Issue: Unrest in Los Angeles

Did the protest last Monday, when 55 people were arrested and rocks and bottles were hurled at police, indicate what might happen if there’s a guilty verdict in the upcoming trial of the men accused of taking part in the assault on truck driver Reginald Denny?

Manuel Guzman: Security guard, Pico-Union Of course, there’s going to be another riot like the last one. It’s going to come like a storm.

The Police Department is not going to be prepared because it takes a long time to get ready for things like this. They won’t have the time to get ready because the trial will be over too soon.

There’s a lot of frustrated people out there. And the sad thing is everybody is buying guns.

Roy Nitahara: Retired produce worker, Little Tokyo I don’t think so. The police chief will get it under control.

The police reacted faster Monday than they did in the last riot. All it takes is a couple of people to start it. They will, but it won’t get very far.

Linda Hudson: Grandmother, South Los Angeles There’s going to be violence. I know that. It’s going to start with gang-bangers . . . .

But if the police show some force, they can stop it. The last riot police stayed back and look what happened. This time they need to do their job.

Alex Watson: Street vendor, Crenshaw I don’t really know what’s going to happen. I just know something is going to happen.

I’m not saying those guys were right for beating up that truck driver. But if police can get away with beating Rodney King, and these black guys are guilty, then people are going to do something about it.

If black officers had beat up a white guy, they would have been convicted. That’s not justice. The last riot was just the tip of the iceberg of what could happen if we don’t get justice.

Ronald Lamount: Exec. director, L.A. Unemployed Council Yes, I’m afraid it is if a fair verdict (not guilty) is not handed down.

In Monday’s incident, people were provoked by a heavy police presence. The same thing could happen again.

Pablo Hernandez: College student, East Los Angeles Yes, definitely. We can expect some kind of riot situation.

I think what happened Monday is a (sign) of what could happen if these four guys are found guilty. Whoever the jury members are, they will be highly intimidated and influenced by what happened Monday.

Kim Han: Real estate broker, Koreatown Yes, the same thing will happen again. The same people will be rioting too.

This is America and everyone should have opportunity regardless of their color. But everyone doesn’t.

Melissa Cabasong: Clerical worker, Echo Park People are so frustrated. It’s bound to happen if those men are found guilty.

I just hope the Police Department is better prepared because we all suffer if something happens. We’ll have to pay more taxes to cover the damage. People won’t want to visit the city because they will think it’s dangerous.

Miguel Sanchez: Dishwasher, Downtown We’re going to have a bigger riot.

I think people are very unhappy with the way police treat them. They treat people worse than animals. They pull you over just because you are Latino.

Ida Emanuel: Cook, South-Central Los Angeles It won’t happen if the police are out there. They need to put more officers on the streets right away.

Last time there was no police anywhere. The community just took over. A lot of people were afraid to leave their homes because they could have gotten shot.