocked by the verdict, let me say this. I
spoke this morning to many leaders of the civil rights community.
They saw the video of Rodney King being beaten by the police, as
March 3, 1991- 29 April 1992
did the rest of us. For fourteen months, they waited.
Patiently. Hopefully. They waited for the system to work. When
the verdict came in, they felt betrayed.
Viewed from outside the trial, it was hard to understand how
the verdict could possibly square with the video. Those civil
rights leaders with whom I met were stunned. So was I. So was
Barbara. So were my kids. But those shocked and angered by this
outcome must understand: our system of justice provides for the
peaceful, orderly means of addressing this frustration. But we
must respect the process of law whether or not we agree with the
2
outcome. There is a difference between frustration with the law
and direct assaults upon it.
There are two very different issues at hand. One is the
question of whether the actions of the police violated Rodney
King's federal civil rights. So let me tell you what actions we
are taking on the federal level to ensure that justice is served.
29 ami,1992
The verdict Wednesday was not the end of the process.
JAB
Within one hour of the verdict, I directed the Justice Department
to move into high gear on its own independent criminal
investigation into the case.
On Thursday, at my direction, Associate Attorney General
JAG
Wayne Budd was immediately dispatched to Los Angeles with five
federal civil rights division prosecutors. Our Justice
Department has often demonstrated its ability to investigate
fully a matter like this. In the last
the Justice
Department has successfully prosecuted
of police violence JR.Par
TR.Pater
cases. I'm confident that in this case, the Department of
Justice will act as it should.
Federal grand jury action is underway today in Los Angeles.
Subpoenas have been issued. Evidence is being reviewed.
The federal effort in this case will be swift -- and it will
be fair. It will not be driven by mob violence, but by respect
for due process and the rule of law.
We owe it to all Americans who put their faith in the law to
see that justice is served. But as we move forward on this or
any other case, we must remember the fundamental tenet of our
3
legal system: every American is entitled to protection of his or
her rights.
Beyond the question of civil rights, there is a second
fundamental issue: the urgent need to restore order. What
followed Wednesday's jury verdict in the city of Los Angeles was
justlenow 4,800 Pris. Sex.
a tragic series of events: 1,500 fires, staggering property
# 550 Million CNN 235 they
damage, thousands of injuries, and the senseless deaths of over
thirty people.) 8 today. CNN.
37 CNN
In the
city
to
An innocent truck driver, chosen at random, was pulled out
woulds to nit
235-
hop
of his cab in broad daylight. He was punched, kicked -- beaten
mumbers
to the point of unconsciousness, robbed, and left to bleed in the
street. The brutality we saw on our television sets was as
of LA inj-
sickening as it was terrifying.
community # 900
What is going on now in Los Angeles is not about civil
rights. It is not about the great cause of equality that all
Americans must uphold. It is not a message of protest. It is
now the barbarism of a mob -- pure and simple.
in city
What is going on in L.A. must and will stop. Order will be
LA
restored to the streets of Los Angeles.
In a civilized society, there can be no excuse -- no excuse
-- for the murder, arson, theft, and vandalism that have
South. South-Central Central
moving westaml
terrorized the law-abiding citizens of East Los Angeles.
north
The wanton destruction of life and property is not a
legitimate expression of outrage with injustice -- it is itself
injustice. And no rationalization, no matter how heart-felt, no
matter how eloguent, can make it otherwise In the wake of the
,Space
Press Sez.
4
Governor
first night's violence, I spoke directly with California Pete
Wilson, and Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley -- to assess the
situation, and to offer assistance.
MN
Right now, there are [1400] National Guardsmen on duty in
the City of Los Angeles. Another [1200] stand ready to provide
immediate support.
Today, to supplement this effort to restore order, I've
taken several additional actions. First, I have ordered the
Justice Department to dispatch 1000 Federal riot-trained law
enforcement officials to help restore order in Los Angeles --
beginning tonight. These officials include FBI SWAT teams,
special riot control units of the U.S. Marshal Service, the
Border Patrol, and other federal law enforcement agencies.
Second, another 1000 Federal Law Enforcement officials are
on stand by alert should they be needed.
?
Third, I have authorized 3000 members of the 7th Infantry,
and 1500 Marines to stand by at El Toro Air Station, California,
available for duty this evening. And in the event these troops
are sent in, I am prepared to Federalize the National Guard.
Television has become a medium that often brings us
together. But its vivid display of Rodney King's beating shocked
us. Its sudden rendering of the jury's verdict tore us apart.
And the America it has shown us on our screens these last 48
hours has appalled us. None of this is what we wish to think of
as American. It is as if we were looking in a mirror that
5
distorted our better selves and turned us ugly. We cannot let
that happen. We cannot do that to ourselves.
We have seen images in the last 48 hours that we will never
forget. Some were horrifying almost beyond belief. But there
were other acts -- small, but significant acts in all this
ugliness that give us hope: People who have spent each night not
South Central
in the streets, but in the churches of east Los Angeles --
praying that man's gentler instincts be revealed in the hearts of
people driven by hate. There were the citizens who showed great
personal responsibility -- who ignored the mob -- who at great
personal danger, helped the victims of violence -- regardless of
race.
Among the many stories I've seen and heard about these past
few days, one sticks in my mind. The story of one savagely
beaten white truck driver -- alive tonight because four
strangers, four black strangers, came to his aid. Two were men
who had been watching television and saw the beating as it was
happening, and came out into the street to help. Another was a
woman on here way home from work -- the fourth, a young man whose
name we may never know. Together, those four people braved the
mob and drove that truck driver to the hospital. He is alive
today -- only because they stepped in to help.
It is for every one of them that we must rebuild the
community of Los Angeles -- for these four people and the others
like them who in the midst of this nightmare acted with simple
human decency.
6
We must understand that no one in Los Angeles or any other
city has rendered a verdict on America. If we are to remain the
most vibrant and hopeful nation on earth we must allow our
diversity to bind us together, not drive us apart. This must be
the rallying cry of good and decent people.
For their sake, for all our sakes: We must build a future
where in every city across this country, empty rage gives way to
hope -- where poverty and despair give way to opportunity. We
must keep on working to create a climate of understanding and
tolerance. We must not tolerate racism, bigotry, anti-semitism,
and hate of any kind, anytime, anywhere.
This weekend, I ask all Americans to lend their hearts,
their voices, and their prayers to the healing of hatred. As
President I took an oath to preserve, protect, and defend the
Constitution -- an oath that requires every President to
establish justice and insure domestic tranquility. That duty is
foremost in my mind tonight.
Let me say to the people saddened by the spectacle of the
past few days -- to the good people of East Los Angeles, caught
at the center of this senseless suffering: The violence will
end. Justice will be served. Hope will return.
Thank you, and God bless the United States of America.
# # #
May 1, 1992
MEMORANDUM FOR DAVE
DAN
FROM:
JAG
SUBJECT:
TV INTERVIEWS WITH GOOD SAMARITANS
Culled from the tube: two interviews with two samaritans
(black) who aided two victims of mob violence.
CBS This Morning, Paula Zahn
Bennie Newton, an African-American pastor, arrived home
Wednesday night and watched with horror the violence on the
evening news. He and other preachers had been trying to come up
with answers. Bennie decided to become one. "I felt I had to go
down to do what I could," he recalled, "and I'm glad I did."
He walked downtown into the heart of the violence, "a street
storm," he called it. He saw a man being beaten by a crowd of
about 20. He moved to defend the man, saying, "Please stop,
let's bring some sense into this. They pushed him aside, and
were it not for his collar, would have probably beaten him too.
The beating continued, culminating when someone picked up a
speaker and threw it down on the victim's head. At this point,
the Reverend covered the man's body with his own -- shielding it
from the mob. When he got a chance, he dragged the man to a
gutted van and hid him there. Then he went to get his own car,
and drove him to the hospital. Later, when he saw the reaction
of the victim's family, he said "my heart was crying." The man,
Mr. Lopez, is in stable condition.
Today Show, Bryant Gumbel
Greg Alan-Williams, an African-American actor and writer,
was driving by a violent intersection and saw a mob of angry men
swarming over a stalled car. The crowd was smashing and crawling
through the windows of the vehicle, beating its driver in the
face with beer bottles, and dragging him out of the car.
Our hero (sigh) got a hold of the man and started pulling
him across the street. The bleeding man could hardly stand, but
Williams told him: "You have to walk or you're going to die."
They struggled through the jeering crowd, trying to find safety.
Williams pulled him along the street, seeking shelter -- but no
one would take them in, no one would help (shades of the Seven
Stations). Finally, another good samaritan offered his van, and
they took the man to the hospital.
Mr. Williams said that he and his family stand ready to help
heal the victim and his family.
May 1, 1992
MEMORANDUM FOR DAVE
DAN
No hope despon Mg. empty surface,
FROM:
JAG
SUBJECT:
GOOD SAMARITAN ACCOUNTS IN PRINT
1)
"It was late when the elderly black couple pulled up to the
77th Street police station in a white Cadillac. Slumped in
the back seet was a Latino man with a gunshot would in the
head
Any other day, these Good Samaritans would have been
hailed as heroes. Not tonight. Los Angeles was at war with
itself
No one felt safe and it was impossible to know
friend from foe. "
"'stop there
or I'll kill you!' shouted an officer
posted outside the station as he pulled a revolver on the
couple. The Cadillac screeched to a halt. Moments passed.
The man and the woman sat motionless, not knowing what to
do. Only when the jittery officer realized who was inside
did the tension subside."
--L.A. Times, 5-1-92
2)
"Not more than 100 feet away from the safety of his front
porch on Florence Avenue, James Henry watched a horrific
scene unfold. Five young black men swarmed on a Hispanic
man whose van had broken down
[they] punched and kicked
the man mercilessly, then gleefully bounced away, flashing
gang hand signals The attackers were only about 40 feet
away from the victim, who was lying in the street, when
several cars careened by, one running over the man's legs."
"That was too much for Henry
'I was was afraid I was
going to get hit. I didn't feel secure. At least I was
moving. He was helpless. With the help of another man,
Henry pulled the victim to the relative safety of the
sidewalk, got him a blanket, got the phone number of his
family, and stayed with him until police arrived about 20
minutes later."
--Washington Post, 5-1-92.
3)
**CNN and print: reports of citizens helping firefighters
with hoses, people helping to put out fires with their
garden hoses.
4)
"His name is Reginald Oliver Denny
He is alive because
four strangers -- four black strangers from the very crowd
that had beaten him nearly to death -- emerged to drive his
unweildy 18-wheeler out of pandemonium to safety."
"The rescuers were two women and two men: a young
nutrition consultant, a laid-off data control worker, an
unemployed aerospace worker, and a stil-unidentified young
man in black whose fellow rescuers first feared was a
ganbanger coming to finish Denny off."
"The rescue came almost too late -- as long as 20 to 30
minutes after the beating 'We were watching TV at home,'
said T.J. Murphy, Somebody's got to get that guy out of
there, I we said to each other.
[somehow Denny had managed to drag himself back into
the truck and drive the vehicle, but he was gravely wounded
and his eyes were swollen shut] "A young nutrition
consultant on her way home from work. hoisted herself onto
the side of the truck and was shouting steering instructions
to Denny. " [the other three good samaritans joined the
effort, and they managed to get him to the hospital -- one
more minute and he would have been dead.]
[Tee Barnett, who drove the truck to the hospital]:
"'We found out that both Denny and I had 8-year old
daughters Black boys playing with white boys -- that's what
Dr. King talked about. Working together. Playing together.
But his dream doesn't seem to stand a chance, does it? Not
until people learn to get along. Evidently, we're not
living the same dream. "
--L.A. Times, 5-1-92
Productos 04/30/92 15:03
P01 ?
May I, 1992
President Bush,
My name is Hope Elliott. I
am a female. I think the
same thing as the jury
in the Rodney King case. I
think the police were right.
I am 5 years old. I hope
you have a good time with
your dogs. I hope you have 9
good time at your office. I
hope you have a good time
with your friends.
Thanks,
Hope EllioH
1702 Northwood Cl.
H10 pe
Longview, TX 75605
903-297-3856
essential as it is -- stops short of providing the people it
serves a way out of a dehumanizing and inefficient cycle of
poverty.
Your own Mayor Bradley was among a group of mayors who came
to see me last
.
I have repeated often what he said to me
that day. He said, "The most important problem facing our cities
is the deterioration of the family. "
Some quick facts: in 1960 the percentage of births to unwed
mothers was
Now it is
.
The chances that a black
male will die a violent death by the time he reaches 25 was one
out of
in 1960. Now it is one out of
.
In 1960 the high
came
school graduation rate was
in Los Angeles. Now it is
.
In Chicago, more guns were confiscated in the Chicago school
system than in
.
And the chances of alcohol or drug abuse
by pre-teens now are one in
.
Many of these and other sobering statistics are clearly
influenced by the absence of values that come from strong
families. And these kind of statistics are most severe in our
nations urban areas. The summary fact is that time is running
out on the cities of America.
I'm not a social scientist. Never pretended to be. I look
at things from a more uncomplicated point of view. As a father
with kids -- now with grandkids. As a volunteer -- a little
league coach or a doorknocker for the United Negro College Fund.
As someone who spent half his life in a business trying to build
a future for his family. As someone who spent the other half of
1990
Determines fact'
not not whether level of a child fed has mother a fathers home..." whis
unified
LA, School District
Shell Erlick
213-625-6000
Office of Communications
x6766
College counseling 625-5608
Dr. Charles Espalin LESS pah-leen]
budget crunch
reports not kept up-to-date
1990-91 : 23,500
dropout rate: 14.86%
11,250 6'
grades 10-12
12,250 $
to
1960:
Try State D.ofEd
essential as it is -- stops short of providing the people it
serves a way out of a dehumanizing and inefficient cycle of
poverty.
Your own Mayor Bradley was among a group of mayors who came
to see me last
.
I have repeated often what he said to me
that day. He said, "The most important problem facing our cities
is the deterioration of the family. "
Some quick facts: in 1960 the percentage of births to unwed
mothers was
Now it is
.
The chances that a black
male will die a violent death by the time he reaches 25 was one
out of
in 1960. Now it is one out of
.
In 1960 the high
school graduation rate was
in Los Angeles. Now it is
.
In Chicago, more guns were confiscated in the Chicago school
system than in
.
And the chances of alcohol or drug abuse
by pre-teens now are one in
.
Many of these and other sobering statistics are clearly
influenced by the absence of values that come from strong
generation
families. And these kind of statistics are most severe in our
nations urban areas. The summary fact is that time is running
out on the cities of America.
I'm not a social scientist. Never pretended to be. I look
at things from a more uncomplicated point of view. As a father
with kids -- now with grandkids. As a volunteer -- a little
league coach or a doorknocker for the United Negro College Fund.
As someone who spent half his life in a business trying to build
a future for his family. As someone who spent the other half of
Determines fact
not not whether level of a child fed has mother a father home... whis
916-657-3011
Jim Fulton- Demographics Ofice
To Carol
Time 3:20
Date
WHILE YOU WERE OUT
Program Evaluation
M
& Bob Kominsky
Census Bureau
Dr. Dias (916) 657-3934
of
Phone (301) 763-1154
$
Area Code
Number
Extension
TELEPHONED
PLEASE CALL
CALLED TO SEE YOU
WILL CALL AGAIN
1984-85
furthest back
WANTS TO SEE YOU
URGENT
RETURNED YOUR CALL
Message
Bobby
Operator
AMPAD
EFFICIENCY®
23-021 CARBONLESS
Nat'l Iry: Center for Educ. Statistics
Melinda Kitchell
202-401-1008
essential as it is -- stops short of providing the people it
serves a way out of a dehumanizing and inefficient cycle of
poverty.
Your own Mayor Bradley was among a group of mayors who came
gon Schedule
to
see me last Jan 16 . National Roos League of cities
I have repeated often what he said to me
that day. He said, "The most important problem facing our cities
is the deterioration of the family. "
Gilbut
Some quick facts: in 1960 the percentage of births to unwed
245-1764
mothers
was
5.3
1989
better than 5 times 1940.
0
Now
it
is
271.
The chances that a black
male will die a violent death by the time he reaches 25 was one
Clifflaick
out of
in 1960. Now it is one out of
.
In 1960 the high
-7470
carol
school graduation rate was
in Los Angeles. Now it is
.
183
last year
In Chicago, more guns were confiscated in the Chicago school
Bob
Policy
but there were only 25 National Merit Scholars.
system than in
And the chances of alcohol or drug abuse (301)
.
Abuse
2641
18th graders are 70% marijuana are 10%
436 8500
by pre-teens now are one in
Drug NIM 245-6467
8th
:
436-8500 436 -8500
Many of these and other sobering statistics are clearly
influenced by the absence of values that come from strong
1301 301 generation. 443- 6480
families. And these kind of statistics are most severe in our
nations urban areas. The summary fact is that time is running
out on the cities of America.
Delmatable
I'm not a social scientist. Never pretended to be I look
at things from a more uncomplicated point of view. As a father
Jim 443-3783 Helsing -8956
with kids -- now with grandkids. As a volunteer -- a little
$954
league coach or a doorknocker for the United Negro College Fund.
2020
PA
As someone who spent half his life in a business trying to build
301 443- 8956
a future for his family. As someone who spent the other half of
1970 10.7
Determines fact
1980 18.4
1989 27.1
not not whether level of a child fed and has mother a fathers whis
home."
Homicide age leading causing of for
young black 15-24
(male & femaled.
all For us.
The prob that a young haby 1989
will be murdered
white Female baby / out 496
Hightore invitized country.
white Male / out 205
Black F / out 117
Black M / out 27
In inner cities, is higher
Bill Roper director proposed CDC is a high priority
Nation Center for Injury Prevention +Cantrol
essential as it is -- stops short of providing the people it
serves a way out of a dehumanizing and inefficient cycle of
poverty.
Your own Mayor Bradley was among a group of mayors who came
Jan 16
Mayor Bradley and every
to see me last January. I have repeated often what he said to me mayor other
that
that day He said, "The most important problem facing our cities
disolution
is the deterioration of the family.
1970: 10.7%
Some quick facts: in 1960 the percentage of births to unwed
1980: 18.4% mothers was 5.3 Now it (1989) is 27.1 r greater The chances than 5 that times a that black of 1960.
see
male will die a violent death by the time he reaches 25 was one
attached
out of
in 1960. Now it is one out of
.
In 1960 the high
school graduation rate was
in Los Angeles. Now it is
.
183
last year
In Chicago, more quns were confiscated in the Chicago school
We Fook 183 guns we only gave 25 National Merit Scholarships.
system than in
And the chances of alcohol or drug abuse
by pre-teens now are one in
.
Many of these and other sobering statistics are clearly
influenced by the absence of values that come from strong
generation.
families. And these kind of statistics are most severe in our
nations urban areas. The summary fact is that time is running
out on the cities of America.
I'm not a social scientist. Never pretended to be. I look
at things from a more uncomplicated point of view. As a father
with kids -- now with grandkids. As a volunteer -- a little
league coach or a doorknocker for the United Negro College Fund.
As someone who spent half his life in a business trying to build
a future for his family. As someone who spent the other half of
70% of 8th graders have used alcohol
10% of " " have use marijuana
Deferruments fact:
The chances that an 8th grader has
ever used alcohol is 20% there is a
not level of child fed has
fathers
/ in 10 chance that he or she has used marijuana. not whether
a
mother a whis
home."
From Dr. Mark Rosenburg at the Centers for Disease Control:
Homicide is the leading cause of death for young blacks age 15 -
324.
(This includes both males and females.)
The probability that a young baby will be murdered in their
lifetime is as follows:
WFB 1 out of 496
WMB 1 out of 205
BFB 1 out of 117
BMB 1 out of 27
SENJ BY:Xerox Telecopier 7021 ; 5- 7-92 ;12:19PM ;
6256380->
2024566218:# 1
WILLIAM R. ANTON
Los Angeles Unified School District
Superhumment of
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES: 450 NORTH GRAND AVENUE, Los ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
DIANA MUÑATONES
MAILING ADDRESS: Box 3307, Los ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90051
Director
Office of Communications
TELEPHONE: (213) 625-6766
FAX: (213) 625-6380 or (213) 626-2470
This material is being FAXed from the Office of Communications
of the Los Angeles Unified School District
Date 5-7-92
To George ROHMANIS
FAX #
Organization
white House Research
7
Pages to follow
(If all pages are not received or if transmission is unclear,
please call
PATRICK SPENCER (213) 625-6766
or
)
Additional notes:
ADD
5 MORE To PREVIOUS TOTAL To MAKE
129 SEIWRES between 87-88 &
90-91 school YEARS
9
] 87-88
J
"17
34 88-89 89
15 ] & 89-90
26
/
2
] 90-91 -
16
Mc
129
3 17 3
34
15
26
12
16
129
SENT BY:Xerox Telecopier 7021 ; 5- 7-92 12:25PM
6256380-
2024566218:# 7
California State Department of Education
Form USCA us
County Code
District Code
1964733
Standard School Crime Reporting Form
Meter is California Public School Directory the
code numbers
For Reporting Number of Incidents of Crime and Violence on School
Return completed form to:
Grounds or in School Programs and Activities
California State Department of Education
1987-88
Office of School Climere
721 Capitol Mall
School District Summary
Sacramento. CA 95814-4786
Pursuant to Penal Code Section 628
(See the reverse side of this page for instructions and definitions.)
First half
School district
Reporting period (Check one.)
District enrollment
x
July -Detember 31 1987
(Regort the total district enrollment as of CREDS'
590,287
January 1-June 30
information Day during the third wes in October.)
Number at indicance. by location
Number of effenders.
Number of incidents. by three
Reportinate in the apprapriate solumn in accurdance with your
OF student status
of occurrence
school's dusignation salebhaned By governing board reselution
Other
Davide
(Adult school.
Student
Nonatudent
(From 1 how be-
Middle/
concial edusa.
Total
(Porten enrolled
(Person Me on-
fore 15 1 new
Other time
Total dollar
Crime electrification, -
intermediate/
man fearlity.
number
in me school
relled in the
after beard-
(Evenings,
less to instruct
victim. TYPE or
Elementary
junior high
ROP/ROC.
of -
reporting the
school reparting
approved school
westends,
by Type of
weapen involved
school
served
High services
etc.)
dence
crimal
the animal
day)
holidays)
armie
1.
a. Against students
22
77
96
12
207
115
92
201
6
3. Against employees
17
30
50
10
107
61
46
91
16
w. Against others (Identify.)
4
3
7
1
6
3
4
2. Assault/attack with 4 deadly
wesson
a. Against students
11
42
49
4
106
43
63
99
7
D. Against employees
7
14
15
7
43
15
28
35
8
c. Against others (identify.)
5
B
1
14
3
11
7
7
3. Homeide (Dead Body)
I*
1⑉⑉
2
2
2
4. Sex attenses
a. Misdemetriors (e.g., indisent
exposure, obscane phone call)
16
25
19
2
62
5
57
56
6
b. Felanies (e.g., rape, adddmy,
child malestation)
34
28
22
6
90
12
78
79
11
B. Robbery
12
60
31
8
111
34
77
95
16
6. Extortion
1
1
2
2
2
7.
sbuse
(Presession. use. or sales
22
51
103
16
192
135
57
154
38
8. Possession of weapons
Gun
9
34
53
9
115
40
75
92
23
0 Knits
13
104
80
5
202
132
70
187
15
c.
3
3
2
1
3
a. Other (identify.)
19
53
54
9
135
60
75
115
20
9. Property crimes
a Arson
13
9
15
3
40
2
38
13
27
61,656
b. Burgiary (breaking and enrer-
ing with intent to B1001)
602
199
190
100
1091
36
1055
169
922
714,399
a. Theft from students /unieve
ful taking of property)
$
52
1
58
19
39
55
3
11,844
du Theft from school
139
82
119
101
441
19
422
310
131
104.155
2 Vandalism
1529
636
647
225
3037
68
2969
2841
196
1.345.711
/ Other (identify)
Personal Property
83
165
267
68
583
36
547
464
119
198,524
Theft fr employee
37
34
18
8
97
B
89
85
12
23.161
10. Other (Idensify.)
1 Child abuse/Batt.
2
1
3
3
2
1
to Tress/Distr. Peace
24
57
72
9
162
18
144
128
34
5 Misc.
30
54
74
23
181
37
144
149
32
1 Bomb Threat
3
8
17
29
2
27
28
1
Extended Page
7.1
66
60
Explanatory comments
Lost Property
106
53
68
52
279
8
271
113
166
300,017
"Victim. student, was off campus during lunch break when he was fatally assaulted while at a city park
3/4 of a mile from campus.
** Vicsim of ADW expired
on campus - non-school related
Certification: I hereby certify that to the best of my knowledge and belief. the date contained in this form are isue, accurate, and
complete.
Contact persent A. Gold HAMMER
Signature of district superintendent or designees
Herbert & Graham Herbert
Date: 1-25-88
Telephone: 213,625-6631
Distribution: Return original to the State Department of Education. Retain copy for district files.
SENT BY:Xerox Telecopier 7021 ; 5- 7-92 :12:26PM ;
6256380-
2024566218:# 8
California State Department of knocation
Form USCN US
County Code
District Code
Standard School Crime Reporting Form
Relar 14 California Public School Directory for
code numbers.
For Reporting Number of Incidents of Crime and Violence on School
Grounds or in School Programs and Activities
Return completed form to:
1987-88
California State Department of Education
Office of School Climate
School District Summary
721 Capitol Mail
Searemento, CA 95914-4788
Pursuant to Penal Code Section 628
(See the reverse side of this page for instructions and definitions.)
Second half
Sabool district
Agraining period (Check one.)
District enrollment
July 1-December 31
(Report the total district envollment as of casos'
January I-June 30 1988
Information Day during the third week in October.)
590,287
Number of institutions, by location
Number of offenders.
Number n/ insidents, by ume
Report data in the appropriate esiumn in secordance with your
by student status
of
scient's designation established by powerning board resolution
Other
Davilme
(Addi school,
Guden)
Nonatudent
(From 1 how BO.
Middle/
special
Toral
(Person enrolled
(Person not on-
fore 10 hour
Crime by
informadiate/
tion facility.
number
Other time
Total clailar
in the randel
relied in the
alter board-
vicsim, type. or
Elementary
junior high
ROP/ROC.
al Inc)-
reporting the
(Everunge,
lass 14 instruct,
school reporting
approved school
weepen involved
school
school
High school
weekends,
by Type of
min.)
denie
crime)
the animal
day)
holidays)
-
1.
a. Against students
59
162
113
20
354
200
154
339
15
b. Against employees
52
69
54
18
193
132
61
181
12
E. Against others (identify.)
4
2
2
2
10
4
6
8
2
2. Assault/attack with 5 deadly
wespon
a. Against students
30
76
51
9
166
83
83
155
11
b. Against employees
7
16
6
2
31
19
12
27
4
c. Against others (Identily.)
2
5
4
1
12
2
10
10
2
3. Hamicide
1*
0
L
0
2
0
2
1
1
4. Sex alleness
#. Misdemianore ie.g. indepent
exposure, obscane phone call)
33
49
35
4
121
11
110
111
10
b. Felonias 10.0- rape, adddmy,
child molestation)
64
38
35
7
144
36
108
129
15
S. Robbery
24
88
50
4
166
56
110
147
19
6. Extortion
3
2
0
1
6
6
0
6
0
7. Substanee/chemical/sicohai
abuse
(Possession, use, or Asia)
26
88
93
16
223
158
65
190
33
8. Passassion at waspons
a. Gun
17
50
60
13
140
44
96
119
0 Knile
21
30
145
90
11
276
206
70
257
c.
a
16
19
4
0
20
19
1
d. Other (identify.)
20
0
35
89
50
11
185
117
68
163
22
9. Property crimes
8. Arson
27.
18
21
2
68
13
55
33
35
805,685
b. Burgiary (breaking and anier-
ing with intent to stamil
749
311
246
82
1388
75
1313
177
1211
665,482
Q. Than from students (unisw-
ful taking of property)
7
13
58
5
83
19
64
78
5
d, Theit from ashool
229
18,781
123
190
99
647
41
600
#. Vandalism
2734
472
1266
1168
169
419
5587
147,831
170
5417
1. Other (idemity.)
5278
309
2,707,547
Personal Property
161
337
411
95
Theft fr. emp loyee
1004
67
943
55
32
836
23
168
13
123
313.964
9
114
10. Other (Identily.)
103
20
31,494
, Child Abuse/Batt
3
1
0
0
4
a Tres/Distr. Peace
0
35
4
95
79
3
15
1
224
42
5
Misc.
54
182
98
79
184
40
40
271
75
196
of Bomb Threat
10
221
50
38
37
5
90
0
90
89
1
Explanatory comments
Lost Property
155
53
102
49
359
14
345
146
213
246,001
Extended Page
8.1
"Victim Junior High Student . On elementary school campus - intoxicated * climbed fence and fall (accidental death)
Gang related shooting in front of high school. Adult victim across street, on private property, fatally wounded.
Cariffication: 1 hereby certify that ID the basi of my knowledge and collet, the date contained in this form are true. assurate, and
complete. Signature of district suparintendent or designes: Date: 7/29/88
and Contact person
ANNE
Telephane:
,218,625-6324
Distribution: Return original to the State Department of Education, Retain copy for district files.
SENT BY:Xerox Telecopier 7021 ; 5- 7-92 :12:24PM ;
6256380-
2024566218:# 6
SCHOOL CRIME REPORTING
DATE: 03/12/90
ELEM. ENROLLMENT:
330,372
DISTRICT TOTALS
J. N. ENROLLMENT:
123,355
JULY 1, 1988 , JUNE 30. 1989
H. S. ENROLLMENT:
132,517
OTHER ENROLLMENT:
DISTRICT NAME: LOS ANGELES UNIFIED
5,637
CODE: 1954733
TOTAL ENROLLMENT:
592,881
Offenders by
No. of incidents
Total dollar
Number of incidents, by location
student status
by occurrence
loss to
Elemen-
Junior
High
Non-
Day
Other
District
Crime classification
tary
high
school
Other
Total
Student
student
time
time
by crime
1. Assault/attack/menace
a. Against students
5%
229
194
24
501
275
225
481
20
b. Against employees
101
139
87
30
357
239
128
340
27
c. Against others
11
I
3
2
25
I
16
23
2
Totals
165
377
294
56
893
524
369
844
49
2. Assault/attack/weapon
a. Against students
37
113
117
11
278
123
155
262
16
b. Against employees
12
38
29
9
88
24
64
71
17
c. Against others
6
5
17
4
32
$
27
25
7
Totals
55
156
163
24
398
152
245
358
40
3. Momicide
2
o
0
0
2
0
2
2
0
i
4. Sex offenses
a. Misdemeanors
107
72
44
3
226
$
220
213
13
b. Felonies
21
37
31
8
97
32
$5
81
16
Totals
128
109
75
11
323
38
285
294
29
5. Robbery
42
135
67
24
268
72
196
225
42
1. Extertion
2
3
2
0
7
$
1
7
0
7. Substance abuse
43
115
149
33
340
233
107
285
55
8. Passession of weapons
a. Bun
34
105
116
19
274
105
169
234
40
b. Knife
40
253
149
13
455
324
131
434
21
c. Explosives
0
7
8
0
15
11
4
15
0
d. Other
54
143
116
15
328
171
157
304
24
Totals
128
508
388
47
1,072
611
461
987
85
$. Property crimes
a. Arson
50
39
31
9
129
17
112
41
88
b. Burglary
$ 1,068,591
1,418
576
411
198
2,603
144
2,459
350
E. Theft from students
2,253
$ 2,435,402
4
47
92
13
156
57
"
142
14
d. Theft from school
$
⑉
319
250
265
195
1,038
50
$88
709
329
e. Vandalism
$
261,205
3,045
1,307
1,154
592
5,098
250
5,048
5,470
628
$ 3,352,508
Totals
4,836
2,227
1,953
1,008
10,024
518
9,506
6,712
3,312
$ 7,117,706
13,327
Thaft from students is not a loss to schools: therefore, dollar loss data is not included.
SENT BY:Xerox Telecopier 7021 ; 5- 7-92 :12:22PM ;
6256380-
2024566218:# 4
Standard School Crime Reporting Form
For Reporting Number of Incidents of Crime on School Grounds
District Name LOS ANGELES
School District Summary (DSCR-89)
District Enrollment aus 866
per October CBEDS data)
Pursuant to Penal Code sections 628. 628.1. and 628.2 and Education
Reporting Period (Check one.
X
July 1-December 31
Code section 14014 (See reverse side of this form for instructions
January 1-June 30
and descriptions
Fiscal year 1989 -1990
County Code Dume Code
termine California State Department or Education
School Climate and Student Support Services Unit
19 64733
P O Box 944272
Refer to California Public School Directors
First Half
Sacramento. CA 94244-2720
for code numbers
Number of incidents. by location
Report date IF: the appropriate column in accordance with your schools' designation
Number of offenders (if known).
established by governing board resolution
by characteristics
Crime Descriptions
Middle
Adult school.
Student
Nonsrudent
intermediate
special education
Elementary
(Person enrolled
(Person not
junior high
facility. ROP/
Total number
school
in reporting
enrolled in
Dollar loss
school
High school
ROC. BIC
of incidents
school)
reporting school:
to district
I. -
a Against students
1
4
6
0
b Against certificated employees
11
6
5
11
13
13
( Against classified employees
5
42
26
16
10
5
4
d Against security peace officers
1
20
0
1
5
15
3
e Against others
U
4
o
4
0
0
0
2
2 Mattery
2
0
2
4. Against students
23
84
5. Against certificated employees
107
9
223
126
97
12
28
= Against classified employees
22
3
65
51
14
11
5
: Against security/pase officers
$
1
24
9
1
6
15
e *gains: others
11
3
21
12
9
5
3
2
1
11
6
! with a deadly wespon
5
à Against students
13
50
: Against certificated employees
81
6
150
2
79
71
9
5
0
; Against classified employees
16
12
4
2
2
4
is Acainst security peace officers
3
11
2
9
0
2
! Against others
1
1
4
0
4
1
3
4
1
9
3
6
d I Alawful Fighting
*
*
*
*
*
+
*
3 Humandr
0
0
0
0
0
U
0
6 " offenses
a Missemeanon e.g. indecent exposure. sexual battery)
53
55
Felony " rape, todemy. enild molestation)
32
10
150
11
139
1
4
3
1
9
3
6
. Robbers
18
94
63
10
185
45
140
M & singlion
0
n
0
0
0
4 1 Themical substances offenses
0
0
4 Manjuana
11
29
56
5
101
76
e Alcohoi
25
0
6
1
3
10
Other drugs
5
5
7
3
: Paraphernalia
8
3
21
8
13
1
1
0
1
3
0
3
14 Possession of weapons
Guns
16
46
B Ouns (replicas)
77
16
154
0
43
0
111
: Knives
1
0
I
I
13
0
101
d Kniver (replicas)
65
5
184
148
0
36
É Other weapons
0
0
14
0
U
U
69
f Other weapons (replices)
87
1)
5
175
109
66
0
0
0
0
0
11 Destructive devices
0
0
è Bombs
B. Expiosives
8
0
8
0
CC
0
0
0
00
0
U
0
0
90
0
Fireworks
GO
0
0
1
d Bomb threats
0
2
2
D
Extended Page
4.1
di Bomb threats
3
13
26
2
44
0
44
12. Property oFines
« Arson
13
14
11
7
45
9
36
B Burgian
173.688
501
194
11
02
968
11
927
693,008
C Theft of school property
90
59
104
70
323
24
299
114,687
c Theft of student property
2
60
82
13
157
22
135
: Theft of employee property
A.
4
53
Y
207
8
199
54,436
1 Vandalism of school property
123
109
147
40
419
82
337
1,644,152
g andalism of student property
2
0
17
7
26
0
26
h 1 andatism of employee property
199
185
172
60
615
$
606
13 Lowering trespassing
19
48
103
21
191
48
143
14 Other miscellaneous criminal activity
0
0
0
0
4
0
0
Certification I hereby certify that to the best of my knowledge and belief. the data contained in this form
Name of contact person:
are true, accurate. and complete.
*per discussion with Dr. Peter Kneedler, will be
submitted approx. 1 month
WESLEY C. MITCHELL,
Chief of Police
Signature of district superintendent or designee:
Date: 1/20/90
Telephone:
I 213 1 625 - 6211
Distribution Retu- State Department Education Retair
SENT BY:Xerox Telecopier 7021 ; 5- 7-92 12:23PM ;
6256380-
2024566218:# 5
Standard School Crime Reporting Form
For Reporting Number of Incidents of Crime on School Grounds
District Name
LOS ANGELES
District Enrollment 805,856
School District Summary (DSCR-89)
(per October CBEDS data)
Pursuant to Penal Code sections 628. 628.1, and 628.2 and Education
Reporting Period (Check one.)
July 1-December 31
Code section 14044 (See reverse side of this form for instructions
X
January 1-June 30
and descriptions.)
Fiscal year 1989-1990
County Code District Code
Please return completed form to: California State Department of Education
School Climate and Student Support Services Unit
19
64733
P.O. Box 944272
Refer to California Public School Directory
Second Half
Sacramento, CA 94244-2720
for code numbers.
Number of incidents, by location
Report data in the appropriate column in accordance with your schools' designation
Number of offenders (If known),
established by governing board resolution.
any
Crime Descriptions
Middle/
Adult school.
Student
Nonstudent
intermediate/
special education
(Person enrolled
(Person not
Elementary
junior high
facility, ROP/
Total number
school
in reporting
enrolled in
Dollar loss
school
High school
ROC. etc.
of incidents
school)
reporting school)
to district
1. Assoult
& Against students
3
3
6
2
b. Against certificated employees
14
4
10
20
31
21
6
C. Against classified employees
78
43
3
35
2
6
my.
11
d. Against security/pusse officers
4
7
-
3
6
9
c. Against others
4
5
9
-
-
-
-
0
-
-
2. Battery
a. Against students
36
169
152
b. Against certificated employees
12
369
16
216
75
153
29
6
126
c. Against classified employees
104
22
9
6
7
2
d. Against security/pance officers
24
10
14
-
6
10
B. Against others
2
18
9
10
4
2
2
-
8
4
4
3. Assault with a deadly weapon
a. Against students
19
99
b. Against certificated employees
100
11
229
4
3
107
122
5
I
c. Against classified employees
13
9
4
5
6
4
d. Against ascurity/peace officers
8
23
3
20
I
5
2. Against others
6
-
11
1
10
4
1
3
-
8
-
8
4. Unlawful fighting
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
5. Homicide
-
-
-
-
0
-
-
6. Sex offenses
a. Misdemeanors (e.g., indecent exposure, sexual battery)
86
76
b. Falony (e.g., rape, sodomy, child molestation)
58
14
234
29
205
1
5
5
-
11
5
6
7. Robbery
17
94
80
10
201
49
152
8. Extortion
-
4
-
-
4
4
*
9. Chemical substances offenses
a. Marijuana
4
39
61
5
109
92
b. Alcohol
9
17
13
8
3
33
13
20
c. Other drugs
2
5
3
d. Paraphernalia
4
14
5
9
1
4
1
as
6
3
3
10. Pussession of weapons
is. Guns
26
79
b. Guns (replicas)
76
19
3
200
4
64
2
136
+
C. Knives
9
3
19
6
163
d. Knives (replicas)
96
13
291
229
62
.
1
c. Other weapons
-
30
0
1
1
99
100
-
f. Other weapons (replices)
11
240
125
115
-
-
-
-
0
-
-
11. Destructive devices
4. Bombs
-
-
-
b. Explosives
-
0
-
-
-
.
c. Fireworks
-
.
0
-
9
8
-
d. Bomb threats
1
18
18
-
11
30
in
"-
Extended Page
5.1
d. some inreats
11
32
32
1
76
as
76
12. Property crimes.
a. Arson
20
29
19
2
70
20
50
302,728
b. Burglary
53B
247
230
110
1125
66
1059
C. Then of school property
682,178
95
22
162
84
423
31
392
d. Theft of student property
160,051
7
45
169
20
241
35
206
c. Theft of employee property
113
91
70
61
344
15
329
f. Vandaliem of school property
166
136
197
54
553
162
41
2.283,736
B. Vandalism of student property
-
2
33
3
38
8
30
h. Vandalism of employee property
338
341
380
105
1164
18
1146
13. LotterIng/trespassing
22
79
98
19
218
31
187
14. Other miscellaneous criminal activity
-
41
.
-
-
-
Certification: I hereby certify that to the best of my knowledge and belief. the data contained in this form
Name of contact person:
are true. accurate. and complete.
*per discussion with Dr. Pete Kneedler, will be submitted
WESLEY C. MITCHELL
in approx. one month
Chief of Police
Telephone:
Signature of district superintendent or designee:
Date: July30,990
( 213 ) 625 - 6211
Distribution: Return (pink) original 10 State Department of Education. Reison (yellow) copy for district files.
SENT BY:Xerox Telecopier 7021 ; 5- 7-92 12:19PM ;
6256380->
2024566218:# 2
1990-91 Semi-Annual
Reporting Period (Check one):
Report Deadlines:
schoolme
X
July December 31, 1990
February 1, 1991
District Crime Report
January June 30, 1991
August 1, 1991
Summary
Please return completed form to:
First Hal f
California Department of Education
District Name LOS ANGELES
School Crime Reporting Program
District Code
19
64753
Questions?
School Climate and Student Support 1990-91
per California Public School Directory
Services Unit
IS (916) 322-6352
District Enrollment
P.O. Box 944272
777,333
# (916) 323-0565
Sacramento, CA 944272-2720
per October
CBEDS data
Number of incidents, by location
Report data in the appropriate column in accordance with your school's designation
Number of offenders (If known),
established by governing board resolution
by characteristics
District office.
Student
Nonstudent
Crime Descriptions
Middle/
transportation. adult
(Person
(Person not
intermediate/
school. special
enrolled in
enrolled in
Elementary
junior high
High
education facility.
Total number
reporting
reporting
Dollar loss
school
school
school
ROP/ROC. etc.
of Incidents
school)
school)
to district
1. Assault
a Against Students
1
11
3
0
6
8
3
a Against certificated employees
7
13
5
I
26
17
10
Assist classified employees
4
3
3
2
12
8
6
di Against accurtly/peace officers
0
3
5
0
&
6
*
. Against others'
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2. Battery
& Agginst students:
30
114
142
10
296
241
152
a Against certificated employees
16
32
14
1
62
46
23
aL Against signature employees
&
1
,
i
"
#
W
duAmine officers
0
2
17
0
19
17
10
- ****
2
I
1
2
6
3
5
3. Assouit with a seadly weapon
- statements
17
61
72
5
155
93
115
& province now
0
5
4
a
a
A
5
employees
3
2
0
-
}
!
5
6
unknown
If
#
Y
n
6
4
6
4. Uniswful fighting
&
-
#
.
.
.
5. Homicide*
0
a
a
a
0
a
a
& Sex offenses
THE sexual Battery)
53
39
69
9
155
11
138
Fabry (--- sudemy. child registration)
11
2
&
0
a
A
4
7. Robbery
13
107
89
&
217
A1
197
8. Extertion
0
0
1
0
1
1
0
9. Chemical substances offenses
& MarQuanes
8
8
39
2
57
52
17
b. Alcohol
2
1
5
1
9
5
4
OR datage
3
8
9
2
22
9
17
d.
50
1
1
0
0
9
n
2
10. Possession of weapons
Guns
12
63
61
7
143
64
108
R. (repticas)
1
I
2
0
4
&
2
13
99
103
1
219
193
77
a
0
a
0
0
a
0
a Other weeponse:
19
71
73
9
172
129
93
11. Destructive devices
a Rombo
0
0
0.
0
0
a
0
b. Explasives
0
0
0
0
0
0
11
e. Fireworks
0
I
3
0
4
5
0
d. Bomb throuts
8
10
04
,
51
a
51
12. Property crimes
& Anne
12
9
15
7
43
3
43
110,864
a Burgiary
468
182
172
85
907
105
996
580.663
c. Theft of achool) proparty
93
48
166
84
391
36
367
181,127
d. Theft of - property
3
28
144
"
186
30
162
119
50
44
60
893
11
292
Vascialism of school proplety
155
93
129
86
403
119
340
1,942,177
Extended Page
2.1
122
72
127
$0
405
114
500
Verdalism of student property
1
1
13
7
22
4
20
discover property
232
222
211
12
747
13
738
13. Lottering/trospaming
16
53
90
5
165
8
213
14. Other miscellaneous criminal activity
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
* Describe the circumstances on any homicides on a separate sheet of paper and attach it to this report.
Certification: I hereby certify that to the best of my knowledge and belief, the data contained in this form
Name of contact person:
are true. accurate, and complete. will be submitted atta later time.
wesley C. Mitchell, Chief of Police
Signature of administrator In charge or designee:
1
Date: 1/31/91
Telephone:
( 213 ) 625 - 6211
Distribution: Return (pink) original to County Office of Education. Retain (vellow) copy for program and site files.
SCRP-01
SENT BY:Xerox Telecopier 7021 5- 7-92 :12:21PM ;
6256380-
2024566218:# 3
schoome
December 31.
District Crime Report
X January 1 June 1991
Summary
Second Hu if
Number completed form to:
California Department of Education
District Name LOS ANGELES
School Crime Reporting Program
School Climate and Student Support
District Code 1 & d 1 1 3
Services Unit
simes Punin
IIII,
=
P.O. Box 944272
District Enrollment
777,333
of
Sacramento, CA 944272-2720
CREDS
Number of incidents, Av Incation
Number of affenders ANY
Rupon data the whool designation
by characteristics
Nachution
District ofice.
Student
Crime Descriptions
Make
adult
Person
- special
enrolled in
profession
Elementary
undersign
4.4h
.
tacility.
Total number
reporting
Dollar
when
when
ROP viv.
of incidents
when
1. Insuit
J. undens
1
5
5
0
11
11
5
M Againsi certificated employees
7
15
10
a
32
17
16
& spartst classified employees
I
I
2
1
5
1
1
J. Against -ecurity/peace officers
0
1
3
0
6
2
2
c. Against others
0
0
0
0
0
o
0
1. Battery
J. Against students
52
163
107
&
330
279
165
b. Against certificated employees
11
53
22
2
$1
10
20
d. Against classified employees
5
,
12
0
24
13
13
d. Against security/pance officers
1
3
10
2
16
6
12
e. Against others
0
2
4
2
$
2
7
3. Assouts with a deadly wespon
4. Against students
18
98
99
6
221
159
130
h. Against certificated employees
3
11
4
a
18
11
8
&. rgainne alsouified employees
1
$
?
6
19
1
11
d. Aguinst security/pance officers
0
1
4
1
a
0
6
#. Against others
I
4
13
0
IS
9
16
d. Unlaw fighting
*
.
*
#
#
#
*
5. Homicide*
0
0
**1*
0
self
0
⑉⑈1 r
6. Net offenses
3. Misdemeanors it.g. indecent exposure. sexual bettery)
104
73
50
in
232
19
222
b. Felony 10.g., rape. sodomy, child motestation)
3
4
2
0
9
9
3
, Robhery
26
129
85
18
258
88
214
#. Extortion
0
1
0
0
1
1
0
#. Chemical substances offenses
a. Martjuana
7
53
68
&
132
135
22
b. Alcohol
0
1
6
L
9
7
N
c. Other drugs
6
3
9
0
18
10
14
d. Paraphernsia
1
0
0
0
I
0
/
10. Possession of wespons
16
74
79
1
176
$5
126
1 Cuns
b. Guns (replicas)
1
6
A
1
14
U
10
C Knives
so
181
109
e
329
265
103
d. Knives (replicas)
0
1
0
a
1
1
n
: Other wespons
26
119
92
10
247
183
125
11. Destructive devices
& Bomba
1
0
0
a
1
0
I
b. Explosives
#
0
a
0
a
0
0
c. Fireworks
a
1
3
a
1
,
1
d. Bumb threem
11
32
of
$
US
A
115
12. Property crimes
16
25
24
3
68
16
57
228.135
A. Arson
b. Burgiary
675
271
247
66
1254
177
7396
893,761
c. Theft of school property
140
as
153
14
465
64
421
702.023
4. Theft of students property
18
40
191
11
279
$3
233
e. Theft of employee property
127
"
108
"
369
35
344
f. Vandailsm of school property
312
215
224
63
114
247
479
$ 581.573
I. Vandalism of students property
2
3
24
1
37
$
34
h. Vandalisms of employee property
346
745
357
79
1127
15
1117
Extended Page
3.1
h. Vandalism of employee preparty
540
343
"
13. Loitering/trespanding
1
48
60
123
12
147
14. Other miscollaneous criminal activity
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
* Describe the circummances on any homisides on a separate sheet of paper and attach If 10 this report serevised August 28, 1991**
Name of contact person:
Certification: I hereby certify that to the best of my knowledge and belief. the data contained in this form
Chief wealey c. Hitchell
are true.
Signature of or
accurate. Return administrator (pink) and original complete. in County charge will designee: be submitted sllow at later M for program date. and bigs Date: 7/29/91
Telephone:
( 213 ) 625-6211
Distribution: to Office of Education: Retain copy old
SCRP-01