POLICE RADIO: TWO MALE (BLEEP) ON MOTORBIKES WITH
WALKIE-TALKIES IN THE VICINITY OF 5900 BLOCK SOUTH AVALON.
IN THE WATTS AREA, FIFTY-TWO CHEVROLET WHITE, IN COLOR.
CONTAINING FOUR MALE (BLEEP) WITH A SAWED-OFF SHOTGUN.
RESERVE THE LOOTED STORE AREA.
FOUR MALE (BLEEP) IN A '52 CHEVY WHITE COLOR
WITH SAWED-OFF SHOTGUNS.
WATTS AREA.
DISPATCHER: ALL HOLLENBECK UNITS,
BE ON THE ALERT FOR MOLOTOV COCKTAILS.
ALL HOLLENBECK UNITS,
BE ON THE ALERT FOR MOLOTOV COCKTAILS.
[SCREAMING]
[INAUDIBLE POLICE RADIO]
[SIRENS]
*
REPORTER: THIS IS WHERE IT BEGAN.
THIS IS WHERE THE FUSE WAS LIGHTED.
IT BEGAN WITH THE ARREST BY WHITE OFFICERS OF THE
CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL OF TWO YOUNG NEGROES.
ONE, ON A CHARGE OF DRUNK DRIVING; THE OTHER,
HIS BROTHER; HIS PASSENGER.
THEIR MOTHER, WHO LIVES NEARBY, CAME TO THE SCENE.
THERE WAS AN ARGUMENT; THERE WAS A SCUFFLE.
BY THEN THE CROWD OF SEVERAL HUNDRED NEGROES HAD GATHERED,
AND THE STORY OF POLICE BRUTALITY QUICKLY SPREAD
THROUGH THE COMMUNITY.
REPORTER: UP THE STREET, A BLOCK OR SO IN THAT DIRECTION,
A CHURCH, WHERE NEGRO LEADERS PLEADED FOR PEACE
AND WERE REJECTED.
DOWN THAT WAY, THE BUSY INTERSECTION WHERE CARS WERE
OVERTURNED AND BURNED; WHERE A TELEVISION TECHNICIAN WAS
PULLED FROM HIS WAGON, AND ALMOST BEATEN TO DEATH.
REPORTER: IT WAS THE MOST WIDESPREAD,
MOST DESTRUCTIVE RACIAL VIOLENCE IN AMERICAN HISTORY.
THE BURNING AND LOOTING, THE SHOOTING AND BEATING WENT ON
FOR NEARLY A WEEK.
34 PERSONS WERE KILLED, ALL BUT 5 OF THEM NEGROES.
REPORTER: POLICE CHIEF PARKER DESCRIBED LOS ANGELES
NEGRO RIOTERS AS "MONKEYS IN A ZOO."
AND NEGRO LEADERS HAVE MORE THAN ONCE CALLED
FOR HIS REMOVAL.
REPORTER: IN CREATING THE SITUATION,
WHERE WAS THE FAILURE?
IN THE PART OF THE CITY, THE COUNTY, THE SCHOOLS?
CHIEF PARKER: THIS, I THINK, IS ONE OF THE DIFFICULTIES IN
MEETING THIS IS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO FIND A FAILURE OTHER
THAN THE PEOPLE THEMSELVES.
NOW THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS MOVE BECAUSE IT,
IT SERVES TO SORT OF SANCTIFY THEIR ACTS.
JOHN SHABAZ: EVERY GRIEVANCE THAT WAS HAD BY
THE PEOPLE WHO STARTED THIS THING,
THERE HAS BEEN NOTHING DONE TO SOLVE IT.
THE ONLY THING THAT WAS DONE WAS THAT MASSIVE FORCES
WERE BROUGHT IN TO SUPPRESS THE ACTUAL OVERT ACTION.
REPORTER: HOW HAS IT AFFECTED YOU?
MAN: JUST GETTING TIRED OF BEING PUSHED AROUND BY YOU
WHITE PEOPLE, THAT'S ALL.
REPORTER: HOW PUSHED AROUND?
HOW BADLY?
IN WHAT WAY?
MAN: JUST STOPPING US ON THE STREET, KICKING IN THE DOORS,
TAKEN DOWN TO THE POLICE STATION,
THEY KICKING YOUR TEETH IN.
REPORTER: WELL THEY'RE STOPPING PEOPLE ON THE STREET
NOW, BUT I MEAN, THEY WEREN'T STOPPING PEOPLE IN
THE STREET WHEN THIS STARTED.
MAN: OH YEAH, BUT I'M NOT THINKING ABOUT NOW.
OH, THEY'VE BEEN DOING IT A LONG TIME BEFORE NOW.
TOM NEWSOME: DURING THIS ENTIRE INCIDENT,
WE'VE HEARD CONSTANT REFERENCES TO RESPECT FOR
LAW AND ORDER, AND MORE PARTICULARLY,
WHAT THEY MEAN IS RESPECT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT.
NOW TO REALLY UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEMS OF THESE PEOPLE,
YOU'D HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS
MEANT TO THEM FOR A HUNDRED YEARS.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE WHITE MAN'S LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT'S
RESPONSIBLE FOR MANY OF THEIR PARENTS BEING CHASED
OUT OF THE SOUTH ON ONE PRETEXT OR ANOTHER.
UNDER THOSE CONDITIONS YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THAT THE PEOPLE
AREN'T GOING TO BE REVERENT ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT AND
THE MEN WHO ENFORCE THE LAW.
REPORTER: WHAT WOULD MAKE IT BETTER?
WHAT WOULD MAKE ALL THE RIOTING STOP?
MAN: I DON'T THINK IT'D EVER STOP, REALLY.
REPORTER: NEVER?
MAN: I MEAN, IT MAY NOT BE LIKE THIS,
BUT IT'LL NEVER STOP.
I DON'T THINK.
BILL STOUT: THE MCCONE COMMISSION SOUGHT TO ANSWER
QUESTIONS ABOUT WATTS.
CAN IT HAPPEN AGAIN?
SO SERIOUS AND EXPLOSIVE IS THE SITUATION,
SAYS THE COMMISSION, THAT UNLESS IT IS CHECKED,
THE AUGUST RIOTS MAY BE ONLY A CURTAIN RAISER TO
WHAT COULD BLOW UP ONE DAY IN THE FUTURE.
WHAT SHALL IT AVAIL OUR NATION,
IF WE CAN PLACE A MAN ON THE MOON,
BUT CANNOT CURE THE SICKNESS IN OUR CITIES?
THIS IS BILL STOUT FOR CBS REPORTS,
IN LOS ANGELES, GOOD NIGHT.
* [THEME MUSIC PLAYS]
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR: OUT OF THE ASHES OF THIS COMMUNITY I
THINK THAT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD A BETTER SOCIETY IN
TERMS OF ECONOMIC SECURITY, BETTER HOUSING CONDITIONS,
BETTER SCHOOLS, AND TO DEAL WITH THE POLICE PROBLEM TO
MAKE LOS ANGELES A MODEL CITY FOR THE NATION.
REPORTER: THOMAS BRADLEY WAS SWORN IN TODAY AS MAYOR
OF LOS ANGELES, THE LARGEST CITY IN THIS COUNTRY
EVER TO HAVE A BLACK MAYOR.
BRADLEY IS A FORMER POLICEMAN AND THE SON OF
A TEXAS SHARECROPPER.
[APPLAUSE].
TOM BRADLEY: TONIGHT IS NOT JUST A VICTORY FOR
TOM BRADLEY, BUT A VICTORY FOR PROGRESS,
A VICTORY FOR OUR CHILDREN.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[APPLAUSE].
REPORTER: DARYL GATES HAD SPENT 28 YEARS WORKING
HIS WAY THROUGH THE RANKS TO THE TOP JOB.
REPORTER 2: HE HAD BEEN CHIEF PARKER'S DRIVER AND BODYGUARD,
HIS HEIR APPARENT.
DARYL GATES: I'M GONNA PUT MY STAMP ON THIS ORGANIZATION.
THIS WILL BE A DARYL GATES DEPARTMENT.
[INAUDIBLE RIOT BANTER].
REPORTER: BLACKS AND LIBERALS HAVE BECOME INTENSELY
CRITICAL OF WHAT THEY CHARGE IS EXCESSIVE USE OF FORCE
BY THE LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WOMAN: DARYL GATES IS CAUSING THE KIND OF POLARIZATION
THAT IS DANGEROUS.
REPORTER: MANY AMERICANS THINK OF HOLLYWOOD WHEN THEY THINK
OF LOS ANGELES BUT LOS ANGELES IS ALSO THE PORT OF ENTRY FOR
AMERICA'S NEW IMMIGRANTS FROM ASIA AND
FROM LATIN AMERICA.
MAN: OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
CROWD: OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
REPORTER: IN THE LAST FIFTEEN YEARS,
MORE THAN TWO MILLION IMMIGRANTS FROM AROUND THE
WORLD HAVE POURED INTO THE CITY.
MANY OF THE CITY'S NEW SMALL BUSINESSES ARE THE AMERICAN
DREAM OF THE FOREIGN BORN.
TOM BRADLEY: OUR CITY IS A STUNNING ETHNIC
AND CULTURAL MOSAIC.
WE HAVE FORGED A SENSE OF IDENTITY OF COMMON
CONCERN AND DESTINY.
IN THE LATE DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING'S WORDS,
"I'M HONORED TO STAND HERE TODAY AND LOOK OUT UPON FACES
OF MANY DIFFERENT COLORS INTERMINGLE LIKE THE
WATERS OF A RIVER.
YET I SEE ONLY ONE FACE, THE FACE OF THE FUTURE."
THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE].
[EXPLOSIONS, GUNFIRE].
PRESIDENT BUSH: ONE, TWO, THREE.
I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT AT MIDNIGHT TONIGHT ALL
UNITED STATES AND COALITION FORCES WILL SUSPEND
OFFENSIVE COMBAT OPERATIONS.
THIS IS A NOT A TIME OF EUPHORIA,
CERTAINLY NOT A TIME TO GLOAT.
BUT IT IS A TIME OF PRIDE, PRIDE IN OUR TROOPS,
PRIDE IN OUR NATION AND THE PEOPLE WHOSE STRENGTH AND
RESOLVE MADE VICTORY QUICK, DECISIVE, AND JUST.
REPORTER: UH, THIS LATEST GALLUP POLL SHOWS PEOPLE IN
THE UNITED STATES FEELING POSITIVE ABOUT THEIR COUNTRY
AND THEIR PRESIDENT FOLLOWING THE ALLIED VICTORY
IN THE GULF.
66% OF THOSE QUESTIONED SAY THEY ARE SATISFIED.
REPORTER: BEGINNING NEXT FRIDAY, L.A. RESIDENTS
WILL HAVE TO DRINK, SHOWER,
AND CONSUME 10% LESS WATER.
MAYOR BRADLEY SIGNED THE WATER CONSERVATION MEASURE TODAY.
KFI NEWS TIME IS 7:06.
REPORTER: THE ECONOMY LOOKS NONE TOO GOOD.
IN FACT, UH, THEY KEEP SAYING THAT THE RECESSION IS
THE ONLY THING PULLING US OUT OF INFLATION RIGHT NOW.
REPORTER: 57 DEGREES.
FULLERTON, CLOUDY AND 61.
LONG BEACH, PARTLY CLOUDY AND 60.
AND LANCASTER, PARTLY CLOUDY, 65 DEGREES HERE AT KFI AM 640.
POLICE RADIO: WE ARE SOUTHBOUND ON PAXTON,
ABOUT 50 MILES PER HOUR.
THERE'S, UH, APPEARS, APPEARS TO BE THREE MALE BLACKS
IN A VEHICLE.
IT'S A WHITE, UH, HYUNDAI, I BELIEVE.
POLICE 2: [INAUDIBLE] WE'RE SOUTHBOUND ON FOOTHILL
FROM VAN NUYS.
THE VEHICLE STOPPED AT THE LIGHT BUT FAILED TO YIELD
TO THE, UH, POLICE UNIT.
POLICE 3: 23.
WE'RE, UH, FOLLOWING THE UNIT.
WE'RE AT [INAUDIBLE] NORTHBOUND.
[INAUDIBLE] EASTBOUND.
[HELICOPTER].
[HELICOPTER]
DAN RATHER: AN UNUSUAL TWIST IN A CASE OF ALLEGED
RACE-BASED POLICE BRUTALITY IN LOS ANGELES.
NEITHER THE POLICE NOR THE SUSPECT KNEW THAT A HOME VIDEO
CAMERA HAD CAPTURED THE SCENE.
REPORTER: IT BEGAN AS A HIGH-SPEED CHASE AND ENDED
EARLY SUNDAY MORNING WITH THE MOTORIST,
A BLACK MALE BEING BRUTALLY BEATEN AND KICKED.
REPORTER: THE VICTIM WAS STRUCK AS MANY AS 56 TIMES,
AND SUFFERED SEVERAL BROKEN BONES.
LAWYER: 56 TIMES.
THAT'S WHAT THE AMERICAN PUBLIC SAW ON VIDEOTAPE.
REPORTER: GEORGE HOLLIDAY LIVES ACROSS THE STREET.
HE HAD HIS VIDEO CAMERA OUT AND RECORDED WHAT HAPPENED AS
THE SUSPECT WAS BEING ARRESTED.
GEORGE HOLLIDAY: GOT MY CAMERA SORT OF READY AND LOOKED
ACROSS THE STREET AND THAT'S WHEN I SAW THAT THE
ACTION WAS GOING ON.
CNN REPORTER: THE SUSPECT IDENTIFIED AS
RODNEY GLEN KING.
REPORTER: KING, WHO IS MARRIED AND HAS TWO STEP CHILDREN,
WAS ON PAROLE AFTER SERVING TIME FOR ARMED ROBBERY.
HIS WIFE SAYS THAT'S NO EXCUSE FOR WHAT HAPPENED.
CRYSTAL KING: IT WAS A TRAFFIC VIOLATION.
HOW COME THEY JUST COULDN'T ARREST HIM AND GIVE HIM SOME
KIND OF FINE OR SOMETHING?
WHY DID THEY HAVE TO BEAT THE MESS OUT OF HIM LIKE THAT?
REPORTER: DOCTORS SAID THAT HE SUFFERED A CONCUSSION.
ONE OF HIS EYE SOCKETS WAS PULVERIZED.
HIS CHEEKBONE WAS SO PUSHED IN FROM THE BLOWS TO HIS FACE
THAT IT WOULD REQUIRE RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY.
STEVEN LERMAN: FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN,
NONE OF THE PRISONERS OF WAR FROM AMERICAN FORCES
TAKEN BY SADDAM HUSSEIN CAME BACK BEATEN THAT BADLY.
REPORTER: LOS ANGELES POLICE SAY THE INCIDENT WAS
NOT RACIALLY MOTIVATED, BUT THE BLACK COMMUNITY IS
NOT BUYING THAT.
ABOUT 300 MEMBERS OF THE NAACP MARCHED ON
POLICE HEADQUARTERS TODAY.
[PROTESTORS CHANTING INAUDIBLY].
DARYL GATES: THIS IS AN ABERRATION.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED.
WE HAD IN PLACE ALL OF THE PROCEDURES THAT WOULD KEEP IT
FROM HAPPENING.
THOSE PROCEDURES FELL DOWN BECAUSE OF HUMAN ERROR.
REPORTER: THE ACLU SAID IT RECEIVES ABOUT 55 CALLS A WEEK
FROM PEOPLE ALLEGING POLICE BRUTALITY.
RAMONA RIPSTON: THE INCIDENT EARLY SUNDAY MORNING IS
NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT.
THE DIFFERENCE THIS TIME IS THAT WE HAVE THE PROOF.
STEVEN LERMAN: WHAT HAPPENED TO THE AUDIO?
REPORTER: DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA AT ALL HOW MANY TIMES
YOU WERE HIT BY A CLUB?
WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER ABOUT THAT AFTER [INAUDIBLE]?
RODNEY KING: SEVERAL TIMES, SEVERAL TIMES.
AND THEN STOMPED AND KICKED.
STEVEN LERMAN: PICK UP YOUR.
REPORTER: LIFT YOUR SHIRT.
STEVEN LERMAN: THIS IS SOMETHING.
RODNEY KING: LIKE THIS?
STEVEN LERMAN: SEE THIS, SEE THAT?
REPORTER: [INAUDIBLE] WHAT IS THAT FROM?
RODNEY KING: THAT'S FROM, UM, SOME KIND OF DEVICE
THAT THEY USED.
THEY, UM, SH, SHOCKED ME.
THEY GOT A BIG KICK OUT OF THAT.
REPORTER: WHAT MAKES YOU SAY THEY GOT A KICK OUT OF IT?
RODNEY KING: BECAUSE OF HOW LONG THEY LEFT IT IN ME.
YOU KNOW?
IT WAS LIKE THEY HAD A LITTLE TOY AND THEY WANTED TO
SEE HOW IT WORKED.
REPORTER: WHAT KINDS OF THINGS DID YOU HEAR
FROM THE OFFICERS?
DID YOU HEAR ANY KIND OF SLURS AT ALL?
RODNEY KING: WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
WHAT SLURS?
REPORTER: WERE THERE ANY KIND OF RACIAL COMMENTS
MADE AT ALL?
RODNEY KING: OH, RACIAL?
NO, I DIDN'T, NO, I DIDN'T HEAR ANY.
MAN: WELL YOU CAN CUT THIS FROM THE TAPE IF, IF YOU WANT,
BUT ROD'S FAMILY HAS, UH, MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT
THEY'RE NOT LOOKING TO TURN THIS INTO A, UH,
RACIAL CRUSADE.
STEVEN LERMAN: MR. KING DOESN'T WANT TO MAKE, UH,
MAKE IT OUT AS THOUGH THEY DID THIS JUST BECAUSE HE
WAS A BLACK MAN.
THAT MAY HAVE BEEN INCIDENTAL TO IT AND THERE MAY BE
PERSONAL MOTIVES THAT THESE OFFICERS HAD THAT
WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT YET.
BUT AT THE PRESENT TIME, IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THAT.
MAN: WHAT WE GOT, LARRY?
*
IRA REINER: AS YOU KNOW, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
HAS BEEN CONDUCTING AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE BEATING
OF RODNEY KING.
AND I'M ANNOUNCING TODAY THAT WE HAVE OBTAINED INDICTMENTS
AGAINST FOUR LOS ANGELES POLICE OFFICERS FOR THEIR ROLE
IN THE BEATING OF MR. KING.
LAPD OFFICER LAURENCE POWELL, TIMOTHY WIND,
THEODORE BRISENO AND SERGEANT STACEY KOON HAVE BEEN INDICTED
FOR ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY WEAPON AND FOR EXCESSIVE USE
OF FORCE UNDER COLOR OF AUTHORITY.
OFFICER POWELL AND WIND AND SERGEANT KOON ARE FURTHER
CHARGED WITH INFLICTING GREAT BODILY INJURY IN THE
BRUTAL ATTACK THAT HAS NOW BEEN WITNESSED BY
MILLIONS OF PEOPLE.
UNDER CALIFORNIA LAW THESE ARE FELONIES PUNISHABLE BY
UP TO SEVEN YEARS IN STATE PRISON.
SERGEANT KOON AND OFFICER POWELL HAVE ALSO BEEN INDICTED
FOR FILING FALSE REPORTS.
ALL FOUR OFFICERS SURRENDERED THIS MORNING TO
THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
THEY HAVE BEEN ARRESTED, FINGER PRINTED,
AND PHOTOGRAPHED.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
REPORTER: ANY BAIL RECOMMENDATION AT THE
PROCEEDING THIS MORNING FOR THE OFFICERS?
[INAUDIBLE COURTROOM CHATTER].
[NEWSCAST OPENING MUSIC].
ANNOUNCER: THIS IS WORLD NEWS TONIGHT WITH PETER JENNINGS.
SITTING IN TONIGHT IN WASHINGTON, TED KOPPEL.
TED KOPPEL: GOOD EVENING.
THE EVIDENCE IS NEW, IT'S DRAMATIC,
AND IT'S DEVASTATING TO THOSE LOS ANGELES POLICE OFFICERS
INVOLVED IN THE MARCH 3RD BEATING OF
THAT BLACK MOTORIST.
REPORTER: ONE OF THE TWO OFFICERS WHO WIELDED BATONS
THAT EVENING RELAYED A MESSAGE AFTER THE ARREST TO
ANOTHER CAR SAYING, QUOTE:
"SOUNDS ALMOST AS EXCITING AS OUR LAST CALL.
IT WAS RIGHT OUT OF GORILLAS IN THE MIST."
ONE POLICEMAN INVOLVED IN THE BEATING SAID QUOTE,
"I HAVEN'T BEATEN ANYONE THIS BAD IN A LONG TIME."
ANOTHER JOKED LATER SAYING,
"I'M SURE THE LIZARD DIDN'T DESERVE IT."
MAYOR TOM BRADLEY SAID THE TRANSCRIPT RAISES MORE
QUESTIONS ABOUT POLICE COMMAND.
TOM BRADLEY: I THINK IT HAS BEEN DEVASTATING TO THE IMAGE
OF THE CITY AND ESPECIALLY TO OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.
JOHN MACK: IT'S VERY APPARENT THAT SOME, NOT ALL,
BUT SOME OF THOSE OFFICERS ARE CLEARLY OUT OF CONTROL AND
THEY HAVE TO ULTIMATELY BE WILLING TO TAKE A GOOD HARD
LOOK AT THE LEADERSHIP OF THE DEPARTMENT.
CROWD: GATES GOT TO GO, NOW.
GATES GOT TO GO NOW. GATES GOT TO GO, NOW.
GATES GOT TO GO, NOW.
ZEV YARLOSLAVSKY: MR. PRESIDENT,
ALL OF US I THINK HAVE BEEN, UH,
STUNNED BY WHAT HAS HAPPENED.
AND, UH, I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT THE CHIEF OR ANYBODY ELSE IN
THE CITY WOULD CONDONE THE KIND OF, UH,
CONVERSATION THAT TOOK PLACE BOTH ELECTRONICALLY AND BY
VOICE, UH, IN THAT FOOTHILL DIVISION THAT NIGHT.
BLACKS ARE NOT ANIMALS.
THEY'RE NOT LIZARDS.
THEY'RE NOT APES.
THEY'RE NOT GORILLAS ANY MORE THAN ANY OF US ARE.
THEY'RE HUMAN BEINGS.
THE FIRST WAY TO OPEN THE DOOR TO BRUTALIZING PEOPLE IN ANY,
ANY PLACE IS TO CHEAPEN THEIR WORTH AS HUMAN BEINGS.
AND WHEN I READ THE TRANSCRIPTS OF THE
CONVERSATION I WAS APPALLED.
BUT THE ABILITY TO FREELY CONVERSE IN RACIST TERMINOLOGY
SUGGESTS A LEVEL OF TOLERANCE FOR THAT KIND OF DISCUSSION
THAT, UH, THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE BY ANY STANDARD OF DECENCY.
DARYL GATES: WELL FIRST OF ALL IS, UH,
THIS IS A DEPARTMENT THAT THIS COUNCIL HAS SUPPORTED
OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
THIS IS A POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT HAS SUPPORTED YOU,
EACH OF YOU.
I JUST TELL YOU THIS.
IF YOU DON'T SPEAK OUT ON BEHALF OF THE MEN AND WOMEN OF
THE LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT HAVE SERVED
THE PEOPLE OF THIS CITY WELL, IF YOU DON'T DO THAT AT THIS
CRUCIAL MOMENT IN OUR HISTORY, THEN I'M GONNA TELL YOU,
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT IS NOT GOING
TO BE THE KIND OF DEPARTMENT THAT YOU WANT,
THE KIND OF DEPARTMENT THE PEOPLE DESERVE.
MAN: MR. WOO.
MR. WOO: THANK YOU.
UH, I WANT TO KNOW DID YOU MEAN THAT AS A THREAT?
IN OTHER WORDS THAT IF, IF, IF I OR OTHER MEMBERS OF THE
COUNCIL ARE GOING TO BE CRITICIZING YOU OR THE
DEPARTMENT, ARE YOU SAYING THAT YOU WILL,
WILL WITHHOLD SUPPORT OF THESE SERVICES TO FIGHT CRIME
IN OUR DISTRICTS?
DARYL GATES: THAT IS THE MOST INSULTING THING I HAVE HEARD
ON THIS COUNCIL FLOOR IN ALL THE TIME I'VE BEEN HERE AND
I'VE BEEN HERE A LOT LONGER THAN YOU'VE BEEN ALIVE.
ABSOLUTELY NOT.
THIS IS A PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION.
WHAT DO YOU THINK WE ARE?
[INAUDIBLE COURTROOM CHATTER].
MAN: HE SHOVED ME UP AGAINST THE WALL AND
STARTED TO STRANGLE ME.
I COULD NOT BREATHE.
THEY TRIED TO KICK ME IN THE TESTICLES.
HE THREW ME ASIDE AND SAID,
"GET THE (BLEEP) OUT OF HERE NOW."
THAT IS THE LAPD.
[APPLAUSE].
MAN 2: WE FOUND ONE CASE WHERE A DOG ATTACKED AND
BIT THE CHEST OF A 16-YEAR-OLD GIRL.
THE DOGS ARE QUITE LARGE AND AGGRESSIVE.
THEY WILL RIP AWAY FLESH AND MUSCLE.
THEY WILL TEAR OUT BLOOD VESSELS AND THEY WILL
SOMETIMES BREAK BONES.
MAN: THE POLICE SEND OUR KIDS COMPLETELY
CONFLICTING MESSAGES.
THEY'RE IN OUR SCHOOLS EVERY SINGLE DAY.
AND YET OUR KIDS SEE THEM ON TV BEATING A MAN LIKE A DOG.
MAN 2: THE POLICE ARE TRAINED TO APPROACH BLACK MEN
AS CRIMINALS FIRST AND CITIZENS SECOND.
MAN 3: BUT BEFORE YOU LEAVE SOUTH CENTRAL,
YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT VERBAL ABUSE HAPPENS HERE
EVERY DAY AND EVERY NIGHT: "GET OUT OF THE CAR, NIGGER.
ASSUME THE POSITION, NIGGER.
SIT ON THE CURB, NIGGER.
LIE FACE DOWN ON THE GROUND, NIGGER."
WE'RE SAYING THIS IS WHAT WE'RE CONFRONTED WITH.
AND WHEN WE SPEAK OUT, THE FIRST THING THEY SAY IS,
"WHY ARE THEY GETTING SO RESTLESS?
WHY SHOULD NOT WE GET RESTLESS?
PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT TAKING THIS TO THE STREETS AND
WE AIN'T TALKING ABOUT JUST MARCHING.
[APPLAUSE].
CONNIE CHUNG: ANOTHER WIDELY PUBLICIZED INCIDENT CAPTURED
ON VIDEOTAPE IN LOS ANGELES.
REPORTER: THIS GRAINY, SECURITY CAMERA VIDEOTAPE
GRAPHICALLY DEPICTS THE LAST FEW MOMENTS OF
15-YEAR-OLD LATASHA HARLINS' LIFE.
STOREOWNER SOON JA DU THOUGHT 15-YEAR-OLD LATASHA HARLINS
WAS GOING TO STEAL SOME ORANGE JUICE.
MICHAEL BOSTIC: SHE HAD THE MONEY IN HER HAND.
YOU COULD SEE THE MONEY IN THE VIDEOTAPE.
AND UH, THE SUSPECT GRABBED THE BACKPACK AND THERE BECAME
A, A PHYSICAL ALTERCATION OVER THE BACKPACK.
AND UH, AS OUR VICTIM UH, TURNED TO WALK AWAY FROM THE
SCENE, THE SUSPECT AH, RAISED A WEAPON AND SHOT THE VICTIM
IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD.
WOMAN: LATASHA WAS A 'A' STUDENT, HONOR ROLL STUDENT.
SHE GOT MONEY EVERY WEEK FOR HER ALLOWANCE SO SHE DID NOT
HAVE TO STEAL ORANGE JUICE.
REPORTER: THE STORE CLERK,
A KOREAN WOMAN, IS NOW IN JAIL.
THE BLACK COMMUNITY IS OUTRAGED OVER THE KILLING.
THE NAACP IS DEMANDING THE CLERK BE TRIED FOR MURDER.
CROWD: WE WANT JUSTICE.
STOP KILLING OUR CHILDREN.
WE WANT JUSTICE!
STOP KILLING OUR CHILDREN.
REPORTER: THE CASE HAS BECOME A SYMBOL OF TENSIONS BETWEEN
TWO LARGE GROUPS IN THIS ETHNICALLY DIVERSE CITY,
AFRICAN AMERICANS AND THE KOREANS,
WHO'VE BECOME SUCCESSFUL MERCHANTS IN MANY OF THE
POOREST BLACK NEIGHBORHOODS.
AS MANY AS 300,000 KOREANS LIVE IN LOS ANGELES,
MANY OF THEM IN AN AREA KNOWN AS KOREATOWN.
SOME BLACKS SEE THE KOREANS AS A MERCHANT CLASS THAT TAKES
ADVANTAGE OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY.
WOMAN: WHY DON'T YOU OPEN A MARKET THAT WE CAN USE
FOR OUR FAMILY?
MAN: GO BACK TO KOREA.
EDWARD CHANG: WE ARE DEEPLY CONCERNED THAT THIS INCIDENT
MAY BE DETRIMENTAL TO THE POSITIVE EFFORTS BETWEEN
THE TWO COMMUNITIES.
IN ORDER TO STRENGTHEN OUR BONDS,
WE WILL ACTIVELY JOIN WITH THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY
TO DEVELOP MEASURES TO PREVENT FURTHER TRAGEDY.
JUDGE KARLIN: MISS SHEPHERD, WOULD YOU PLEASE GIVE THE
BAILIFF THE UM, VERDICT FORM?
THANK YOU.
WOULD THE COURT PLEASE READ THE VERDICTS?
BAILIFF: TITLE OF COURT AND CAUSE.
WE THE JURY, IN THE ABOVE ENTITLED ACTION FIND THE
DEFENDANT SOON JA DU GUILTY OF VOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER IN
VIOLATION OF PENAL CODE SECTION 192A, A FELONY.
A LESSOR INCLUDED OFFENSE TO THAT CHARGE IN [INAUDIBLE]
OF THE INDICTMENT.
WE FURTHER FIND THE ALLEGATION THAT IN THE COMMISSION.
JUDGE KARLIN: IT IS NOW A TIME FOR HEALING.
IT IS NOT A TIME FOR RHETORIC,
WHICH SERVES NO PURPOSE OTHER THAN TO FUEL THE FIRE.
IT'S LIKE THROWING GASOLINE ON A FIRE
THAT'S ALREADY BURNING.
IT IS MY OPINION THAT MRS. DU IS NOT A DANGER TO
THE COMMUNITY AND THAT SHE IS NOT GOING TO REOFFEND.
I KNOW A CRIMINAL WHEN I SEE ONE.
I KNOW A PERSON WHO PRESENTS A DANGER TO THE COMMUNITY
WHEN I SEE ONE.
WHEN I DON'T, I TREAT THAT PERSON AS SOMETHING
OTHER THAN THAT.
WOMAN: SHE GOT AWAY WITH MURDER.
MAN: GODDAMN, SURE HOPE SO THAT THERE WILL BE ALL THE
HELL IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY.
WOMAN: I HOPE SOMEBODY WOULD CARE.
MAN: AND WOULD STAND UP AND SEE THIS INSANITY
FOR EXACTLY WHAT IT IS.
WOMAN: ABOUT THE DEATH OF A CHILD, YOU CAN MURDER A CHILD.
MAN: BLACK PEOPLE, ONCE AGAIN, BEING UNJUSTLY TREATED BY THE.
WOMAN: AND WALK AWAY, AND STAY ON THE STREET.
MAN: GET THE CAMERAS OFF.
GET THE CAMERA OUT OF MY FACE.
WOMAN: SINCE WE DON'T PICK COTTON ANYMORE,
AND CUT SUGARCANE, WE ARE, WE'RE, OUR LIVES IS NOT,
NOT WORTH ANYTHING?
RICHARD.
MAN: GET OUT OF MY FACE.
WOMAN: RICHARD, RICHARD.
MAN: I MEAN YOU CAN HAVE A BLACK PERSON KILLED, UH,
WITH A VIDEO WITH EYEWITNESSES AND THIS IS WHAT YOU'LL GET.
WOMAN 2: RICHARD, RICHARD, STOP THAT.
RICHARD.
MAN: GET OUT OF MY FACE.
WOMAN 2: RICHARD.
MAN: GET OUT OF MY FACE.
WOMAN: GET HIM ON THE ELEVATOR.
SHUT THE DOOR.
MAXINE WATERS: UNFORTUNATELY, A JUDGE WHO'S PROBABLY NEVER
BEEN DOWN HERE, A JUDGE WHO PROBABLY KNOWS VERY LITTLE
ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY.
A JUDGE DECIDED THAT THE LIFE WAS NOT VALUABLE ENOUGH.
MAN: LATASHA WAS KILLED, OUR FAMILY WAS KILLED.
RACISM IS NOT THE KOREAN KILLING HER,
RACISM IS THE COURT SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS HER TO KILL HER.
DANNY BAKEWELL: WE HAVE TO SHOW LOS ANGELES
THAT WE ARE RESILIENT.
AND WE ARE COMMITTED TO THE SALVATION OF OUR PEOPLE.
AND WE ARE PREPARED TO BE CIVILLY DISOBEDIENT.
[INAUDIBLE CHANTING]
[INAUDIBLE]
*
[HELICOPTER].
*
REPORTER: JUDGE BERNARD KAMINS CAUGHT OBSERVERS BY SURPRISE
WHEN HE REVERSED HIMSELF AND ANNOUNCED THAT HE WOULD GRANT
A CHANGE A VENUE IN THE TRIAL OF THE FOUR POLICE OFFICERS
CHARGED IN CONNECTION WITH THE BEATING OF
MOTORIST RODNEY KING.
JUDGE KAMINS: THE CHANGE OF VENUE MOTION IS GREATLY
ENTWINED WITH WHETHER WE CAN GET JURORS,
AND I'M VERY CONCERNED WHETHER WE CAN GET JURORS
WHO ARE UNTAINTED.
REPORTER: OTHER HIGH-PROFILE CASES,
SUCH AS THOSE OF CHARLES MANSON AND ROBERT KENNEDY
ASSASSIN SIRHAN SIRHAN WERE NOT TRANSFERRED OUT
OF LOS ANGELES DESPITE HIGH PUBLICITY.
BUT DEFENSE ATTORNEYS SAY THIS CASE IS DIFFERENT.
JOHN BARNETT: EVERYONE HAS OPINION ON THE UH,
GUILT OR INNOCENCE OF THESE DEFENDANTS,
AND THAT'S WHY IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO GET
A FAIR TRIAL HERE.
REPORTER: TO MOVE THE TRIAL AWAY FROM THE
SWARMING CONTROVERSY IN THE L.A. MEDIA,
THE VENUE WAS CHANGED TO THE SIMI VALLEY,
A MOSTLY WHITE SUBURB OF LOS ANGELES WHERE MANY
POLICE OFFICERS LIVE.
SIMI VALLEY IS A TOWN OF 100,000 PEOPLE
JUST 35 MILES NORTH OF LOS ANGELES.
SIMI VALLEY RESIDENTS ARE 88% WHITE,
JUST ONE AND A HALF PERCENT OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE
HERE ARE BLACK.
REPORTER: THINKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW BEFORE YOU GO AND START?
DARRYL MOUNGER: START BANGING UP MY CAR I'M GONNA,
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE ANOTHER THE RODNEY KING INCIDENT.
STACEY KOON: WAITING A LONG TIME FOR THIS.
REPORTER: FINALLY GETTING IT GOING, A GOOD FEELING?
STACEY KOON: YES.
ATTORNEY: MORNING.
*
DID YOU SAY ANYTHING TO, UH, MR. KING?
LAURENCE POWELL: YES.
ATTORNEY: WHAT DID YOU SAY TO HIM?
LAURENCE POWELL: I YELLED AT HIM TO LAY DOWN ON THE GROUND,
GET DOWN ON THE GROUND, A SERIES OF THOSE COMMANDS.
ATTORNEY: A SERIES?
LAURENCE POWELL: YES.
ATTORNEY: YOU REPEATED IT?
LAURENCE POWELL: RIGHT.
ATTORNEY: AND, UH, TELL THE JURY WHAT HAPPENED NEXT.
LAURENCE POWELL: A, I CONTINUED TO HIT HIM AND THEN
KNOCKED HIM TO THE GROUND, YELLED AT HIM TO STAY ON THE
GROUND AND HE REPEATED THE MOTION AGAIN,
GETTING UP AGAIN.
I WAS COMPLETELY IN FEAR FOR MY LIFE,
SCARED TO DEATH THAT IF THIS GUY GOT BACK UP HE WAS GONNA
TAKE MY GUN AWAY FROM ME, OR THERE WAS GONNA BE A SHOOTING,
AND I WAS DOING EVERYTHING I COULD TO KEEP HIM DOWN
ON THE GROUND.
ATTORNEY: AT ANY TIME DURING THIS EVENING DID IT GO THROUGH
YOUR MIND THAT THIS WAS NOT A HUMAN BEING THAT
YOU WERE BEATING?
LAURENCE POWELL: NO.
ATTORNEY: UM, HE WASN'T AN ANIMAL, WAS HE?
LAURENCE POWELL: NO, SIR, JUST ACTING LIKE ONE.
ATTORNEY: HE WASN'T, HE WAS JUST ACTING LIKE ONE?
LAURENCE POWELL: YES, SIR.
ATTORNEY: WAS HE ACTING LIKE A GORILLA?
LAURENCE POWELL: NO, SIR.
ATTORNEY: NOW THIS CALL THAT INVOLVED THESE AFRICAN
AMERICANS, WAS IT IN A JUNGLE?
LAURENCE POWELL: IN A WHAT?
ATTORNEY: A JUNGLE.
LAURENCE POWELL: NO.
ATTORNEY: WAS IT AT THE ZOO?
LAURENCE POWELL: NO.
ATTORNEY: WERE THERE ANY GORILLAS AROUND?
LAURENCE POWELL: I DIDN'T SEE ANY.
ATTORNEY: SERGEANT, WHAT ARE YOU WATCHING DURING
ALL OF THIS?
WHAT ARE YOU THINKING WHEN YOU'RE FOCUSING ON THIS?
STACEY KOON: I'M THINKING THAT, UH,
MR. KING HAS BEEN SUBJECTED TO, UH,
AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF,
UH, UH, PAIN AND HE'S, UH, NOT,
IT'S ALMOST AS IF HIS BODY IS ANESTHETIZED TO THE PAIN.
ATTORNEY: WHAT WERE YOU THINKING NOW?
STACEY KOON: I WAS THINKING THAT I HAVE EXHAUSTED ALL OF
UH, THE USE OF FORCE THAT I HAVE SHORT OF DEADLY FORCE
AT THIS TIME.
I'M THINKING AT THIS TIME I'M EITHER GONNA HAVE
TO USE A CHOKEHOLD OR MY WEAPON.
ATTORNEY: AND WHY DIDN'T YOU WANT TO USE A CHOKEHOLD, SIR?
STACEY KOON: BECAUSE, UM, IN LOS ANGELES THE
CHOKEHOLD, UH, IS ASSOCIATED WITH DEATH OF BLACKS.
ATTORNEY: HOW DO YOU VIEW LOOKING AT THIS VIDEOTAPE, SIR?
STACEY KOON: IT'S VIOLENT AND IT'S BRUTAL.
ATTORNEY: WAS THIS ANYTHING THAT YOU ENJOYED?
STACEY KOON: NO.
ATTORNEY: WHY WAS IT DONE?
STACEY KOON: IT'S DONE TO CONTROL, UH,
AN AGGRESSIVE COMBATIVE SUSPECT AND SOMETIMES POLICE
WORK IS BRUTAL.
THAT'S JUST A FACT OF LIFE.
REPORTER: EVERY DAY, REGULAR FOLKS FROM THE PUBLIC FILE IN
TO WATCH THE TRIAL AND YOU CAN TOO IF YOU CAN BEAT THE RUSH.
WOMAN: ACTUALLY, YOU HAVE A PRETTY GOOD CHANCE.
UM, WE HAVE 17 SEATS ALLOCATED FOR THE, UM, PUBLIC.
HOWEVER, THE OTHER SEATS THAT WE HAVE RESERVED,
IF PEOPLE DON'T SHOW UP FOR THOSE SEATS THEN WE
IMMEDIATELY OPEN THEM UP TO THE PUBLIC.
REPORTER: IF YOU WANT TO COME HERE THOUGH,
HERE'S A LITTLE ADVICE.
WOMAN: THEY SHOULD DRESS APPROPRIATELY FOR COURT,
OF COURSE.
UM, NOTHING THAT SAYS ANYTHING ABOUT THE TRIAL ITSELF
OR ANY TYPE OF RACIAL SLURS, UM, ANYTHING THAT MIGHT BE
MISCONSTRUED BY ANYONE.
SECURITY: WELL ANYWAY, COURT ORDER COVERS THAT.
DO YOU HAVE ANOTHER SHIRT IN THE CAR?
MAN: I'LL LOOK AND SEE.
SECURITY: OTHERWISE [INAUDIBLE].
ATTORNEY: STOPPING THE VIDEO AT 03:51:02,
HAVE YOU SEEN MR. KING SWING AT ANYONE?
GEORGE DUKE: NO, I HAVEN'T.
ATTORNEY: UH, HAVE YOU SEEN HIM PUNCH AT ANYONE?
GEORGE DUKE: NO, I HAVEN'T.
ATTORNEY: IS YOUR TESTIMONY THEN AT ANY POINT AFTER
03:42:20, ANY BATON BLOW RECEIVED BY MR. KING IS
UNREASONABLE AND UNNECESSARY?
MICHAEL BOSTIC: YES SIR, IT IS.
DARRYL MOUNGER: HAD SERGEANT KOON NOT BEEN THERE
TO CONTROL THAT SITUATION, AS UGLY AS IT LOOKS,
RODNEY KING WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN HOME NOW.
AND MAYBE SERGEANT KOON WOULD HAVE HAD TO GO TELL
SOME OFFICER'S FAMILY WHY THEY DIDN'T COME HOME.
TERRY WHITE: YOU'VE GOT THIS MAN DOWN.
HE'S NOT DOING ANYTHING.
HE'S NOT TRYING TO ESCAPE.
HE'S NOT TRYING TO RESIST.
WHEN YOU REACH THAT POINT ON THAT TAPE WHERE YOU SAY,
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, THAT'S WHEN UNREASONABLE FORCE STARTS.
JOHN BARNETT: OUR WHOLE SYSTEM OF JUSTICE IS BASED ON THE
BELIEF THAT IF WE GET TWELVE PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITY TO
FAIRLY AND DISPASSIONATELY DECIDE THIS ISSUE,
DEVOID OF PREJUDICE AND BIAS, THEN THE TRUTH WILL COME OUT,
JUSTICE WILL BE DONE.
THINK AHEAD AND MAKE A DECISION NOW ABOUT WHICH YOU
WILL BE ABLE TO SAY YEARS FROM NOW, "I WAS TRUE TO MY OATH.
I WAS TRUE TO THE LAW.
I WAS TRUE TO MYSELF."
*
REPORTER: WHO'S THE PACKAGE FOR?
HOW'RE YOU DOING?
IS THAT FOR THE OFFICERS?
MAN: YES, SIR.
MAN 2: THE DEFENDANTS?
DO YOU SUPPORT THOSE GUYS?
MAN: YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT.
MAN 2: WHY?
THOSE GUYS ARE HEATHENS.
MAN: YEAH.
MAN 2: THOSE GUYS ARE ANIMALISTIC HEATHENS.
MAN: YEAH, THEY'RE, THEY'RE HOLDING THE
JUNGLE BACK, TIGER.
MAN 2: JUNGLE?
NO.
MAN: YES SIR.
MAN 2: I THINK THE DEFENDANTS ARE JUNGLE PEOPLE, OKAY?
FOR YOU TO SUPPORT THOSE DEFENDANTS IS ANOTHER,
IT'S AN INDICATION OF YOUR HUMANITY.
YOUR IMMORALITY.
MAN: YOU GOT A, YOU GOT A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT OF POOR
JUDGMENT, AND YOU'RE EXERCISING IT RIGHT NOW.
MAN 2: NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.
YOU HAVE A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT OF JUST
INCONSPICUOUS INHUMANITIES.
MAN: AH, BLOW IT!
MAN 2: YEAH, RIGHT.
THAT'S RIDICULOUS FOR YOU TO DO THAT.
MAN: YEAH.
KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT.
I DIDN'T ASK YOU A DAMN THING.
MAN 2: I HAVE A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO
FREEDOM OF SPEECH, BROTHER.
MAN: YEAH, WELL AIM IT SOMEWHERE ELSE.
MAN 2: OKAY, THAT'S DISGUSTING.
MAN: YEAH.
STACEY KOON: GOOD MORNING, GENTLEMEN.
REPORTERS: GOOD MORNING SERGEANT.
STACEY KOON: HOW'D YOUR BALL GAME AND BARBECUE GO YESTERDAY?
REPORTER: OH THE BARBECUE WAS GREAT.
LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE DRESSED FOR IT TODAY.
STACEY KOON: I GOT MY CLOTHES IN THE CAR, SHHH!
REPORTER: CAN YOU JUST TELL US WHAT IT'S LIKE THE
LAST FEW DAYS FOR YOU?
TED BRISENO: IT'S BEEN HARD BUT UH, I'LL, I'LL MAKE IT.
I'LL MAKE IT.
REPORTER: THE WAITING'S GOT TO BE EXTREMELY TOUGH, THOUGH.
TED BRISENO: SURE.
REPORTER: THANK YOU.
JUST OUT OF CURIOSITY, HAVE YOU MADE A CONSCIOUS DECISION
TO TALK TO US AND TELL YOUR SIDE OF IT?
LAURENCE POWELL: NO NOT REALLY, IT'S JUST AH.
REPORTERS: DAVID, GET DOWN, DAVID.
LAURENCE POWELL: I HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE, REALLY.
MAN: YOU SHOULD.
LAURENCE POWELL: I BETTER GET IN TO COURT, I'M LATE.
REPORTER: WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE DONUTS THERE?
LAURENCE POWELL: I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE DONUTS YET.
I HAVEN'T OPENED IT YET.
MAN: AND YOU'RE NOT A HERO BUDDY.
YOU'RE A HEATHEN!
YOU'RE AN ANIMALISTIC HEATHEN.
MAN 2: GOOD LUCK.
WE'RE BEHIND YOU!
GO FOR IT, GUY.
REPORTER: EXCUSE ME, MR. WIND?
HOW IS IT WAITING RIGHT NOW?
TIMOTHY WIND: WAITING.
REPORTER: YEAH.
NO, I MEAN FOR THE VERDICT.
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT IT?
IT'S GOT TO BE REALLY TOUGH.
PAT: LET'S GO TO BRYAN LIVE NOW AT THE COURTHOUSE
IN SIMI VALLEY.
BRYAN JENKINS: WELL PAT, EVERYBODY IS IN A STATE OF
NERVOUS, UH, A STATE OF NERVOUSNESS JUST WAITING FOR
THE DECISION TO COME DOWN.
RIGHT NOW, UH, THERE ARE PEOPLE OUTSIDE.
UH, THERE WAS, UH, BEEFED UP SECURITY HERE,
UH FOR WHAT, WE DON'T KNOW.
BUT, UH, I'M SUPPOSING THAT, UH,
THEY'RE PREPARED FOR WHATEVER MAY ARISE IN THE
EVENT OF A VERDICT.
SO, UH, EVERYONE'S IN A, A STATE OF NERVOUS ANTICIPATION.
REPORTER: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, HELLO.
WOMAN: THEY WANT TO COME TO US LIVE AS SOON AS WE
CAN GET OUR PICTURE.
BRYAN JENKINS: UH.
I'M TOLD THAT, UH, WE HAVE THE COURTROOM VERDICT SO
WE WILL GO LIVE THERE.
JUDGE WEISBERG: A VERDICT'S BEEN REACHED ON ALL COUNTS AS
TO ALL DEFENDANTS WHO ARE MENTIONED IN THOSE COUNTS AND
HAVE YOU BROUGHT WITH YOU THE VERDICT FORMS
FOR THOSE COUNTS?
OKAY, WOULD YOU HAND THEM TO THE BAILIFF PLEASE?
BAILIFF: TITLE OF COURT AND CAUSE.
WE THE JURY, IN THE ABOVE ENTITLED ACTION,
FIND THE DEFENDANT LAURENCE M. POWELL NOT GUILTY
OF THE CRIME OF ASSAULT BY FORCE LIKELY TO
PRODUCE GREAT BODILY INJURY, AND WITH A DEADLY WEAPON,
IN VIOLATION OF PENAL CODE SECTION 245A1, A FELONY,
AS CHARGED IN ACCOUNT ONE OF THE AMENDED INDICTMENT,
THIS 29TH DAY OF APRIL, 1992, SIGNED BY THE FOREMAN.
WE THE JURY, IN THE ABOVE ENTITLED ACTION,
FIND THE DEFENDANT TIMOTHY E. WIND NOT GUILTY
OF THE CRIME OF ASSAULT BY FORCE LIKELY TO
PRODUCE GREAT BODILY INJURY, AND WITH A DEADLY WEAPON.
WE THE JURY, IN THE ABOVE ENTITLED ACTION,
FIND THE DEFENDANT THEODORE J. BRISENO NOT GUILTY
OF THE CRIME OF ASSAULT BY FORCE LIKELY TO PRODUCE
GREAT BODILY INJURY, AND WITH A DEADLY WEAPON.
WE THE JURY, IN THE ABOVE ENTITLED ACTION,
FIND THE DEFENDANT STACEY C. KOON NOT GUILTY
OF THE CRIME OF ASSAULT BY FORCE LIKELY TO
PRODUCE GREAT BODILY INJURY, AND WITH A DEADLY WEAPON.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE JURY, ARE THESE YOUR VERDICTS,
SO SAY YOU ONE, SO SAY YOU ALL?
JURY MEMBERS: YES.
*
DAN RATHER: THE JURY IN THE LOS ANGELES POLICE BRUTALITY
TRIAL HAS JUST REACHED ITS VERDICTS.
THE FOUR POLICE OFFICERS WHO WERE VIDEOTAPED REPEATEDLY
BEATING AN UNARMED MAN WERE FOUND NOT GUILTY ON
ALL BUT ONE COUNT.
PETER JENNINGS: AND NOT ONE OF THE FOUR POLICE OFFICERS
SEEN ON VIDEOTAPE BEATING MR. KING A YEAR AGO,
IS GUILTY OF USING EXCESSIVE FORCE.
THEY'VE ALL BEEN FOUND NOT GUILTY.
TOM BROKAW: NOT GUILTY ON ALL BUT ONE COUNT.
PAT DASILVA: AND JUDGES DECLARED A MISTRIAL
ON ONE COUNT.
REPORTER: THEY'VE ESSENTIALLY BEEN FOUND NOT GUILTY OF ALL
CHARGES EXCEPT FOR THE ONE COUNT OF EXCESSIVE FORCE
AGAINST LAURENCE POWELL.
FEMALE REPORTER: THE DISPUTED VERDICT WAS RETURNED AFTER A
WEEK OF DELIBERATIONS AT THE END OF A LONG AND
CLOSELY WATCHED TRIAL.
REPORTER: THE JUROR SAID RACISM DIDN'T ENTER INTO THE
JURY'S DELIBERATIONS.
NONE OF THE JURORS IS BLACK.
THERE WERE TEN WHITES, ONE ASIAN, AND ONE HISPANIC.
TOM BRADLEY: TODAY, THIS JURY TOLD THE WORLD THAT WHAT
WE ALL SAW, WITH OUR OWN EYES, WASN'T A CRIME.
TODAY, THAT JURY ASKED US TO ACCEPT THE SENSELESS AND
BRUTAL BEATING OF A HELPLESS MAN.
TODAY, THAT JURY SAID THAT WE SHOULD TOLERATE SUCH CONDUCT
BY THOSE WHO ARE SWORN TO PROTECT AND SERVE.
MY FRIENDS, I'M HERE TO TELL THIS JURY, NO.
NO, OUR EYES DID NOT DECEIVE US.
WE SAW WHAT WE SAW, AND WHAT WE SAW WAS A CRIME.
PROTESTOR: YOU GOT ANOTHER WHITE JURY AH,
SAYING THAT IT'S OKAY FOR WHITE COPS TO BEAT
UP BLACK PEOPLE.
AND THAT'S RACISM, AMERICAN STYLE,
AND IT'S BEEN THAT WAY FROM THE GET.
JOHN SINGLETON: THEY'RE MAKING IT BAD FOR ALL
THE GOOD COPS.
IF THEY'RE GONNA LET DIRTY COPS OFF,
HOW'S THAT MAKE A GUY WHO'S TRYING TO DO HIS JOB FEEL?
WOMAN: MY LITTLE BOY, HE WANTED TO BE A COP
JUST LIKE HIS FATHER, BUT AFTER SEEING THAT TAPE,
HE DOESN'T WANT TO BE THAT ANYMORE.
NOW I HAVE TO TRAIN HIM NOT TO.
JOHN HATCHER: FOR US TO TRY TO GO BACK TO TELL
BLACK PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT JUSTICE IS BLIND,
THEY'LL SAY, YOU'RE RIGHT.
IT IS SO BLIND THAT THEY CAN'T SEE US.
IT IS SO BLIND TO WHENEVER SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ONE OF
US, WE GET THE MAX IF WE DON'T GET KILLED FIRST.
AND SO IT IS BLIND.
WOMAN: WHERE'S MY JUSTICE?
MAN: THERE IS NO JUSTICE.
THERE IS NO JUSTICE.
WOMAN: LETTING, LETTING A PERSON DRIVE DOWN IN MY
STREETS WITH A BELLY FULL OF BEER.
REPORTER: BUT YOU KNOW THAT OUT THERE,
THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT AREN'T GOING
TO BE VERY HAPPY.
HOW WILL YOU RESPOND TO THEM?
WHAT WILL BE YOUR REACTION?
LAURENCE POWELL: OH, I DON'T THINK I HAVE TO
RESPOND TO THEM.
THEY HAVE TO RESPOND TO THEMSELVES,
MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS.
THEY HAVE ALL THE FACTS IN FRONT OF 'EM, I WOULD HOPE.
AND THAT'S WHAT THEY SHOULD BASE IT ON.
IT SHOULDN'T BE ANY SORT OF AN EMOTIONAL THING.
MAN: I'M GLAD THAT YOU GUYS SHOWED THIS TO THE WORLD TO
LET THEM SEE HOW BLACK PEOPLE ARE TREATED IN THIS COUNTRY.
YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS DID NOT RESPECT US.
WE, YOU, YOU FEEL WE'RE SUBCREATURES.
IF I WENT AND BEAT, WAIT A MINUTE, SWEETHEART.
IF I WENT AND BEAT YOUR DOG THE WAY THEY BEAT THIS MAN,
I'D BE IN JAIL.
THESE GUYS ARE GOING OUT, OUT TO HAVE A DRINK.
REPORTER: WHAT IMAGE OF LOS ANGELES EMERGES FROM THIS
VERDICT, TO THE REST OF THE COUNTRY DO YOU THINK?
TOM BRADLEY: WHY DON'T WE SAY THE REST OF THE WORLD?
PRESIDENT BUSH STANDS UP TO CHALLENGE LEADERS OF NATIONS
AROUND THE WORLD, UH, TO AH, RESPECT HUMAN RIGHTS,
AND TO NOT ENGAGE IN A DENIAL OF THOSE RIGHTS TO CITIZENS.
THEY'RE GONNA LAUGH AT HIM.
THEY'RE GONNA POINT TO THIS VIDEOTAPE AND
REMEMBER THE NAME "RODNEY KING."
MAN: IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY.
MAN 2: I'D LIKE TO SEE ALL THE BROTHERS IN SOUTH CENTRAL L.A.
GET TOGETHER, GET OUT IN THE STREET,
STOP KILLING EACH OTHER, AND LET'S DEAL WITH WHAT
THE REAL PROBLEM IS.
AND WHO IS THE REAL PROBLEM?
REPORTER: WHICH IS?
MAN 2: WHITE PEOPLE.
WHITE PEOPLE.
CROWD: THAT'S RIGHT.
MAN 2: YOU GOT ALL THE ECONOMIC POWER.
YOU SELLING THE COUNTRY TO THE JAPANESE.
WE'VE BEEN HERE 437 YEARS AND DON'T GET NOTHING,
BUT OUR ASS WHOOPED.
AND I'M TIRED OF IT.
WOMAN: YOU KNOW THE FIRST WE LOOK WE GET BY THE BLACKS?
WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN OUR COMMUNITY?
THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT.
MAN: "BEANER," A "SPIC."
I'VE HAD COKEHEAD THROWN AT ME.
THIS IS A PREJUDICED VALLEY.
WOMAN: NO IT'S NOT.
MAN: IT'S A TRAVESTY OF JUSTICE.
THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS, AND,
AND IT'S ABOUT TIME IT STOPPED.
[YELLING INAUDIBLY].
WOMAN: THEY GONNA BE SHOOTING EVERY POLICE THAT GO BY.
THIS IS NOT GONNA END.
THEY JUST STARTED A WAR, THEY JUST DECLARED A WAR.
WOMAN 2: L.A. SHOULD GO BACK TO L.A.
WE DON'T WANT YOU OVER HERE.
[YELLING INAUDIBLY].
STEVEN LERMAN: IT SENDS A BAD MESSAGE.
IT SAYS IT'S OKAY TO GO AHEAD AND BEAT SOMEBODY WHEN
THEY'RE DOWN, AND KICK THE CRAP OUT OF 'EM.
IF IT'S NOT VIDEOTAPED, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.
ANOTHER BROTHER OFFICER WON'T TURN YOU IN,
AND IF A BROTHER OFFICER DOES TURN YOU IN, DON'T WORRY,
WE'LL GET WHITE JURORS OR WHOEVER IT TAKES,
AND WE'LL, YOU'LL WALK.
AND YOU'RE PROTECTED BY THIS SYSTEM.
YOU'RE BACKED UP BY THIS SYSTEM.
THE FACT THAT IT WOULD HAPPEN HERE, WOULD HAPPEN ANYWHERE,
IS DISGUSTING.
IT'S A GOOD TIME, FOLKS, IF YOU GOT A PLANE TICKET,
CASH IT IN AND GET THE HECK OUT OF DODGE.
THIS IS GONNA BE A BAD PLACE TO LIVE.
WOMAN: THE NEXT PERSON'S GONNA BE A WHITE PERSON THEN SEE,
THEY GONNA SEE WHAT'S, UH, WHAT HAPPENS THEN.
[YELLING INAUDIBLY].
MAN: WHY ARE WE RUNNING?
WHY ARE WE RUNNING?
[YELLING INAUDIBLY].
WOMAN: YOU'RE GUILTY.
WOMAN 2: YOU'RE INNOCENT, MAN.
YOU'RE INNOCENT.
KEEP DOING YOUR JOB.
[YELLING INAUDIBLY].
OFFICER: HEY, I SAID MOVE THE CAMERAS.
I TELL YOU ONE MORE TIME THERE'S GONNA BE A PROBLEM.
MOVE OUT, GUYS.
MAN: YOU FUCKING PIECE OF SHIT PIG.
I HOPE YOU BURN IN HELL, YOU [INAUDIBLE].
YOU FUCKING PIECE OF SHIT.
[YELLING INAUDIBLY].
MAN 2: HE'S AN ASSHOLE, MAN.
RACIST PIECE OF SHIT!
HE'S CHEERING HIM ON.
HE'S CHEERING HIM ON, MAN!
THERE AIN'T NO CHEERING HERE.
THAT'S BULLSHIT!
MAN 3: GET A HAIRCUT, YOU FAGGOT!
WHAT'S WITH THESE FUCKING PEOPLE?
MAN 4: EVERYONE'S GOT THEIR OPINION.
[YELLING INAUDIBLY].
[CHANTING "GUILTY!"]
POLICE SERGEANT: HOLD YOUR LINE, HOLD YOUR LINE.
HOLD YOUR LINE.
NOBODY LEAVES THE LINE.
HOLD YOUR LINE.
MAN: YOU FUCKING SELLOUT.
[YELLING INAUDIBLY].
MAN 2: NO VIOLENCE.
WE CAME HERE TO BE HEARD!
NO VIOLENCE.
[YELLING INAUDIBLY].
[GLASS BREAKING].
POLICE SERGEANT: FALL BACK, FALL BACK.
COME ON BACK, FALL BACK.
EASE BACK, COME ON BACK.
DR. MURRAY: NOW EVERY VOICE, EVERY VOICE,
AT THE TOP OF YOUR VOICE SAY, "LORD IS ALIVE."
CROWD: LORD IS ALIVE.
DR. MURRAY: LORD IS ALIVE.
CROWD: LORD IS ALIVE.
DR. MURRAY: LORD IS ALIVE.
CROWD: LORD IS ALIVE.
DR. MURRAY: LORD AIN'T DEAD YET.
CROWD: LORD AIN'T DEAD YET.
[APPLAUSE].
*
WOMAN: TONIGHT WE MUST TELL OUR CHILDREN ONE MORE TIME,
STAY COOL.
BE CALM.
THAT FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN CHILDREN AND ADULTS,
FREEDOM IS NOT YET A REALITY IN THE UNITED STATES.
[APPLAUSE].
[CROWD CHANTING "JUSTICE"]
WOMAN: THEY HAVING CHURCH INSIDE BUT WE FACING
THE FACTS OUT HERE.
TRUTH IN RIGHT.
TRUTH IN RIGHT, REALITY.
NO MORE LIES AND RUMORS.
HENRY ALVARADO: JUST DO ME A FAVOR AND COOL IT 'CAUSE
I KNOW YOU'RE ANGRY.
I WANT TO SAVE IT, ALRIGHT.
WOMAN: WE'RE COOL, BUT WE ARE ENRAGED AT THE SAME TIME.
MAN: FUCK THE MEDIA.
MAN 3: SITTING IN THERE TALKING ABOUT PEACE.
EVERY TIME SOMEBODY TALK ABOUT PEACE WE GET A
FOOT IN OUR ASS.
MAN 2: THAT'S RIGHT, BRO.
TURN THE OTHER CHEEK SO THEY CAN KICK IT.
MAN 3: I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT PEACE NO MORE.
[YELLING INAUDIBLY, HORN HONKING].
MAN: LET'S MAKE SOME NOISE, LET'S MAKE SOME NOISE.
WAKE UP, BLACK COMMUNITY, WAKE UP.
[HORN HONKING].
MAN: WAKE UP, BLACK COMMUNITY.
MAN 2: PEOPLE [INAUDIBLE] TO UNITE AND COME AS ONE AND
TAKE OFF THE RED AND TAKE OFF THE BLUE AND
PUT IT TOGETHER.
[CROWD CHEERING].
CHANTING "AFRICANS UNITE"]
[INAUDIBLE CROWD CHATTER].
CROWD: [INAUDIBLE] LET'S GO!
[INAUDIBLE] LET'S GO!
OFFICER: OFFICER NEEDS HELP, WE'RE TAKING BOTTLES AND ROCKS
AT FLORENCE AND NORMANDIE.
[POLICE RADIO CHATTER].
TIMOTHY GOLDMAN: PUT MY SHIT ON.
DISPATCHER: ALL UNITS, OFFICER NEEDS HELP FLORENCE
AND NORMANDIE.
TIMOTHY GOLDMAN: OFFICER DOWN!
I HOPE, UH, HE NEEDS HELP GETTING HIS ASS KICKED,
BECAUSE, UH, I DON'T LIKE POLICE.
AND, UH, ME AND AL, WE'RE THE ROVING REPORTERS.
DISPATCHER: LOOKS LIKE IT'S FLORENCE AND NORMANDIE.
TIMOTHY GOLDMAN: FLORENCE AND NORMANDIE.
HERE WE COME.
[HELICOPTER].
HELICOPTER PILOT: ATTENTION NUMBER #3, MA'AM.
WE'RE ABOVE THE LOCATION RIGHT NOW.
UH, WE GOT MANY OFFICERS AND MANY PEOPLE RUNNING.
TIMOTHY GOLDMAN: WHAT'S GOING ON, WHAT'S GOING ON?
LOUDSPEAKER: WE NEED ALL YOU GUYS TO STEP BACK.
WE NEED ALL YOU GUYS TO STEP BACK.
[YELLING INAUDIBLY].
WOMAN: LEAVE HIM ALONE.
HEY, LEAVE HIM ALONE.
POLICE OFFICER: RELAX, RELAX!
[YELLING INAUDIBLY].
MAN: FUCK THAT SHIT, MAN.
GET THAT RIOT GEAR.
HIT ME, MOTHERFUCKER.
HIT ME.
MAN 2: I WANT ALL YOU MOTHERFUCKERS TO KNOW ONE THING.
IT'S WAR ON THE STREETS, MOTHERFUCKERS!
IT'S WAR ON THE STREETS.
WOMAN: HER UP, I KNOW!
POLICE RADIO: I WANT EVERYBODY OUT OF HERE.
FLORENCE AND NORMANDIE, EVERYBODY GET OUT NOW.
DISPATCHER: LIEUTENANT IS REQUESTING EVERYONE OUT OF
THE AREA OF FLORENCE AND NORMANDIE.
EVERYONE, OUT OF THE AREA, FLORENCE AND NORMANDIE.
LOUDSPEAKER: IT'S NOT WORTH IT.
LET'S GO.
IT'S NOT WORTH IT.
LET'S GO, FIGHTING'S NOT WORTH IT.
[YELLING INAUDIBLY].
MAN: BLACK MAN, YOU OUGHT TO BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF.
[SIRENS].
MAN: THESE ARE ALL MY PEOPLE, MAN.
BART BARTHOLOMEW: OH, I SAW, I SAW.
[YELLING INAUDIBLY].
WOMAN: HOW YOU FEEL, HOW YOU FEEL?
HOW YOU FEEL, HUH?
WHY DO YOU [INAUDIBLE]?
[INAUDIBLE RIOT BANTER].
CHARLES MUHAMMAD: I'M ANGRY, BUT I'M NOT SURPRISED.
FOR OVER FOUR HUNDRED YEARS, OUR PEOPLE HAVE SUFFERED.
NOT ONLY CIVIL RIGHTS, BUT THE RIGHT TO BE A HUMAN BEING.
[APPLAUSE].
DON'T FALL VICTIM TO THE DIVISION.
YOU SEE US UNITED FROM ALL A CROSS-SECTION
OF THE COMMUNITY TODAY,
BECAUSE ONE OF OUR BROTHERS HAS BEEN UNJUSTLY BEATEN,
AND IT HAS BEEN JUSTIFIED BY A JURY,
THAT SHOWS US THAT WE CAN'T GET JUSTICE IN AMERICA.
HOW LONG DO WE HAVE TO SEE THESE THINGS?
HOW LONG BEFORE WE COME TOGETHER IN
LOVE FOR OURSELVES?
HOW MANY MORE RODNEY KINGS DOES IT HAVE TO BE?
HOW MANY MORE LATASHA HARLINS DOES IT HAVE TO BE?
[CROWD CHEERING AND APPLAUSE].
RIOTERS: THAT'S RIGHT, BROTHERS, FUCK 'EM UP.
WE GONNA FUCK UP WHITE BOYS.
YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT, LET THE MEXICANS PASS THROUGH.
NO MEXICANS, NO MEXICANS.
FUCK WITH THE BUDDHA HEADS AND FUCK WITH THEM WHITE BOYS.
[GLASS SHATTERS].
REPORTER: I'M GOING LIVE IN A SECOND.
STAND BY, EVERYBODY.
KEEP A LIVE PICTURE, OKAY?
[CAR HORN HONKS].
RIOTERS: YOU BETTER GO.
Y'ALL BETTER TURN THE FUCK AROUND.
MAN: FUCK THE WHITE MAN!
YEAH, MOTHERFUCKER, THIS IS HISTORY.
FUCK Y'ALL, WE KILLIN'.
NEWS ANCHOR: APPARENTLY GROUPS OF YOUTHS ARE ON
THE STREETS IN SOUTH CENTRAL LOS ANGELES.
THERE ARE REPORTS THAT THEY ARE THROWING
ROCKS AND BOTTLES.
KIM: LET'S GET THE LATEST ON THE SITUATION NOW AND
GO TO NEWS COPTER 13.
BOB TUR: KIM, YOU'RE LOOKING AT A LIVE PICTURE.
THERE'S BEEN A MINI-RIOT AT THIS LOCATION.
TOM'S LIQUOR STORE HAS BEEN LOOTED AT THIS POINT.
[YELLING INAUDIBLY].
MAN: YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, GO.
TURN, TURN, TURN, YEAH, YEAH.
RIOTERS: Y'ALL THANK KING!
FUCK THE POLICE.
FUCK THEM FUCKERS!
YEAH!
BOB TUR: HANG ON, I'M GETTING A REPORT FROM THE POLICE.
GO AHEAD.
OKAY, THEY'VE NOW, THERE'S NOW BEEN A TACTICAL ALERT
FOR THIS AREA.
THEY'VE SET UP A COMMAND POST AND THAT OFFICERS HAVE
BEEN ORDERED TO STAY OUT OF THIS AREA.
[SIRENS].
MAN ON RADIO: NORMANDIE AND 71ST, WE NEED HELP.
WOMAN ON RADIO: THERE'S A RIOT SITUATION IN THE AREA.
ADVISE UNITS NOT TO RESPOND.
REPORTER: WE UNDERSTAND, UH, WE HAVE A HELICOPTER SHOT NOW.
UH, THIS IS, UH, OVER THE COMMAND CENTER THAT'S
AT 54TH AND, UH, VAN NESS.
YOU CAN SEE CERTAINLY THERE, UH,
THE CONCENTRATION OF POLICE VEHICLES.
MAN ON RADIO: THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS AWARE OF THE
SITUATION AT FLORENCE AND NORMANDIE.
THEY ARE HOLDING BACK ON THEIR RESPONSE.
MAN 2 ON RADIO: FOR THE PRESENT TIME WE ARE NOT GONNA
GO IN THAT AREA FOR ANYBODY.
BOB TUR: WE'RE WORKING A NUMBER OF RADIOS ABOARD NEWS
COPTER 13.
WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE HAVE PEOPLE ABOARD THAT ARE
RELAYING INFORMATION TO THE POLICE HELICOPTERS AND
TO THE EMERGENCY OPERATION CENTER IN THE CITY.
WE'RE ALSO SHOWING A LIVE PICTURE THAT THEY'RE SEEING.
THEY KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON DOWN HERE.
[INAUDIBLE YELLING AND COMMOTION].
MAN: FUCK OUT OF HERE, MAN.
MOTHERFUCKER.
BOB TUR: THEY'RE ATTACKING EVERYONE THAT COMES TO A STOP
HERE AT THIS INTERSECTION.
ROCKS AND BOTTLES BEING THROWN AT ANOTHER CAR.
THEY'RE NOW PULLING THE DOOR OFF THE CAR.
IF YOU ARE IN THIS AREA, YOU DON'T WANT TO COME DOWN HERE.
[GLASS BREAKING].
BOB TUR: THERE'S A VAN COMING UNDER ATTACK.
NOW THEY'RE PULLING THE DRIVER OUT.
THEY'RE KICKING THE DRIVER AND BEATING THE DRIVER.
ALL THIS GUY DID WAS ENTER THIS AREA.
THAT'S HIS ONLY CRIME.
HIT THE SIREN, GUYS.
NEWS ANCHOR: OH MY GOSH!
OH MY.
NEWS ANCHOR 2: OH, THESE ARE.
NEWS ANCHOR: ABSOLUTELY BRUTAL ATTACK.
BOB TUR: TERRIBLE!
TERRIBLE PICTURES.
[INAUDIBLE STREET NOISE].
RIOTER: NO FUCKING PITY FOR THE WHITE MAN.
NO PITY FOR THE WHITE MAN.
LAY YOUR WHITE ASS DOWN.
THAT'S HOW FUCKING RODNEY KING FELT WHITE BOY!
THAT'S HOW RODNEY KING, DON'T HELP HIS WHITE ASS!
HEY, DON'T HELP HIS ASS.
BOB BRILL: THE MAN IS UP NOW.
HIS CLOTHES ARE TORN, HE'S STILL BLEEDING ALL OVER,
BUT HE'S TRYING TO GET BACK INTO HIS TRUCK.
HE IS GETTING BACK INTO HIS TRUCK.
I HOPE HE HAS ENOUGH POWER TO,
ON HIS OWN TO JUST GET OUT OF THE AREA.
I'M A NEWS REPORTER.
MAN: OH GOD!
HELP, HELP, OH, GOD, HELP!
[INAUDIBLE STREET NOISE].
WOMAN: IT DON'T EVEN AMAZE ME NO MORE.
WOMAN 2: HERE'S TO RODNEY KING AND LATASHA HARLINS!
*
MAN: HE'S BLACK NOW, HE'S BLACK NOW.
WOMAN: IS HE DEAD?
MAN: HE AIN'T DEAD YET BUT HE GONNA DIE.
THEY SPRAY PAINTED HIS NOSE, PUT IT ALL IN HIS MOUTH.
HE'S GONNA DIE.
HE NEEDS IMMEDIATE HELP.
[HELICOPTER].
*
[PROTESTORS CHANTING INAUDIBLY].
REPORTER: I CAN'T HEAR A THING.
LINDA BREAKSTONE: WHO AM I GOING LIVE WITH?
NETWORK OR?
REPORTER: YES, YES, I'M READY.
CALVIN, WE'RE READY TO GO LIVE.
LINDA BREAKSTONE: YOU HAVE ME BUT ARE YOU, ARE WE BACK NOW?
OKAY, HERE WE GO, UM.
WE'RE GONNA GO IN DEEPER AND SHOW YOU AT THE CORE OF THIS
THING WHAT'S GOING ON.
LET'S GO THIS WAY.
LET'S GO.
CROWD: NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE.
NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE.
MAN: THERE'S NOT CRIPS DOWN HERE.
THERE'S NO BLOODS DOWN HERE.
THERE'S JUST CONCERNED CITIZENS DOWN HERE THAT DON'T
LIKE THE WAY THE SYSTEM IS DONE.
LINDA BREAKSTONE: WHAT, COULD YOU TELL ME?
MAN: THIS IS WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
REPORTER: WE'VE GOT A CROWD OF ABOUT 400 PEOPLE AT LEAST
OVER HERE, VERY ANGRY PEOPLE.
THEY ARE THROWING SIGNS.
THEY HAVE TAKEN OVER LOS ANGELES STREET AND AGAIN,
THE SITUATION IS VERY VOLATILE.
PEOPLE KEEP ON TAUNTING THE OFFICERS,
THROWING THINGS AT THEM.
WOMAN: FUCK YOU.
HAL: RON, IS THIS AN ORGANIZED, UH,
DEMONSTRATION OR?
RON: NO, I THINK, HAL, I THINK IT STARTED OUT AS
AN ORGANIZED DEMONSTRATION AND, UH, AND THEN IT
GREW AND GREW AND, UH, NOW,
NOW IT HAS BEEN, FOR THE PAST HOUR OR SO,
PRETTY MUCH A STANDOFF HERE.
CROWD: NO PEACE, NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE, NO JUSTICE.
REPORTER: I WANT TO GO NOW.
[PROTESTORS CHANTING INAUDIBLY].
REPORTER: OKAY, MA, MICHAEL, THINGS HAVE ESCALATED
DRAMATICALLY IN THE LAST FIFTEEN MINUTES.
THAT IS THE THIRD FLAG THAT YOU ARE LOOKING AT
THEY HAVE BURNED.
REPORTER 2: WHERE YOU'RE LOOKING AT ONE OF THE PARKER
CENTER GUARD STATIONS.
ONE OF THE GUARD STATIONS, THEY HAVE TAKEN IT OVER,
THEY ARE BREAKING THE WINDOWS.
WE ARE ASKING PEOPLE TO STAY OUT OF THIS AREA.
REPORTER 3: POLICE OFFICERS TRYING TO
SEAL OFF THE STREETS.
UH, THE GROUP BASICALLY JUST MARCHING RIGHT DOWN
THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET.
REPORTER: IT, IT IS A MULTIRACIAL CROWD.
IT IS NOT, UH, PREDOMINANTLY ANY COLOR.
THERE'S A FELLOW WHO'S LIGHTING THE TREES, IS NE NOT?
REPORTER 3: YES, YES THAT'S WHAT WE SAW.
REPORTER: ABSOLUTELY.
YEAH, GOING ALONG BLOCK TO BLOCK.
REPORTER 3: AND HERE WE CAN SEE HE'S.
REPORTER: AND NOBODY'S STOPPING HIM.
HE, ER, ONE TREE AFTER ANOTHER.
REPORTER 3: THESE BEARDED PALMS UH, WITH THE,
THE DEAD FRONDS HANGING DOWN AH,
GREAT FUEL FOR AN ARSONIST.
[INAUDIBLE RIOT BANTER].
RIOTERS: HEY, YO, YO!
BURN THEM, BURN THEM, BURN THEM.
RIGHT HERE, RIGHT HERE, RIGHT HERE, RIGHT HERE, RIGHT HERE!
BURN GATES, BURN GATES, BURN GATES, BURN GATES!
BURN THIS MOTHER.
BURN THAT SHIT.
BURN THEM, BURN THEM OUT OF THE CITY.
[INAUDIBLE RIOT BANTER].
REPORTER: NOW THEY'RE TURNING THIS OVER.
[CHEERING].
RIOTERS: NO PEACE, NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE, NO JUSTICE,
NO PEACE, NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE,
NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE, NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE.
WOMAN: NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE.
SHUT THE CITY DOWN.
MAN: FUCK UNCLE TOM, FUCK UNCLE TOM.
FUCK HIM, FUCK UNCLE TOM.
WOMAN: FUCK THE COURT BUILDING!
THIS IS WHERE SO MUCH CORRUPTION STARTS FROM.
THIS COURT NEEDS TO BE BURNED DOWN!
[INAUDIBLE RIOT BANTER].
REPORTER: I TALKED TO SOME OF THE OFFICERS A LITTLE
WHILE AGO AND THEY, THEY REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT
TO DO RIGHT NOW.
AND THEY, THERE WERE TV CAMERAS ALL OVER.
THERE ARE PEOPLE ALL OVER AND, UH,
I DON'T THINK ANYBODY REALLY KNOWS WHAT TO DO AND
HOW TO GET THIS UNDER CONTROL.
[INAUDIBLE RIOT BANTER].
HELICOPTER PILOT: [INAUDIBLE] CIVIC CENTER, RIGHT TURN 1.2.
REPORTER: STEPHANIE, IS THAT YOU?
DO YOU WANT TO CHANGE THAT TO HOW WIDESPREAD IS,
IS THE VIOLENCE BECAUSE IT'LL BE HARD TO TALK ABOUT, OKAY?
WELL AT THIS EVENING, WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE
ARE ABOUT TWENTY FIRES BURNING,
MOSTLY IN SOUTH CENTRAL LOS ANGELES.
THIS IS A PREDOMINANTLY BLACK AREA OF THE CITY.
BOB TUR: THIS IS A SUPER SWAPMEET LOCATION.
SOMEONE, ACTUALLY A GROUP OF OVER 100 PEOPLE WENT INTO THIS
LOCATION AND LOOTED IT.
AND EVERY TIME THEY GO IN AND LOOT, AFTER THEY,
THEY'RE DONE LOOTING, THEY SET FIRE TO THE STRUCTURE.
MAN: I'M TIRED OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY.
THEY SHOT LATASHA HARLINS.
THEY TOOK OUT MY BOY RODNEY KING, BEAT HIM ON THE STREETS.
WHAT YOU NEED MORE THAN VIDEOTAPE?
WE GONNA TAKE OUT EVERYONE THAT'S GONNA
TAKE US OUT FIRST.
MAN 2: GO, GO.
MAN 3: CLACK, CLACK, CLACK, CLACK, CLACK.
REPORTER: WE'RE HEARING FOR THE FIRST TIME TONIGHT FROM
DARYL GATES, WHO IS HOLDING A NEWS CONFERENCE.
LET'S GO TO HIM LIVE.
DARYL GATES: ONCE AGAIN, I THINK, UH,
MOST OF IT'S CONCENTRATED AT SOUTH CENTRAL
LOS ANGELES AREA.
BUT, UH, PROBLEM IS YOU FIND MANY LOCATIONS WHERE THERE ARE
NO OFFICERS AND, UH, THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED
AND WE'RE TRYING TO DO THAT AS QUICK AS WE CAN.
[SIRENS].
MAN ON RADIO: UNREPORTED STRUCTURE FIRE FOR LIGHT
4-64 DASH [INAUDIBLE].
MAN 2 ON RADIO: WE'RE TAKING SOME PRETTY HEAVY SLACK ON
ADAMS ABOUT HOBART.
THERE ARE THREE SEPARATE STRUCTURE FIRES.
MAN 3: WE'VE JUST BEEN TAKEN OUT.
WE'VE GOT BOTTLES THROUGH THE WINDOW.
UH, ONLY...
MAN 4 ON RADIO: UH, NEED, UH, SOME PD IN THAT AREA AND
SOME FIRE COMPANIES ASSIGNED.
MAN 5 ON RADIO: WE HAVE A FIREMAN SHOT.
WE HAVE A FIREMAN SHOT.
WE NEED HELP IMMEDIATELY.
ROGER, LAPD.
WE HAVE A NEED OF [INAUDIBLE] WITH A GURNEY.
BOB TUR: THEY'RE DISPATCHING LAPD UNITS AH,
ALONG WITH ALL FIRE TRUCKS THAT RESPOND TO MAJOR
EMERGENCY BLAZES FOR OUR PROTECTION.
BUT UH, WITH RESPECT TO TRYING TO GET LAPD SERVICE FOR
ANYTHING ELSE, FOLKS, YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN DOWN THERE.
[ALARM, SIRENS].
ROSS BECKER: THERE ARE FIRES BURNING.
THERE ARE PEOPLE BEING BEATEN, THERE IS LOOTING.
IT IS A DANGEROUS NIGHT IN THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES.
[EXPLOSION]
*
PETE WILSON: I'M ADVISED THAT, UH,
THERE IS SOMEONE FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE ON
THE WAY OVER TO ACCEPT THIS PROCLAMATION
OF A STATE EMERGENCY,
OF A STATE OF EMERGENCY FOR LOS ANGELES CITY
AND LOS ANGELES COUNTY.
THIS IS, UH, IN RESPONSE TO A REQUEST BY MAYOR BRADLEY.
AS A RESULT OF THE DISCUSSIONS THAT WE HAVE HAD,
THERE WILL BE AS MANY AS 750 CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROLMEN.
ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE MADE AVAILABLE SOME
2,000 NATIONAL GUARDSMEN.
THEY ARE ON STANDBY, PREPARED TO, UH, MOVE.
TRANSPORT HAS BEEN ARRANGED.
AND IT IS OUR PURPOSE HERE AT THE STATE GOVERNMENT LEVEL TO
RESTORE LAW AND ORDER, AND TO MINIMIZE THE DANGER TO THE
RESIDENTS OF THE AREA.
THIS IS A MATTER THAT NEEDS TO BE SETTLED IN THE COURTS AND
NOT IN THE STREETS.
THANK YOU.
CROWD: WHAT DO YOU WANT?
JUSTICE.
WHEN DO YOU WANT IT?
NOW.
WHAT DO YOU WANT?
JUSTICE?
WHEN DO YOU WANT IT?
NOW.
WHAT DO YOU WANT?
JUSTICE?
WHEN DO YOU WANT IT?
NOW.
JIM: WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS ARE SCRAMBLING AT THIS VERY
MOMENT, UH, TO PRODUCE A STATEMENT FROM PRESIDENT BUSH.
NOBODY EXPECTED THAT VERDICT THE WAY IT CAME DOWN.
THERE'S NOTHING REALLY THAT THE WHITE HOUSE CAN DO ABOUT
THAT VERDICT BUT IT DOES PRESENT A HUGE
POLITICAL PROBLEM.
MANY CIVIL RIGHTS LEADERS THOUGHT THAT PRESIDENT BUSH
HAS BEEN WEAK ON CIVIL RIGHTS, CIVIL RIGHTS PROMISES.
REPORTER: HAVE YOU HAD ANY DISCUSSIONS WITH PRESIDENT BUSH,
EITHER ON THE TELEPHONE, OR HAS THERE BEEN ANY FORM?
MAXINE WATERS: PRESIDENT BUSH DOES NOT TALK TO US.
UH, LET'S, LET'S, LET'S, LET'S, LET'S BE STRAIGHT ABOUT THIS.
AH, WE HAVE NO ACCESS TO THE WHITE HOUSE.
WE HAD ONE MEETING SINCE I HAVE BEEN IN CONGRESS,
WITH THE PRESIDENT.
IT WAS PRO FORMA, IT WAS COURTESY,
BUT THERE IS NO RELATIONSHIP.
MAN: IS THAT WHO WE THOUGHT?
MAN 2: I THINK SO, YEAH.
JIM: ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS SAY THAT THE JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT HAD IN FACT LAUNCHED A CIVIL RIGHTS
INVESTIGATION INTO THE RODNEY KING BEATING BUT ONCE STATE
CHARGES WERE BROUGHT THEY SORT OF PUT THAT ON HOLD.
NOW IT'S UNCLEAR AT THIS MOMENT EXACTLY WHERE
THAT INVESTIGATION STANDS.
FAITH?
FAITH: IT WOULD ALMOST SEEM AT THIS POINT, JIM,
THAT THEY'D HAVE TO PICK IT UP AGAIN.
YOU CANNOT IGNORE THAT ALL OF THIS IS COMING
IN A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION YEAR.
GOV. CLINTON: YOU KNOW THAT I DON'T THINK
HE'S DONE ENOUGH BUT I,
BUT I THINK WE HAVE HAD TOO MUCH DIVISION AND
TOO LITTLE HARMONY.
I THINK THERE'S BEEN TOO LITTLE EFFORT TO BRING PEOPLE
TOGETHER ACROSS RACIAL LINES.
THIS IS A HUMAN PROBLEM.
PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY DON'T TRUST EACH OTHER AND
DON'T TRUST THE SYSTEM.
AND THE POLITICAL SYSTEM HAS TOO OFTEN DIVIDED PEOPLE BY
RACE AND THAT IS THE URGENT TASK FOR AMERICA TODAY.
OUR DIVERSITY WILL EITHER BE OUR UNDOING,
OR THE SOURCE OF OUR GREATEST STRENGTH.
MAXINE WATERS: I AM ANGRY, AND I HAVE A RIGHT TO THAT ANGER,
AND THE PEOPLE OUT THERE HAVE A RIGHT TO THAT ANGER.
WE DON'T WANT ANYBODY KILLED.
NONE OF US BELIEVE IN VIOLENCE.
BUT THERE ARE SOME ANGRY PEOPLE IN AMERICA,
AND YOUNG BLACK MALES, IN MY DISTRICT,
ARE FEELING AT THIS MOMENT, IF THEY COULD NOT GET A
CONVICTION, WITH THE RODNEY KING VIDEO AVAILABLE TO THE
JURORS, THAT THERE CAN BE NO JUSTICE IN AMERICA.
[APPLAUSE].
*
ERIC "RICO" REED: 102.3 KJLH, HERE IN LOS ANGELES AND, UH,
WE'RE DISCUSSING ALL THE VIOLENCE AND THE AFTERMATH AND
THE DIRECTIONS TO GO AS FAR AS THIS AH, INCIDENT HERE.
VENT YOUR ANGER, YOUR FRUSTRATION, YOUR,
YOUR HARD FEELINGS.
NOT OUT IN THE STREETS, NOT BREAKING WINDOWS,
NOT LOOTING, NOT RIOTING, BUT YOU KNOW, IT, IT,
I GUESS JUST SOME PEOPLE SAY, JUST PUNCH ON ME.
PUNCH ON THE RADIO STATION.
TALK TO US OVER THE LINES.
LET, LET'S GO BACK TO THE PHONE LINES AND LET'S SEE HOW
YOU FEEL THIS MORNING.
CALLER: YEAH, UM, I FEEL REAL FRUSTRATED, YOU KNOW,
BECAUSE, UH, I, I DON'T HAVE NO NEIGHBORHOOD NO MORE.
CALLER 2: THIS IS NOT THE WAY FOR US TO
VENT OUR FRUSTRATION.
ERIC "RICO" REED: YES.
CALLER 2: THIS IS WHAT THEY EXPECT US TO DO.
ROBERT: I'VE BEEN LISTENING TO KJLH ALL MY LIFE AND
I ONLY HAVE THREE WORDS FOR, UH, WHAT'S HAPPENING,
AND THOSE ARE THE SAME THREE WORDS THAT WAS UTTERED DURING
THE 1965 RIOTS.
ERIC "RICO" REED: AND YOU'RE GONNA SAY THOSE BAD WORDS, HUH?
ROBERT: BURN, BABY, BURN.
ERIC "RICO" REED: YEAH, THAT'S A...
DJ 2: THANK YOU, ROBERT.
MAN: I SAW IT ON TV.
WE COME DOWN HERE AND IT'S JUST BLAZING.
REPORTER: AND THIS IS YOUR AUNT'S STORE?
MAN: YES.
REPORTER: AND WAS IT A LIQUOR STORE HERE OR?
MAN: NO, THIS WAS A 99 CENT STORE.
REPORTER: AH-HA.
MAN: AND SHE HAS ANOTHER STORE ON CRENSHAW AND
THAT ONE IS GONE.
IT'S TERRIBLE, ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE.
BUT WHAT CAN YOU SAY?
THEY SAID IT ALL YESTERDAY AND THIS IS THE OUTCOME OF IT.
AND THIS IS THE OUTCOME OF THIS.
MAN: YOU ARE LISTENING TO A SPECIAL NEWS REPORT
ON AM 1580, RADIO KOREA.
SOME NEWS JUST CAME IN, KFWB RADIO HAS REPORTED THAT MORE
DAMAGE WAS DONE TO KOREAN BUSINESSES THAN ANY OTHERS
DURING THE RIOTS.
THE REPORT SAYS THAT THE REASON MAY BE THE CONFLICT
BETWEEN THE KOREAN AND BLACK COMMUNITIES.
MAN: I DON'T BLAME ANY OTHER PEOPLE, ANY OTHER RACE,
ANY OTHER COLORS.
JUST, IT HAPPENED.
IT HAPPENED.
THAT'S IT.
WE'RE GONNA BUILD HERE AGAIN.
WE WANT TO KEEP OUR GOOD INTENTION, CONTINUES.
AND, UH, THAT'S IT.
WE, WE LIVE HERE AND WE, WE WILL LIVE HERE
AND, UH, [SIGHS].
REPORTER: I UNDERSTAND.
REPORTER 2: THE CITY IS STILL OFFICIALLY UNDER A
STATE OF EMERGENCY.
THE CITY COUNCIL IS GOING TO MEET AND DISCUSS HOW TO
PROCEED FROM HERE.
JOHN FERRARO: THE PURPOSE OF THIS MEETING IS TO DISCUSS THE
NECESSARY ACTION RELATIVE TO THE STATE OF EMERGENCY IN THE
CITY OF LOS ANGELES DECLARED BY THE MAYOR ON APRIL 29TH.
OKAY, UH, MR. HOLDEN.
MR. HOLDEN: UH, MR. PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS,
I'M SURE YOU'VE HEARD FROM EACH OF MY COLLEAGUES BEFORE I
ARRIVED AND CERTAINLY YOU'VE SEEN THEM ON TV ASKING FOR
CALM AND REGRETTING THE TRAGEDY THAT TOOK PLACE LAST
NIGHT AND CONTINUING IN OUR CITY.
THE QUESTION IS, UH, HOW DO WE STOP IT?
WE HAVE A PRETTY GOOD IDEA IT IS LIKELY TO OCCUR,
AND IT WILL UNLESS WE HAVE A PRESENCE.
BUT YOU GOT TO START DEPLOYING RIGHT NOW, I TELL YOU.
HANDWRITING'S ON THE WALL.
DJ: I CAN'T REALLY TELL 'CAUSE WE'RE ON THE RADIO AND
I CAN BARELY SEE THE TELEVISION.
ARE PEOPLE STILL LOOTING AT THIS TIME?
DJ 2: YES, THEY ARE.
I SEEN THEM WHEN I WAS COMING IN TO WORK.
THEY'RE STILL GOING IN TO STORES AND THEY'RE STILL
TAKING THINGS.
DJ: INCREDIBLE, INCREDIBLE.
DJ 2: AND LAUGHING.
MAN: MAN, GETTING STUFF, MAN, GETTING STUFF.
GO IN THERE AND FIND YOUR SIZE, MAN.
GETTING STUFF.
REPORTER: WHILE THE, THE LOOTING SEEMS TO CONTINUE
UNABATED, UH, THE MOOD AT LEAST, UH, SEEMS TO BE, UH,
VERY CALM TODAY.
LOOK AT RIGHT THROUGH THERE.
IT SAYS "FACTORY DIRECT SALE."
THIS IS THE BIGGEST SALE THEY'VE PROBABLY EVER SEEN.
IT'S LIKE PEOPLE ARE LOOTING ANYTHING THEY CAN
GET THEIR HANDS ON.
HERE'S A GUY WITH A PLANT, EVEN,
COMING RIGHT OUT THE FRONT WINDOW AND TAKING OFF.
MAN: I'VE BEEN TAKING PICTURES OF ALL THIS.
THIS IS EXCITING.
IT'S WRONG, BUT IT'S EXCITING.
BUT YOU KNOW SOMETHING?
IT'S KIND OF ORDERLY.
IT'S KIND OF ORDERLY IN A WAY.
MAN 2: OH, EXCUSE ME.
MAN: I'M TELLING YOU, IT'S, IT'S AMA,
LET ME GET THIS SHOT HERE.
IT'S AMAZING.
REPORTER 2: WHERE ARE THE POLICE?
WHERE ARE ALL THE POLICE THAT CHIEF GATES SAID
WOULD BE READY FOR THIS?
MAN: UH, CHIEF GATES?
DARYL GATES: UH, YES.
JUST TO, UH, EMPHASIZE, UH, OUR DEPLOYMENT, UH,
WILL INCREASE SUBSTANTIALLY AND, UH, WE HOPE THAT THAT,
UH, WILL, UH, SATISFY THE NEED.
BOB TUR: NOW, NOW THERE ARE SOME POLICE,
NOW EVERYONE'S RUNNING.
HERE, HERE THE POLICE ARE COMING.
LOOK AT THAT.
THERE MUST BE TWO OR THREE DOZEN PEOPLE.
THEY'RE STILL COMING OUT OF THAT STORE RIGHT NOW.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE FIT IN THAT STORE BUT THEY'RE
ALL RUNNING OUT BECAUSE THERE'S THE POLICE
FINALLY MOVING IN.
THE POLICE CAN'T ARREST THIS MANY PEOPLE.
THEY JUST GO RUNNING WITH THEIR MERCHANDISE AND
THE POLICE REALLY AREN'T RUNNING AFTER THEM.
THEY CAN'T RUN AFTER THEM.
POLICE OFFICER: WE JUST DON'T ENOUGH PEOPLE TO DO IT.
AS SOON AS WE CHASE THEM AWAY, THEY COME RIGHT BACK.
TOM BRADLEY: IT'S MY JUDGMENT THAT THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY
OF THOSE WHO ARE ENGAGED IN THAT UNLAWFUL ACTIVITY NOW ARE
NOT THE LAW ABIDING CITIZENS OF THIS COMMUNITY,
BUT THOSE WHO ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF AN OPPORTUNITY.
REPORTER: WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
WOMAN: I DON'T KNOW.
REPORTER: ARE YOU EMBARRASSED?
DON'T YOU KNOW THIS IS ILLEGAL?
WHY DID YOU DO THIS?
MAN: I DON'T KNOW.
BECAUSE IT'S FREE.
REPORTER: 'CAUSE IT'S FREE?
MAN: YEAH.
REPORTER: DON'T YOU KNOW IT'S WRONG?
MAN: NAH.
REPORTER: YOU DON'T CARE?
MAN: I DON'T CARE.
MAN 2: HONESTLY, WHAT IS BEING DONE NOW IS NOT GOOD.
IF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT HAD PAID KING
HIS RIGHTS, AS THE CITIZEN THAT HE IS,
WHAT'S HAPPENING TODAY WOULD NOT BE HAPPENING.
THE BLAME SHOULD BE PUT ON THE GOVERNMENT.
REPORTER: WHERE ARE THE NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS THAT
HAVE BEEN PROMISED?
WHY DO WE NOT SEE THEM?
DAN: BILL, WHY HASN'T THE NATIONAL GUARD
BEEN CALLED OUT?
BILL: THAT'S A MYSTERY, DAN.
UH, WE HAVE, UH, HAD REPORTS THAT SEVERAL HUNDRED ARE IN
THE AREA AND WE EXPECT TO SEE AND HEAR FROM THEM SOON.
REPORTER: BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT, UH, IDEA THAT, UH,
THEY COULD MAKE THINGS WORSE BUT THEN YOU COULD SAY THAT
ABOUT THE POLICE TOO.
I MEAN, HOW MUCH WORSE DOES IT NEED TO GET?
[INAUDIBLE].
[INAUDIBLE]
[WOMAN CRYING].
[YELLING INAUDIBLY].
MAN: FUCK THEM, FUCK THAT MOTHERFUCKER!
WOMAN 2: MAN, COME ON, MAN.
GIVE IT TO HER.
WHEN HE GOT HERE EARLIER THIS MORNING 'CAUSE I
CAME UP HERE TO GET MY STUFF.
MAN: THEY STEALING CLOTHES UP IN HERE.
WOMAN 3: THEY GOT MY CLOTHES.
MAN: THEY GOT MY CLOTHES.
OH, MAN.
WOMAN 2: CALM DOWN.
BILL: THEY GOT THE TICKETS.
THEY HAVE THE TICKETS SO JUST CALM DOWN.
WOMAN 2: YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE OUR STUFF.
YOU KNOW, AND.
BILL: THEY'RE UPSET.
MAN: THEY GOT A LOT OF MONEY.
[WOMAN CRYING].
[SIRENS].
[WOMAN CRIES].
MAN: WHY IS THIS TRAGEDY HAPPENING TO US?
COULD IT BE THAT GOD IS PUNISHING US?
WOMAN: ACCORDING TO THE POLICE,
THIS MIGHT NOT BE THE END.
WE WILL HAVE TO STAY ALERT THIS WEEKEND.
WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO?
HOW ARE WE TO PROTECT OUR BUSINESSES?
MAN: CAN YOU TELL ME WHERE YOUR STORE IS?
WOMAN: IT'S AT 84TH STREET AND VERMONT.
MAN: SUPER SWAP MEET, YES?
SO YOU CAN OWN A CLOTHING STORE IN THERE?
YES, IS IT ON FIRE?
MAN 2: IT'S BURNING.
WOMAN: IS THERE ANY WAY FOR A FIRE TRUCK TO GET THERE?
MAN: SO FAR, I DON'T SEE ANY.
MAYBE THE FIREFIGHTERS ARE COVERING OTHER AREAS
AT THIS MOMENT?
WOMAN: WHAT CAN WE DO?
THAT'S OUR LIVELIHOOD!
DAVID JACKSON: WE HAVE A FIRE THAT'S BROKEN OUT IN
KOREATOWN HERE ACROSS WESTERN AVENUE.
PAT: HAVE THERE BEEN ANY KINDS OF DISTURBANCES IN KOREATOWN?
I THINK THIS IS THE FIRST WE'VE HEARD ABOUT THIS
KIND OF ACTIVITY.
DAVID JACKSON: YES, THAT'S RIGHT, PAT.
THIS HAS JUST ERUPTED.
PAT: I DON'T SEE ANY OFFICIAL FIREFIGHTERS, ANY ENGINES.
ARE THERE ANY IN THE AREA?
DAVID JACKSON: NO, NO FIREFIGHTERS HERE.
MAN: THE BUSINESSES WHERE THE OWNERS SHUT DOWN AND EVACUATED
GENERALLY SUFFERED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE WHILE THOSE WHERE THE
OWNERS STAYED AND PROTECTED THEIR SHOPS HAD ALMOST NONE.
DAVID KIM: YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO PROTECT YOURSELVES AND
YOUR BUSINESSES, AND WHEN ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY,
YOU CAN ARM YOURSELVES.
THE LAWS OF THIS COUNTRY GIVE YOU THAT RIGHT.
[HELICOPTER].
REPORTER: THEY'VE TAKEN THE LAW INTO THEIR OWN HANDS.
POSITIONED THEMSELVES ON THE ROOF.
THEY ARE AL-ALSO ARMED WITH CLUBS.
THE KOREANS HERE HAVE PREPARED TO PROTECT THEMSELVES
AGAINST ANYTHING THAT MAY COME THEIR WAY.
MAN: THE POLICE DIDN'T COME HERE.
WE NEED, UH, ADDITIONAL GUARD IN HERE.
WE HAVE NO POLICE SUPPORT WHATSOEVER.
PEOPLE ARE DRIVING BY SHOOTING AT US AND WE HAVE
TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
REPORTER: WELL HE'S DRESSED FOR WAR GAMES.
REPORTER 2: THAT'S RIGHT.
AND IT'S CERTAINLY NOT A GAME TO THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE ON
THE ROOF AND ARE CARRYING RIFLES AND LOTS OF
BOXES OF AMMUNITION.
REPORTER: THAT'S FRIGHTENING.
REPORTER 3: IT CERTAINLY IS A FRIGHTENING PICTURE.
MAN: THEY'RE SHOOTING AT US.
SO FAR WE'VE BEEN SHOOTING UP BUT WHEN IT COMES THE
WORST WE'RE NOT GONNA SIT AROUND SHOOTING UP SIDE.
WE'RE GONNA SHOOT AT THEM.
LINDA MOORE: ARE WE LIVE?
MAN: GO, LINDA.
YEAH, WE'RE LIVE.
LINDA MOORE: THIS IS LINDA MOORE LIVE.
SOME OF THE KOREAN SHOP OWNERS HERE PULLED,
PULLED OUT OF THEIR STORES AND THEY STARTED
PULLING OUT WEAPONS.
THERE'S SOME CARS THAT HAVE SOME GUNS IN THEM...
[GUNSHOTS].
REPORTER: WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A GUNFIGHT.
[GUNSHOTS].
[GUNSHOTS]
LINDA MOORE: SEEMS LIKES SOMEONE'S BEEN SHOT.
WHERE?
SOMEONE'S BEEN SHOT IN THE CAR?
I THINK, I THINK WE SHOULD GET OUT OF HERE.
SEAN, DROP THE SIGNAL.
WE GOT TO GET OUT OF HERE.
HELICOPTER PILOT: THIS IS HELICOPTER TO DESK.
HELICOPTER TO DESK.
CAN YOU READ ME?
DESK: HELICOPTER REPORT.
HELICOPTER PILOT: I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE GOT US, UH,
YOU DON'T HAVE US LIVE, BUT IF YOU CAN SEE OUR
PICTURE WE'RE OVER THREE FIRES IN HOLLYWOOD.
YOU SHOULD TAKE US AS SOON AS YOU CAN.
HELICOPTER REPORTER: THAT FIRE WAS ONE OF THREE FIRES
THAT HAD RECENTLY BROKEN OUT IN THE HOLLYWOOD AREA.
THE OTHER WAS JUST EAST OF THAT.
AND FRANKLY, UH, UP IN THE AIR HERE WE CAN SEE FIRES, UH,
EASILY, UH, BEYOND THE WATTS AND COMPTON AREA.
CLEARLY THE FIRES ARE SPREADING.
MAN: I MEAN THE WHOLE CITY IS UP IN FLAMES.
BUT NOW IT'S COMING REALLY CLOSE.
REPORTER: WE ARE GETTING REPORTS OF LOOTING FROM ALL
OVER LOS ANGELES AND ALSO SURROUNDING AREAS.
IT'S NOT CONFINED TO SOUTH CENTRAL,
NOT CONFINED TO THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES.
IT'S, UH, ALL OVER.
[INAUDIBLE RIOT BANTER].
REPORTER: VERNON CONVALESCENT HOSPITAL, A FIRE OVER THERE,
SOMEBODY SET A FIRE IN THE CONVALESCENT HOSPITAL.
IT WAS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT,
AND EVERYBODY ELSE THAT'S TRYING TO HELP SCATTERED
ALL OVER THE CITY.
SO THE FIRES ARE BURNING OUT OF CONTROL.
[ALARMS SOUNDING].
MAN: HEY, HAVE WE GOT PEOPLE IN HERE?
HEY, HEY, GET UP THIS DOOR, BUDDY.
[EXPLOSIONS].
[SIRENS].
[ALARMS SOUNDING].
WOMAN: DON'T YOU DARE SET A FIRE.
YOU'LL BURN UP.
MAN: MOVE, OUT.
WOMAN: GET OUT!
MAN: NO, MOVE.
WOMAN: THIS IS AMERICA, GET OUT.
MAN: YES, I KNOW, YOU WANT TO GET VIOLENT?
WOMAN: NO, I DON'T WANT A FIRE.
MAN 2: FUCK THE CHINESE, FUCK THE CHINESE.
WOMAN: I'M NOT CHINESE.
MAN 2: GET OUT OF HERE, GET OUT THE COUNTRY.
WOMAN: KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT!
MAN 3: HOW ARE YOU GONNA TELL HIM TO KEEP HIS MOUTH SHUT?
WOMAN: THIS IS AMERICA.
MAN 3: NOW IF IT'S AMERICA HOW ARE YOU GONNA TELL HIM
TO KEEP HIS MOUTH SHUT?
WOMAN: THIS IS AMERICA, GET OUT, GET OUT!
MAN 3: GET OUT.
WOMAN: THIS IS AMERICA,
THIS IS AMERICA.
[SIRENS].
REPORTER: 21 PEOPLE CONFIRMED DEAD AT THIS TIME.
AT LEAST 572 INJURED, INCLUDING TWO FIREFIGHTERS.
REPORTER 2: THIS NUMBER IS STAGGERING.
I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW TO TELL YOU THIS,
BUT 916 STRUCTURE FIRES ARE BURNING IN THE
LOS ANGELES AREA, 916.
MAN: WHAT A MESS.
WOMAN: IT LOOKS LIKE A WAR ZONE.
MAN: IT IS A WAR ZONE.
WOMAN: IT IS A WAR ZONE.
MAN: THERE'S PEOPLE DOWN THERE WITH AUTOMATIC WEAPONS.
MAN 2: DOWNTOWN, KOREATOWN, MID-WILSHIRE, HOLLYWOOD,
BEVERLY HILLS, CULVER CITY ON THE RIGHT.
MAN: PEOPLE ARE GOING CRAZY DOWN THERE.
IT'S LIKE THEY'RE FEELING SO OPPRESSED.
AND THEN THEY'RE GONNA GO AND BURN EVERYTHING DOWN AND
THEY'RE GONNA BE MORE OPPRESSED.
MAN 2: WELL, THERE'S SHIT GOING ON WITH PEOPLE
OTHER THAN, YOU KNOW, A, A BLACK THING.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
MAN: UH-HUH.
MAN 2: YEAH, I MEAN YOU GOT SOME PEOPLE THAT WORK
60 TO 80 HOURS.
A FUCKING WEEK AND STILL HAVE BILL COLLECTORS CALLING AND
THEY SEE THEIR BOSSES PEEL OUT IN THESE MERCS AND
THESE ROLLS' EVERY DAY AND STROKE THEM ON THE BACK AND
TELL THEM IT'S GONNA BE ALRIGHT.
YOU KNOW, HOW LONG CAN THAT LAST?
LAWRENCE: IT'S NOT RIGHT.
I WORKED TOO HARD FOR THIS.
MAN: PEOPLE DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND NOTHING.
COME ON.
LAWRENCE: THAT'S NOT RIGHT, THAT'S NOT RIGHT.
MAN: COME ON, BROTHER.
LAWRENCE: THAT'S NOT RIGHT, WHAT Y'ALL DOING.
WOMAN: LAWRENCE, STOP IT, STOP IT.
LAWRENCE: I CAME FROM THE GHETTO TOO.
SAME AS ALL OF YOU DID.
MAN: Y'ALL NEED TO LISTEN TO.
LAWRENCE: BUT YOU DON'T, YOU DON'T,
YOU DON'T MESS UP MY VISION.
MAN: YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING?
LAWRENCE: AND YOU CALL THIS BLACK POWER?
HUH, YOU BETTER THAN THE WHITE MAN?
WHY DESTROY MY BUSINESS?
WHY DESTROY MY STORE?
WHY STEAL MY COMPUTER?
I'M TRYING TO MAKE IT.
CAN'T YOU UNDERSTAND THAT?
CAN'T Y'ALL SEE IT?
I'M TRYING TO MAKE IT.
*
OFFICER: GET IN LINE, GUYS.
KEEP THE ORDER.
LET'S GET IN LINE AND STAND FAST.
OFFICER 2: IT WAS WORSE THAN BEING IN VIETNAM.
AT LEAST IN VIETNAM I COULD SHOOT BACK.
HERE WE COULDN'T DO ANYTHING EXCEPT THERE'S PEOPLE
THROWING THINGS AT US.
ALL WE COULD DO WAS STAND THERE AND TAKE IT.
WOMAN: ONLY WATCHING, ONLY WATCHING, ONLY WATCHING.
OFFICER: WHAT WOULD YOU SUGGEST WE DO?
WOMAN: AT LEAST SOMETHING, WHY?
OFFICER: WHAT WOULD YOU SUGGEST WE DO?
WOMAN: EVERYBODY SEE, EVERYBODY WATCHING.
ONLY WATCHING, ONLY WATCHING.
THIS IS TOUGH, THIS IS NOT FAIR, THIS IS NOT FAIR,
THIS IS NOT FAIR, THIS IS NOT FAIR.
IT'S NOT FAIR, THIS IS NOT FAIR, THIS IS NOT FAIR,
THIS IS NOT FAIR.
MAN: THAT'S NOT GONNA HELP, SHUT UP.
WOMAN: THIS IS NOT FAIR, THIS IS NOT FAIR, THIS IS NOT FAIR,
THIS IS NOT FAIR, THIS IS NOT FAIR.
OFFICER: TAKE IT DOWN THE STREET.
TAKE IT DOWN THE STREET, MA'AM.
*
REPORTER: THE CALIFORNIA ARMY NATIONAL GUARD HAS BEEN
DEPLOYED TO ASSIST THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND
LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT IN A MUTUAL AID OPERATION TO
RESTORE LAW AND ORDER AND TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY
IN THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY.
DAN: WERE YOU FRUSTRATED TODAY BY THE APPARENT
RELUCTANCE OF THE L.A. OFFICIALS TO USE THE
GUARD ON THE STREETS?
PETE WILSON: DAN, I DON'T THINK THERE WAS RELUCTANCE.
I THINK THAT THERE, UH, WAS SOME DELAY FOR LOGISTICAL
REASONS, REASONS THAT HAD TO DO WITH EQUIPPING THE GUARD.
REPORTER: CLARIFY WHAT THE LOGISTICAL PROBLEMS IN
EQUIPPING THE GUARD WERE?
PETE WILSON: THE CHIEF PROBLEM HAS BEEN WITH RESPECT
TO, UH, AMMUNITION.
REPORTER: WAIT, WHAT?
CAN YOU FINISH THAT?
WHAT'S THE PROBLEM WITH AMMUNITION?
PETE WILSON: UH, THE TROOPS CAME BUT THE
AMMUNITION DIDN'T.
THEY CAME WITH SOME AMMUNITION,
NOT THE FULL COMPLEMENT THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE.
THE PROBLEM WAS THAT IT WAS SLOW IN COMING
FROM CAMP ROBERTS.
NATIONAL GUARD: GONNA START OUT FROM WHERE WE ARE
RIGHT NOW WE'RE GONNA HEAD TO, UH, 81'S POSITION,
HEAD TO KILO'S POSITION AND WEAPON'S COMPANY POSITION.
THEN WE'RE GONNA COME UP LIKE THAT.
NATIONAL GUARD 2: AND OVER?
NATIONAL GUARD: YES SIR, SADDLE UP!
[YELLING INAUDIBLY].
I DIDN'T EXPECT TO, UH, BE ON U.S. SOIL DOING
THIS JOB EVER, EVER.
NATIONAL GUARD 2: TELL EVERYONE DOWN THERE GET IN
THE CORNER OR SOMETHING.
NATIONAL GUARD 3: ARE WE LOCK AND LOAD?
NATIONAL GUARD 2: LOCK AND LOAD, ROUND IN THE CHAMBER.
NATIONAL GUARD 4: I NEVER THOUGHT IT WOULD BE DONE,
NOT IN OUR OWN COUNTRY.
IT'S AMAZING.
NATIONAL GUARD 5: YOU'VE GOT TO KNOW WHO,
WHO YOU'RE LOOKING AT AND, UH, WHO YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT,
WHEREAS IN THE GULF IT WAS A LOT EASIER.
YOU KNEW.
NATIONAL GUARD: HEY, TAKE A CORNER, JUST STAY DOWN.
YOU SEE IT, IF YOU TAKE ROUNDS TAKE IT UP.
GO HOME.
NATIONAL GUARD 2: GET BACK HOME, GO.
LOUDSPEAKER: GET OFF THE STREETS.
LEAVE THE AREA.
REPORTER: "GET OFF THE STREETS.
LEAVE THE AREA."
THESE ARE THE POLICE, LAPD, GOING UP AND DOWN PICO
TELLING RESIDENTS THE CURFEW IS IN EFFECT NOW.
GET OFF THE STREETS.
LOUDSPEAKER: GET OFF THE STREETS OR YOU'LL BE
SUBJECT TO ARREST.
LEAVE THE AREA.
[HELICOPTER].
[TONE].
EMERGENCY BROADCAST: THIS IS LOS ANGELES COUNTY
EMERGENCY BROADCAST SYSTEM.
THIS IS NOT A TEST.
THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT IS NOW
IN FULL MOBILIZATION.
DUE TO THE ESCALATION OF THE SITUATION
AND THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE PROBLEMS THAT ARE OCCURRING,
THE CURFEW HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO INCLUDE THE ENTIRE
LOS ANGELES CITY LIMITS.
THIS CONCLUDES THE ACTIVIATION OF THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY
EMERGENCY BROADCAST SYSTEM.
[TONE].
MAN: RAM 3, THIS IS RAM 1, OVER.
RAM 3, THIS IS RAM 1, OVER.
RAM 3: RAM 3 HERE.
MAN: YEAH.
THEY GONNA TURN ON THE SPRINKLERS OUT HERE, OKAY?
SO TO KEEP IT WET DOWN.
SO BE CAREFUL SO YOU GUYS DON'T GET WET, UH, ALL RIGHT?
MAN 2: ALRIGHT.
MAN 3: WHAT IS THAT GONNA DO FOR WATER PRESSURE IF THEY
NEED IT OVER HERE ON THESE, UH, HOUSES?
MAN: WE'LL TURN IT OFF BUT I, I DON'T THINK IT'S
GONNA MAKE THAT BIG A DIFFERENCE.
WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO IS AVOID THE SPARKS.
WOMAN: HOW'D IT GET LIKE THAT THOUGH?
THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.
BOY: IT'S A BIG FIRE.
GIRL: LOOK AT IT.
*
[INAUDIBLE CHATTER]
MAN: HOW YOU DOING?
MAN 2: YOU GOT ONE?
YOU CAN HAVE ANOTHER ONE.
WOMAN: I KNOW PEOPLE GOT INJURED BECAUSE OF THE LOOTING
AND THERE WERE POLICE ACROSS THE STREET WATCHING IT.
THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO.
IT WAS ALREADY OUT OF HAND.
THERE WERE TOO MANY PEOPLE JUST GOING CRAZY,
STEPPING ALL OVER EACH OTHER.
MAN 3: I KNOW ONE THING, HUNGRY AS I AM NOW (CHUCKLES),
IT STILL AIN'T WORTH IT.
WOMAN: I THINK THAT'S HOW IT'S GONNA END IS PEOPLE ARE
GONNA GET HUNGRY THEN WE'RE GONNA LOOK AROUND AND SAY:
"WHERE DO WE GO NOW?
WHERE ARE WE GONNA GO?"
MAN 3: I GUESS THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE, HUH?
WOMAN 2: YEAH, THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE.
REPORTER: THE WORLD WATCHING US THOUGH, WE KNOW THAT.
AND THE NEWSPAPERS FROM OTHER BIG CITIES ARE
REPORTING THEIR REACTION.
THE BRITISH MAIL HAD A RATHER SCATHING
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT IT.
THE SAID THAT: "RACISM IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
IS AS AMERICAN AS APPLE PIE."
REPORTER: LOS ANGELES MAYOR TOM BRADLEY AND
POLICE OFFICIALS SAID TODAY THAT THEY'RE REGAINING CONTROL
OVER THE CITY.
REPORTER 2: POLICE CHIEF DARYL GATES ADMITTED THAT
THE POLICE FORCE GOT A SLOW START WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON
WHEN THE VIOLENCE BEGAN.
AND GATES AND FIRE CHIEF DONALD MANNING CONCEDED THAT
THE CITY'S FORCES WERE OVERWHELMED.
FIREFIGHTERS DONNED BULLETPROOF VESTS AS THEY
FOUGHT THE SCORES OF NEW FIRES THAT WERE SET LAST NIGHT.
THERE WERE STILL ABOUT 40 FIRES BURNING
EARLY THIS MORNING.
REPORTER 3: AT LEAST 35 PEOPLE ARE NOW SAID TO
HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES.
MORE THAN 1300 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN INJURED AND
3,000 ARRESTED.
THE CITY REMAINS UNDER A DUSK TO DAWN CURFEW WITH MANY
STORES AND MALLS CLOSED.
MAN: OKAY, THE S.S.I.
CHECKS ARE READY, AND WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN IS,
THEY'RE PROBABLY GONNA LET SOME OF THE PEOPLE
WITH S.S.I., UH, CHECKS GETTING THEM FIRST.
SO WE NEED SOME COOPERATION HERE.
[INAUDIBLE CROWD NOISE].
MAXINE WATERS: CAN YOU HEAR ME?
CROWD: YES.
MAXINE WATERS: WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY
GETS THEIR MAIL TODAY, OKAY?
[CROWD APPLAUSES, CHEERS].
I WANT YOU TO COOPERATE WITH ME SO WE CAN DO THIS SMOOTHLY.
IF WE START A BIG MESS RIGHT OUTSIDE HERE,
THEN THEY'RE GONNA CLOSE THESE DOORS AND THE POLICE
ARE GONNA BE ALL OVER US.
SO WILL YOU WORK WITH ME?
CROWD: YES!
MAXINE WATERS: WILL YOU BE PATIENT?
CROWD: YES!
MAXINE WATERS: DON'T START ANY RIOT AT THE POST OFFICE, OKAY?
CROWD: YEAH.
MAXINE WATERS: PLEASE, WILL YOU WORK WITH ME?
CROWD: YEAH.
MAXINE WATERS: ALRIGHT.
[CROWD APPLAUDS].
*
[TONE].
ROSS BECKER: GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.
I'M ROSS BECKER HERE IN THE CHANNEL 13 NEWSROOM.
WE ARE INTERRUPTING PROGRAMMING THIS AFTERNOON.
MOMENTARILY WE EXPECT TO HEAR A STATEMENT FROM SOMEONE WHOSE
NAME, UH, WILL BE INDELIBLY CONNECTED TO ALL OF THE
VIOLENCE WE HAVE SEEN OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS
IN LOS ANGELES AND THAT IS RODNEY KING.
REPORTER: AND WE'RE STANDING BY.
THERE'S BEEN GREAT ANTICIPATION, UH, CERTAINLY,
UH, MR. KING, UH, HAS NOT MADE, UH, PUBLIC STATEMENTS.
UH, HE HAS BEEN, UH, REALLY THE, UH,
THE INVISIBLE MAN IN ALL THIS.
AND, UH, I, I DETECT SOME MOVEMENT THROUGH THE CROWD.
YEAH, I SEE.
HERE HE COMES.
CROWD: DOWN!
DOWN, DOWN, DOWN, HEY, DOWN, PLEASE.
*
STEVEN LERMAN: UH, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING.
RODNEY KING HAS THIS TO SAY TO ALL THE PEOPLE OF LOS ANGELES
AND ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE CITIES OF THE UNITED STATES,
SO CAUGHT UP IN THIS HORROR AND HATE.
THE KILLING, THE BURNING, THE LOOTING,
THE CHAOS MUST STOP NOW.
THE TIME FOR HEALING IS UPON US.
RODNEY KING HAS PREPARED A VERY BRIEF STATEMENT.
MR. RODNEY, TALK SOFTLY.
RODNEY KING: UM, PEOPLE, UM, I JUST, I JUST WANT TO SAY,
YOU KNOW, CAN WE, CAN WE ALL GET ALONG?
CAN WE, CAN WE GET ALONG?
UM, CAN WE STOP MAKING IT,
MAKING IT HORRIBLE FOR, FOR THE, FOR THE OLDER PEOPLE
AND THE, AND THE, AND THE, AND THE KIDS?
AND I MEAN WE'VE GOT ENOUGH SMOG HERE IN LOS ANGELES,
UM, LET ALONE TO, UH, DEAL WITH THE, UM,
SETTING THESE FIRES AND, AND THINGS.
IT'S, IT'S JUST NOT RIGHT.
IT'S NOT RIGHT AND, UM, IT'S N, IT'S NOT GONNA,
IT'S NOT GONNA CHANGE ANYTHING.
WE'VE GOT TO, WE'VE GOT TO QUIT.
YOU KNOW, UH, AFTER ALL, I MEAN, I COULD UNDERSTAND THE,
THE, THE FIRST UPSET FOR THE FIRST TWO HOURS AFTER THE
VERDICT BUT, UH, TO GO ON, TO KEEP GOING ON LIKE,
LIKE THIS AND TO SEE THE SECURITY GUARD SHOT ON THE,
ON THE GROUND, IT, UM, IT'S, IT'S, UH,
IT'S JUST NOT RIGHT.
IT'S JUST NOT RIGHT BECAUSE TH, THOSE PEOPLE ARE,
WILL NEVER GO HOME TO, TO THEIR FAMILIES AGAIN.
AND, UH, I MEAN, PLEASE, WE CAN, WE CAN GET ALONG HERE.
WE, WE ALL CAN GET ALONG.
WE JUST GOT TO, JUST GOT TO, YOU KNOW,
I MEAN WE'RE ALL STUCK HERE FOR A WHILE.
LET'S, YOU KNOW, LET'S, LET'S, LET'S TRY TO WORK IT OUT.
LET'S TRY TO BE THE, YOU KNOW, LET'S TRY AND
WORK IT OUT.
STEVEN LERMAN: THANK YOU.
REPORTER: STEVE, CAN YOU ASK RODNEY?
STEVEN LERMAN: NO, NO QUESTIONS, NO QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
MAN: STEVE, STEVE AND I WILL BE AVAILABLE IF
YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
STEVEN LERMAN: GO AHEAD, OKAY.
*
MAN: TEN SECONDS.
PRESIDENT BUSH: TONIGHT, TONIGHT.
TONIGHT, TONIGHT, [HUMS].
TONIGHT I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT VIOLENCE IN
OUR CITIES AND JUSTICE FOR OUR CITIZENS.
WHAT WE SAW LAST NIGHT AND THE NIGHT BEFORE IN LOS ANGELES
IS NOT ABOUT CIVIL RIGHTS.
IT'S NOT A MESSAGE OF PROTEST.
IT'S BEEN THE BRUTALITY OF A MOB, PURE AND SIMPLE.
AND LET ME ASSURE YOU, I WILL USE WHATEVER FORCE IS
NECESSARY TO RESTORE ORDER.
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.
YOU MUST UNDERSTAND THAT OUR SYSTEM OF JUSTICE PROVIDES FOR
THE PEACEFUL, ORDERLY MEANS OF ADDRESSING THIS FRUSTRATION.
WE MUST RESPECT THE PROCESS OF LAW,
WHETHER OR NOT WE AGREE WITH THE OUTCOME.
IN A CIVILIZED SOCIETY THERE CAN BE NO EXCUSE,
NO EXCUSE FOR THE MURDER, ARSON,
THEFT AND VANDALISM THAT HAVE TERRORIZED THE
LAW ABIDING CITIZENS OF LOS ANGELES.
NONE OF THIS IS WHAT WE WISH TO THINK OF AS AMERICAN.
IT'S AS IF WE WERE LOOKING IN A MIRROR THAT DISTORTED
OUR BETTER SELVES AND TURNED US UGLY.
WE CANNOT LET THAT HAPPEN.
WE CANNOT DO THAT TO OURSELVES.
IF WE ARE TO REMAIN THE MOST VIBRANT AND HOPEFUL
NATION ON EARTH,
WE MUST ALLOW OUR DIVERSITY TO BRING US TOGETHER,
NOT DRIVE US APART.
THE VIOLENCE WILL END, JUSTICE WILL BE SERVED.
HOPE WILL RETURN.
THANK YOU AND MAY GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
REPORTER: PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH AND HIS ADDRESS TO THE
NATION FROM THE OVAL OFFICE.
TIME FOR YOUR REACTIONS ONCE AGAIN FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY.
FT. WASHINGTON, MARYLAND.
YOU'RE ON THE AIR.
CALLER: FIRST OF ALL, MR. BUSH SPOKE OF THE LAST
48 HOURS AS IF IT'S THE FIRST TIME HE'S NOTICED
THAT AMERICA HAS A PROBLEM.
UH, IT'S ALWAYS HAD A PROBLEM FROM ITS INCEPTION
FROM 1776 WHEN THEY SAID, UH, ALL MEN WERE CREATED
EQUAL AND WE HAD SLAVERY.
CALLER 2: IT WAS STRIKING TO ME THAT THERE WAS NO DIRECT
STATEMENT TO THE AFRICAN AMERICAN POPULATION AND THERE
WAS COMPLETELY MISSING ANY SENSE OF A REALITY ABOUT HOW A
NATIONAL LEADER MIGHT MOVE PEOPLE TOWARDS RECONCILIATION.
CALLER 3: PEOPLE HAVE TO SEE THAT THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO
MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD.
IF THEY ALLOW, WHEN THEY HEAR A POLITICIAN,
TO TRY TO EXPLAIN THIS AWAY AS BEING THUGS AND MURDERERS,
THINGS WILL NOT CHANGE.
THIS HAS GOT TO BE A PEOPLE MOVEMENT.
UH, PEOPLE CAN MOVE POLITICIANS.
THE COMMUNITY LEADS.
THEY DON'T FOLLOW.
POLITICIANS FOLLOW.
THEY DON'T LEAD.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO REMEMBER.
[HORN HONKING].
[CHANTING "STOP THE VIOLENCE"]
MAN: WE ARE GOING TO SHOW THEM THAT HERE,
THE LATINO REALLY WANTS TO SUPPORT THIS CITY.
WE NEED THEM TO BRING JUST BROOMS AND GLOVES,
AND THE CHILDREN, AND THEIR ENTIRE FAMILY WILL BEGIN TO
CLEAN THE WHOLE CITY.
CROWD: STOP THE VIOLENCE, STOP THE VIOLENCE.
WOMAN: YOU KNOW, IT'S IMPORTANT TO SEE THE FULL
SCOPE; THE BURNING, THE LOOTING, AND THE CLEANING UP.
A PERSONAL OPINION IS JUST THAT, YOU KNOW,
EVERYBODY NEEDS TO WORK TOGETHER AND IF THIS CAN JUST
CONTINUE IT'D BE WONDERFUL.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK IT WILL.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, A FEW PEOPLE SAY OKAY,
I PUT IN MY TIME.
I HELPED CLEAN.
AND THEY'RE NOT GONNA DO ANYTHING.
YOU KNOW, PROVE ME WRONG.
YOU KNOW, OH GOD, PROVE ME WRONG.
YOU KNOW?
MAN: ALRIGHT, WE HAD ENOUGH, THAT'S RIGHT, FOR PEACE.
[HORN HONKING].
WOMAN: THAT'S RIGHT.
HONK FOR PEACE, HONK FOR PEACE.
REPORTER: I WAS DRIVING DOWN WESTERN BELOW WILSHIRE AND
I LOOKED TO THE LEFT AND SAW A SEA OF PEOPLE.
THESE ARE KOREAN-AMERICANS WHO GATHERED TODAY TO
CALL FOR PEACE.
MAN: THIS IS OUR CITY AND MUST NOT DESTROY OUR OWN HOMES.
TO STAND UNITED TO STOP ANY FURTHER SENSELESS
VIOLENCE AND DESTRUCTION.
REPORTER: MOST OF THEM ARE WEARING WHITE HEADBANDS.
THEY SAY THAT IS A SYMBOL OF PEACE.
THE ONE SIGN THOUGH THAT STOOD OUT IN MY MIND THE MOST
WAS A SIGN THAT SAID, "WE KNOW IT WAS INJUSTICE.
WE KNOW IT WAS INJUSTICE."
MAN: WE STAND TOGETHER WITH ALL THOSE WHO WANT
JUSTICE IN THE KING CASE.
WE MUST STOP POLICE ABUSE WHEREVER IT OCCURS.
CROWD: WHAT DO YOU WANT?
PEACE.
WHEN DO WE WANT IT?
NOW.
WHAT DO YOU WANT?
PEACE.
WHEN DO YOU WANT IT?
NOW.
WHAT DO YOU WANT?
[INAUDIBLE CHANTING]
WOMAN: THROUGHOUT HISTORY, THE ONLY POWER I BELIEVE THAT
THE POWER POOR PEOPLE HAVE AND POWERLESS PEOPLE HAVE IN THIS
COUNTRY COMES FROM OUR UNRULY BEHAVIOR, OUR, OUR, OUR RE,
OUR RESISTANCE TO AN ORDER THAT WOULD PLACE US
AT THE BOTTOM OF THE TOTEM POLE.
CROWD CHANTING: WE WANT JUSTICE, WE WANT PEACE.
WE WANT JUSTICE, WE WANT PEACE.
*
REPORTER: THIS IS WHERE IT BEGAN.
THIS IS WHERE THE FUSE WAS LIGHTED.
IT BEGAN WITH THE ARREST BY WHITE OFFICERS OF THE
CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL OF TWO YOUNG NEGROS,
ONE ON A CHARGE OF DRUNK DRIVING.
THERE WAS AN ARGUMENT.
THERE WAS A SCUFFLE.
THE STORY OF POLICE BRUTALITY QUICKLY SPREAD
THROUGH THE COMMUNITY.
UP THE STREET A BLOCK OR SO IN THAT DIRECTION,
A CHURCH WHERE NEGRO LEADERS PLEADED FOR PEACE
AND WERE REJECTED.
DOWN THAT WAY, THE BUSY INTERSECTION WHERE CARS WERE
OVERTURNED AND BURNED, WHERE OTHER CARS WERE STONED,
WHERE A TELEVISION TECHNICIAN WAS PULLED FROM HIS WAGON AND
ALMOST BEATEN TO DEATH.
JOHN SHABAZ: WHAT HAS CHANGED?
THE ONLY THING THAT WE'VE DONE WAS THAT MASSIVE FORCES WERE
BROUGHT IN TO SUPPRESS THE ACTUAL OVERT ACTION.
RAMONA RIPSTON: THE INCIDENT IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT.
THE DIFFERENCE THIS TIME IS THAT WE HAVE THE PROOF.
[YELLING INAUDIBLY].
WOMAN: YOU'RE GUILTY, YOU'RE GUILTY.
MAN: EVERY TIME SOMEBODY TALK ABOUT PEACE WE GET
A FOOT IN OUR ASS.
I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT PEACE NO MORE.
[YELLING INAUDIBLY].
PRESIDENT BUSH: IN A CIVILIZED SOCIETY THERE CAN BE
NO EXCUSE FOR THE.
CHIEF PARKER: MURDER, PILLAGE, LOOTING,
AND ARSON HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH CIVIL RIGHTS.
MAN 2: "GET OUT OF THE CAR, NIGGER.
ASSUME THE POSITION, NIGGER.
SIT ON THE CURB, NIGGER.
LIE FACE DOWN ON THE GROUND, NIGGER."
MAN 3: WHY SHOULD NOT WE GET RESTLESS?
MAN 4: I DON'T THINK IT'D EVER STOP, REALLY.
I MEAN, IT MAY NOT BE LIKE THIS, BUT IT'LL NEVER STOP.
WOMAN 2: THIS IS NOT FAIR, THIS IS NOT FAIR,
THIS IS NOT FAIR, THIS IS NOT FAIR.
MAN 5: THAT'S NOT GOING TO HELP.
WOMAN 2: THIS IS NOT FAIR, THIS IS NOT FAIR,
THIS IS NOT FAIR, THIS IS NOT FAIR.
BILL STOUT: A CRISIS IN OUR COUNTRY SAYS
THE MCCONE COMMISSION.
SO SERIOUS AND EXPLOSIVE IS THE SITUATION THAT UNLESS IT
IS CHECKED, THE AUGUST RIOTS MAY BE ONLY A CURTAIN RAISER
TO WHAT COULD BLOW UP ONE DAY IN THE FUTURE.
WHAT SHALL IT AVAIL OUR NATION IF WE CAN PLACE A MAN
ON THE MOON BUT CANNOT CURE THE SICKNESS IN OUR CITIES?
THIS IS BILL STOUT FOR CBS REPORTS IN LOS ANGELES.
GOOD NIGHT.
* [MUSIC PLAYS THROUGH CREDITS] *