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From the archive, 1 May 1992: Rodney King verdict sparks LA riots From the archive, 1 May 1992: Rodney King verdict sparks LA riots
(5 months later)
From the aerial shots of Los Angeles provided by news helicopters, the city looks like a war zone. The flames devouring sections of this sprawling southern California metropolis were started by arsonists and fuelled by righteous anger over the not guilty verdict in the Rodney King police brutality case.From the aerial shots of Los Angeles provided by news helicopters, the city looks like a war zone. The flames devouring sections of this sprawling southern California metropolis were started by arsonists and fuelled by righteous anger over the not guilty verdict in the Rodney King police brutality case.
The casualty figures are also those of a war zone. Murderous mobs howling "No justice, no peace!" have left more than 10 people dead and 140 wounded in less than 24 hours. As I write the entire south central section of Los Angeles is under a state of emergency as 2,000 national guardsmen armed with military weaponry converge on the area.The casualty figures are also those of a war zone. Murderous mobs howling "No justice, no peace!" have left more than 10 people dead and 140 wounded in less than 24 hours. As I write the entire south central section of Los Angeles is under a state of emergency as 2,000 national guardsmen armed with military weaponry converge on the area.
To those familiar with police-community relations in Los Angeles all of this was predictable. It is the inevitable explosion that will result when unanswered cases are allowed to fester until they become social dynamite.To those familiar with police-community relations in Los Angeles all of this was predictable. It is the inevitable explosion that will result when unanswered cases are allowed to fester until they become social dynamite.
For years now there has been a steady stream of complaints against the Los Angeles police department and its chief, Daryll Gates, alleging a policy of excessive use of force when arresting criminal suspects. These complaints generally came to nothing when brought before a police review board dominated by officials from the police hierarchy.For years now there has been a steady stream of complaints against the Los Angeles police department and its chief, Daryll Gates, alleging a policy of excessive use of force when arresting criminal suspects. These complaints generally came to nothing when brought before a police review board dominated by officials from the police hierarchy.
Repeated calls for an expanded review board that would include civilians have gone unheeded. Most complainants in a police brutality case have not been able to provide sufficient evidence to support criminal charges against officers.Repeated calls for an expanded review board that would include civilians have gone unheeded. Most complainants in a police brutality case have not been able to provide sufficient evidence to support criminal charges against officers.
That was why the Rodney King case was welcomed by civil libertarians. The brutality long acknowledged against the LA police department was finally captured live on video tape. When the images of Rodney King, sprawled on the ground being viciously clubbed by a group of white cops, were broadcast on national television it elicited outrage from all sectors of the public including the Oval Office.That was why the Rodney King case was welcomed by civil libertarians. The brutality long acknowledged against the LA police department was finally captured live on video tape. When the images of Rodney King, sprawled on the ground being viciously clubbed by a group of white cops, were broadcast on national television it elicited outrage from all sectors of the public including the Oval Office.
For millions of Americans witnessing the event it was a prima facie case of police brutality. This was why the announcement of a not guilty verdict provoked shock and outrage across the nation and led to an immediate outburst of rioting.For millions of Americans witnessing the event it was a prima facie case of police brutality. This was why the announcement of a not guilty verdict provoked shock and outrage across the nation and led to an immediate outburst of rioting.
The question that demanded an answer was how the jury could arrive at a not guilty verdict when all the world saw the evidence on television.The question that demanded an answer was how the jury could arrive at a not guilty verdict when all the world saw the evidence on television.
Mr Bush, who expressed outrage at the King case more than a year ago as thousands of black soldiers were returning from the Persian Gulf, yesterday made it clear that arson and looting would be suppressed by any means necessary.Mr Bush, who expressed outrage at the King case more than a year ago as thousands of black soldiers were returning from the Persian Gulf, yesterday made it clear that arson and looting would be suppressed by any means necessary.
Mr Gates's contribution was to call the looters "gang members and drunks who were just waiting on an opportunity". It is difficult to believe that more blood - mainly black blood - will not be spilled.Mr Gates's contribution was to call the looters "gang members and drunks who were just waiting on an opportunity". It is difficult to believe that more blood - mainly black blood - will not be spilled.
The factors leading up to the present crisis in Los Angeles are not unique to that city. There are similar problems with white police brutality, and the lack of legal redress for black victims, in every major American metropolis. Some lawyers, both black and white, believe that American society is so racially polarised that it is nearly impossible to find a predominantly white jury who will convict white policemen for the abuse of their authority by using excessive violence against blacks and other non-white minorities.The factors leading up to the present crisis in Los Angeles are not unique to that city. There are similar problems with white police brutality, and the lack of legal redress for black victims, in every major American metropolis. Some lawyers, both black and white, believe that American society is so racially polarised that it is nearly impossible to find a predominantly white jury who will convict white policemen for the abuse of their authority by using excessive violence against blacks and other non-white minorities.
It should be remembered that the acquittal of the police in this case follows a long-standing pattern, a recent example of which was the effective slap on the wrist given to a Korean grocer for the murder of a 15-year-old black girl whom she shot in the back because she thought the teenager had stolen a bottle of fruit juice.It should be remembered that the acquittal of the police in this case follows a long-standing pattern, a recent example of which was the effective slap on the wrist given to a Korean grocer for the murder of a 15-year-old black girl whom she shot in the back because she thought the teenager had stolen a bottle of fruit juice.
The grocer was sentenced by a white judge to a few months of community service. This incident occurred in Compton, California, just a few miles away from the present conflict.The grocer was sentenced by a white judge to a few months of community service. This incident occurred in Compton, California, just a few miles away from the present conflict.
The real tragedy for black Americans is that the looters have robbed the Afro-American community of the moral high ground. The tragedy for all Americans is that the present conflict in Los Angeles will exacerbate rather than calm racial antagonisms nationally. For, as graphic pictures of inner city black youth and impoverished adult looters filter into the dining rooms of the white suburbs in living colour, the question on everybody's minds will cease to be whether Rodney King received justice in court and turn to demands for the immediate restoration of law and order by any means necessary.The real tragedy for black Americans is that the looters have robbed the Afro-American community of the moral high ground. The tragedy for all Americans is that the present conflict in Los Angeles will exacerbate rather than calm racial antagonisms nationally. For, as graphic pictures of inner city black youth and impoverished adult looters filter into the dining rooms of the white suburbs in living colour, the question on everybody's minds will cease to be whether Rodney King received justice in court and turn to demands for the immediate restoration of law and order by any means necessary.
Playthell Benjamin is an award-winning black American journalist based in New York.Playthell Benjamin is an award-winning black American journalist based in New York.
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