Rioting in Los Angeles
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see the parallels between the Watts riots of 27 years ago and the post-Rodney King verdict incidents.
Having the benefit of experience, there is simply no excuse for bringing in the National Guard after the fact. This situation was easily foreseeable, and most certainly should have been.
Perhaps we just assumed a guilty verdict would be rendered. Apparently no one was thinking about a worst-case scenario. In the end, the citizens of Los Angeles are left with what amounts to a replay of history. But it didn’t have to be. The city of Los Angeles simply dropped the ball.
All it would have taken was a little forethought. The rioting and the looting were, in all probability, quite preventable.
STEVE CANTOS, West Los Angeles
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
