THE KING CASE AFTERMATH : NAACP Leader Calls for Healing : Rally: John R. Hatcher III tells the peaceful gathering that ‘racism is institutionalized.’ Officials of political and religious groups are in attendance.

The head of the county’s NAACP chapter told a peaceful gathering Saturday that racism is deeply rooted in Ventura County, but the healing process must begin.

“I spent a lot of time watching the system in progress,” said John R. Hatcher III, president of the Ventura County chapter of the National Assn. for the Advancement of Colored People.

“I say racism is institutionalized, and we’re all part of it. We have to start doing something about it.”

The gathering of about 100 people at the veterans’ memorial monument outside the Ventura County Government Center featured short speeches from representatives of religious and political groups, county Supervisor Susan K. Lacey and Ventura Mayor Greg Carson.

After the speeches, the microphone was turned over to members of the crowd, and at least a dozen speakers took advantage of the opportunity to vent their anger at the jury’s verdicts in the Rodney G. King case and to offer opinions on what the verdicts say about the state of race relations in the county.

Robert Bland said he was not surprised with the not-guilty verdicts, considering that the trial was held in Ventura County.

“I think the trial taught us a lesson: When a jury of our peers right here in Ventura County decides it’s not wrong for cops to beat up a black person, then it’s naive to think in this county we can count on reasonable people to reach reasonable decisions,” he said.

Some people chose to express themselves by drawing on and holding poster board signs: “I’m Outraged at the Acquittal,” “Stop the Riots, Keep the Protest,” “Social Justice for All,” “Justice???,” “Justice for All!??,” and, quoting King, “Can’t We Get Along?”

Organizers passed out sign-up sheets and vowed to organize more rallies. “It’s time to stand up and say enough. Enough violence and enough brutality. We have to evolve to a higher lever and reject racism,” said organizer Karen Anderson Moore.

“Racism lies just below the surface of our society,” said the Rev. Dick Watson Jones, representing the Ventura County Ministerial Assn. He invited everyone to attend a multi-congregational service at 2 p.m. today at the First Christian Church in Ventura.

The speakers took turns calling for action and unity.

“I hope we can make a difference,” Otis Gillespie said.

“It’s time for people to stop looking at the color of the skin,” Louis Bryant said.

“I just look at you and see no color. I look at you and see people I’d love to meet and love to love,” R. Rozy Fuller said.

Carson earned the applause of the crowd with his emotional speech. “I’m outraged at the acquittal, I am,” he said. “I ran for office because I’m sick and tired of the abuses people like you have to endure. I’m very frustrated. This trial gives new meaning to what it means to live in Ventura County.”

For Hatcher, the rally signified an important first step. “If everyone who came here lives up to what he said, then we have taken the first step in the healing process,” he said after the rally ended.

“However,” he added, “racism in Ventura County is deeply rooted in the minds, hearts and souls of a lot of people in this county, and there’s a lot of work ahead of us.”

Hatcher said he was satisfied with what was accomplished Saturday. “The speakers were right to the point. They didn’t dwell too much on what’s happening in L.A., but talked about the healing process that needs to take place here.”

Others were less optimistic. “Look at the crowd, look at the numbers,” Consuella Wright said. “People didn’t show up because they think this is somebody else’s problem. We need to unite.”