The riots were a consequence of the Rodney King police beating and a frustration of Blacks in South Central Los Angeles over their lack of opportunities for decent education, decent jobs, and decent housing.
We were living in the West San Fernando Valley when the riot occurred. Neither I nor my neighbors were impacted by what happened.
I was shocked by the verdict as many others were shocked.
Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley went on television with an inflammatory condemnation of the verdict: “I was stunned. I was shocked. | was outraged when I heard that verdict,” he exclaimed with vehemence. “No, our eyes did not deceive us. We saw what we saw. What we saw was a crime. No, we will not tolerate the savage beating of our citizens by a few renegade cops …. The jury’s verdict will never outlive the images of the savage beating seared forever into our minds and our souls.”
I saw that comment made by Tom Bradley and immediately said that his statement was an invitation to Blacks to riot. Of course the following day he denied that his words inspired the rioters. The words “No, we will not tolerate the savage beating of our citizens” sent the message that it is OK to riot.
Today’s Black Lives Matter movement is an outgrowth of the continuing mistreatment of Black Americans.
Coast Contact 