Tensions explode in L.A. // Businesses burned, motorists attacked

Sally Ann Stewart;Haya El Nasser

04/30/1992

USA Today

FINAL

Page 03A

LOS ANGELES - Less than three hours after acquittal verdicts were read for

four Los Angeles police officers, gangs of angry, young black men took to the

streets in search of their own brand of justice.

They looted stores, attacked passing cars and trucks and set fires in stores.

Youths smashed car windows and threw rocks at Normandie and Florence streets

in south-central Los Angeles.

Some frightened drivers, trying to avoid flying rocks and bottles, crashed into

each other, then ran to nearby businesses for safety.

But businesses weren't safe, either. A corner liquor store and gas station were

looted.

Local television showed several youths pulling a long-blond-haired truck driver

from his cab and beating him with crowbars. As he was struggling to get up, a

youth spit on him. Another smashed a heavy object on the man's head.

Live helicopter shots showed no police on the scene.

But LAPD Cmdr. Robert Gil said police were simply stepping back and

regrouping.

Only four units had been assigned to patrol the area, Gil said, and they needed

more.

``It would serve nobody to have too few officers and go in and get hurt,'' Gil

said. ``We want to get enough units to get in there and take control.''

At Parker Center, LAPD headquarters, a crowd of 300 protesters stormed the

building. Police in riot gear formed a human barrier. Protesters were screaming

taunting remarks 3 feet from them.

By 8:30 p.m., protesters had toppled and set fire to a guard shack, had burned a

flag, and were throwing rocks and bottles. Some arrests were made.

Johnny Jones, 22, who lives in the Florence-Normandie area, said the violence

``is wrong. That makes the neighborhood worse than it is.''

Said Kevin Bruce, 36: ``Moving the trial to Simi Valley was supposed to be

justice. Now people are frustrated and they feel betrayed.''

Mayor Tom Bradley joined 2,000 residents at a rally at First African Methodist

Episcopal Church. Some booed when Bradley said violence would ``only destroy

every positive thing we are doing.''

But boos turned to cheers when Bradley said he had been reassured that the

Justice Department would reactivate their investigation into whether the four

officers violated Rodney King's civil rights.

Contributing: Jonathan T. Lovitt and Melanie Neff

CUTLINE:CAR ON FIRE: Spectators and rioters stand around a burning car late

Wednesday in south-central Los Angeles.

GRAPHIC;b/w,Marty Baumann, USA TODAY (Map,L.A.);PHOTO;b/w,Steve

Grayson,Riverside Press-Enterprise