After the Flames : Latino Leaders Seek Answers in Rebuilding Physically, Emotionally

Sifting through the ashes of the rioting that tore Los Angeles apart, Latino community leaders are searching for ways to help rebuild the city--both physically and emotionally. The rioting was so devastating and exposed such huge fissures along the lines of class and race that true solutions seem elusive, but some officials and community residents found reasons for hope.

“I think the first thing we have to do is look and see what it is we can learn from this,” Los Angeles Councilman Richard Alatorre said. “If all the rebuilding is a physical restoration of buildings impacted by burning . . . who’s to say that when they’re put up they (won’t be) burned down again?”

Antonia Hernandez, president of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, put it this way: “It’s not really even rebuilding--it’s building like we never built before, from the bottom up. You also need to address the poor communities that were not burned down. If you don’t, then you’re sending the message that the only way to get attention is through violence.”

The three days of destruction left a grim legacy: more people out of work, more homeless families, more strain and tension. It also left anger among some Latinos at the region’s established leaders and the Los Angeles Police Department.

“I think that these things happened because in 1965 (after the Watts riots) the politicians just put on a facade, a political show,” said Arturo Ybarra, president of the Watts/Century Latino Organization. “Everyone put forth their own agenda, but nothing was solved. The problems are still the same, but now they have spread to the rest of the city.”

The rioting began within three hours after a jury in Simi Valley returned not guilty verdicts in the case of four police officers charged with beating Rodney G. King. Because the incident had been videotaped and shown widely on television, the decision stunned much of the city and nation.

When the verdict came, UCLA demographer Leo Estrada said, “it was almost too much to hold in.”

The accumulation of factors started “with the recession, which has put a lot a pressure on people economically,” Estrada said. Then came the 1991 Latasha Harlins case, in which a Korean-born grocer was given five years probation in the killing of a black teen-ager. The furor over the King beating, he said, was followed by “the Christopher Commission (report) that showed that the LAPD basically was tolerant of racist attitudes.”

Estrada, a member of that commission, which investigated the LAPD, said the failure of the Police Department to take decisive action in the early stages of the rioting clearly demonstrated the need for “new leadership, thinking and accountability” in the department. He and a Latino coalition are urging that city Charter Amendment F be approved June 2. It would allow greater City Hall control over the hiring and firing of the department’s police chief and limit the police chief to two five-year terms.

The toll of the rioting was the nation’s worst this century: more than 50 people killed, 2,300 injured and $785 million in fire damage.

Unlike the Watts riots of 1965, which involved blacks in a much smaller geographic area, the recent rioting involved blacks, Latinos and a smaller number of whites and others. In a sign of the racial and economic tension in South Los Angeles, Korean-American merchants were targeted by black attackers.

Los Angeles police reported that among the more than 18,000 arrested, about half were Latino, seized mostly for looting, and a slightly smaller number were black.

Latinos were also prominent among the victims, including many who were driven from their homes by arson. Initial reports indicated that 30% to 50% of the estimated 4,000 businesses destroyed by arson belonged to Latinos.

The rioting erupted April 29 in the heart of South Los Angeles, with groups of angry African-Americans beating up Anglo, Asian and Latino drivers. Police pulled out of the area, and the violence escalated and spread north into Pico-Union, Koreatown and Hollywood. It also affected such neighboring cities as Compton, Long Beach and others.

Once the looting got started, many people from all ethnic groups joined in. Live television captured scenes of men, women and children walking out of stores with everything from Pampers to sofas.

Among Latino neighborhoods, looting and destruction were heaviest in Pico-Union, the heavily Central American refugee community, and in South Los Angeles, where Latinos account for half of the area’s population. In contrast, there were almost no problems in East Los Angeles.

“East L.A. is mostly third- and fourth-generation, a pretty stable community,” said Steve Valdivia, executive director of Community Youth Gang Services. “Pico-Union is an unstable area because people are not invested there, not settled. They’re more antagonistic and angry, which would be more akin to the South-Central area.”

Statistics just issued from the 1990 Census show that the poverty rate for families in South Los Angeles is higher today than in 1965.

In the soul-searching that followed the violence, civic leaders spoke of the need to re-establish priorities and forge coalitions.

City Councilman Mike Hernandez said: “The question is, ‘Can we build from here?’ Authorities want to pretend we’re (minorities) the problems. They don’t understand we need to put money into education and programs for everyone.”

Valdivia said: “We have to come to the realization that this is an international city and people here need to be allowed to participate and have ownership--in homes, the community, the ability to succeed, the ability to learn, and the ability to look forward to a future.... Investment in our youth population starts with education, recreation, things that build self-esteem, things that build a future for kids.”

Gloria Romero, campaign coordinator for Latinos for Charter Amendment F, said: “Overall, we have to look at ourselves and ask whether we have stood up since the King beating. He could have been a Latino or Latina. In the process of reconstruction, we are going to have to rebuild not only shopping centers but trust and confidence.”

Xavier Hermosillo, chairman and chief spokesman for the Latino group NEWS for America, was critical of the Latino leadership for not coming out in the early hours of the rioting and urging calm. He blamed it on factionalism among politicians.

“We can no longer afford to be p.c.--politically correct,” Hermosillo said. “That’s what I call political lockjaw. We need to tell it the way it is.

“Unfortunately, on the more liberal end of the Latino political spectrum there is a serious division between (Supervisor Gloria) Molina’s forces and the Alatorre and (state Sen.) Art Torres forces.

“Not only must these forces unite and put the political machinery aside, but they must recognize the other side of the Latino political spectrum (Republicans), and we must all come together.”

A number of community spokesmen condemned the rioting and the participation of Latinos, including illegal immigrants. But they noted that the whole community should not be blamed for the actions of a few.

Madeline Janis, executive director of the Central American Refugee Center, called for Latino leaders to unite and support new immigrants.

“There’s going to be a big backlash now because immigrants are an easy target, and if we don’t have the established Latino leadership defending the rights of the newer immigrants, then we are going to be in an even more desperate situation than we are,” she said.

Some Latino spokesmen urged building a greater political presence. Former San Antonio Mayor Henry Cisneros said: “There are many Latinos that . . . form part of the population but don’t form part of the vote because they are not registered. So they have no voice.”

A Los Angeles Times Poll found that 71% of city residents disagreed strongly with the verdicts in the King case. It also found that 75% believed that the violence sparked by the verdicts was “totally unjustified.” Three percent said the violence was “totally justified,” and 15% of Anglos, 32% of blacks and 21% of Latinos felt it was “partially justified.”

When asked to cite “who or what was most responsible for the violence,” these were among those most frequently mentioned: “thugs, gangs and agitators”: Anglos 37%, blacks 10%, Latinos 19%; rage and anger over the King verdicts as well as a general sense of frustration: Anglos 13%, blacks 22%, Latinos 23%; poverty and lack of jobs: Anglos 23%, blacks 14%, Latinos, 7%; LAPD Chief Daryl F. Gates: Anglos 11%, blacks 23%, Latinos 14%; racism: Anglos 6%, blacks 10%, Latinos 9%. Also prominently mentioned among blacks were the “justice system,” with 14%, and 13% of Latinos cited the King case jury.

An overwhelming number of residents--80%--thought the police reacted too slowly when violence erupted.

Almost 70% of those surveyed expressed optimism that the city could heal itself. Latinos and blacks were the most hopeful and whites the least.

Cardinal Roger M. Mahony, head of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, toured the riot-scarred area on the Sunday after the rioting as people from throughout the region began a massive cleanup.

At San Rafael Church, near the spot where the rioting began, at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Pico-Union and at two other churches, Mahony preached a message of reconciliation and rebuilding. He also said efforts must be redoubled to establish a Hope for Youth anti-gang program.

After one Mass, nearby resident Irma Lopez held her 17-month-old son, Edward, in her arms and reflected on what the cardinal had said. Nearby, National Guard troops patrolled both sides of Pico Avenue. “I found his message touching because I have a baby,” she said. “We should all unite for the sake of our children.”

Times staff writers George Ramos, Tracy Wilkinson and Frank Clifford contributed to this article.

Where to Get Post-Riot Assistance

Info Line is a 24-hour general information and referral service sponsored by Los Angeles County and the United Way. Operators can supply information on emergency food and shelter facilities and transportation agency updates. See numbers below:

Central L.A.: (213) 686-0950

San Fernando Valley: (818) 501-4447

San Gabriel Valley: (818) 350-6833

West L.A.: (310) 671-7464

TDD line for the deaf and hearing-impaired: (800) 660-4026

GENERAL

American Red Cross--(213) 739-2000; shelter information: (213) 739-4543.

Catholic Charities--Crisis counseling, shopping for senior citizens, financial help and other assistance; (213) 251-3551.

Mark Ridley-Thomas Hotline--For residents of city’s 8th district (South L.A.); (800) 400-2489.

Rita Walters Hotline--For residents of city’s 9th district (South L.A.); (800) 300-CITY.

Mexican Consulate--(213) 351-6825.

COUNSELING

Baha’i Center--Group therapy for children: (213) 933-8291.

Crime Victims--Volunteer professionals with the California State Victims of Crime Program will offer referrals; ask for “Victim Counseling”: (800) 873-2863.

El Centro Human Services--Spanish and English counseling available: (213) 725-1337, Ext. 444.

L.A. Child Guidance Clinic--Help for children and their families in Central and South-Central L.A.; help available in Spanish and English: (213) 749-4111.

FOOD

Hispanic Women’s Council--Clothing, household goods and food for families left homeless: (213) 725-1657.

Seventh-Day Adventists--Six area churches serve as food distribution centers: (818) 546-8400.

TRANSPORTATION

ATP Transit--Free rides for senior citizens and the disabled: (213) 299-3980 or (213) 290-2060.

LEGAL SERVICES

Holman United Methodist Church--Free counsel for families affected by riots; operates 5 to 8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays: (213) 731-7285.

L.A. County Bar Assn.--Free advice and representation for victims; 5 to 8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays; (213) 896-6494.

Legal Aid Foundation of L.A.--Disaster aid, relocation and emergency unemployment benefits for low-income residents; (213) 487-3320.

SENIOR CITIZENS

St. Barnabas Multipurpose Center--(213) 388-4444.

SVFIC East Valley Center--(818) 766-5165.

PICO-UNION AREA

Central American Refugee Center (CARECEN)--(213) 483-6868.

El Rescate--(213) 387-3284.

VOLUNTEERING

Volunteer Center of Los Angeles--(213) 484-2849.