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NEWS & LETTERS, May 2002
The L.A. rebellion, ten years afterLos Angeles—April 29 is the
tenth anniversary of the Los Angeles rebellion, where the "not guilty"
verdict of the four police officers prosecuted for the beating of Rodney King
was broadcast throughout the city. As word spread, the city burst into a
spontaneous opposition to the verdict in three days of protests, demonstrations,
fires and stealing. Selected images were repeatedly televised throughout the
nation. A major focal point for the
media was a Korean man with a handgun who would protect his store from any
intruder. Another was the beating of a white truck driver, Reginald Denny, at
the corner of Florence and Normandy Streets. The TV replayed these selected
scenes (accompanied by a spin of verbal horror against the uprising) over and
over, so that they became imprinted on the minds of a fearful population. There
was no mention of the rebellion's stored-up rage, caused by years of
unemployment, exploitation, poverty, racism, and especially police brutality. There was little or no coverage
of over 50 people killed, mostly by police and national guardsmen. None of them
were prosecuted. Nor was there attention to Latasha Harlins, a young Black girl
shot in the head and killed by a Korean merchant for allegedly stealing a can of
orange juice. In those days there was a high level of mistrust and antagonism
between Korean merchants and their Black customers. I do not recall any news
coverage that expressed the outrage felt by the demonstrators. Over 1,200 were
arrested for mostly petty charges, mainly stealing, and many of the victimized
mom-and-pop merchants later learned that the police protected large corporate
shopping centers and the affluent Westside. In many cases the police allowed the
burning and looting of stores, just watching. Among those prosecuted for the
beating of Reginald Denny was Damian Williams, a young Black man. He had various
charges against him, and was found guilty of one lesser charge. Recall that an
object was thrown at Reginald Denny only once, whereas police repeatedly clubbed
and kicked Rodney King and were found "Not guilty." Damian Williams served five or
six years. After his release he was targeted by the 77th Street Police Precinct,
constantly observed and harassed. A year and a half ago, while visiting friends,
a stranger pointed a gun at him, upon which Damian said, "What are you
doing?" He then knocked the gun away and ran out. After he left, a body was
found outside the house and he became the "usual suspect." Upon
hearing that he was wanted for murder, Damian turned himself in to police. He
has been re-imprisoned for one and a half years awaiting trial; meanwhile, a
butter knife was planted in his cell, so now he has two charges to answer to. —Basho |
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