Platform : After the King Verdict: What Can Parents Do for Peace? : JUAN CRUZ / Member, Wilson High School PTA and Los Angeles Neighbor to Neighbor

I tell my kids that the best response to dealing with protest is not to destroy other people’s property, public or private. That is my way of dealing with protest. I tell them that we speak to government and express our beliefs in a civil manner. We all have to defend our rights. But there is a right way and a wrong way.

The media coverage showed nothing but the bad things that people were doing. But I told my kids to look around themselves, and try to make up their own minds. Don’t be followers. Be leaders.

My kids weren’t really angry about the verdict. They tried to stay informed day-to-day about the Rodney King trial. One of my kids is studying to be a sheriff. He shared some insight on the situation from a law enforcement point of view with the other kids. And, basically, he reiterated what I said. If you do things the right way, things will turn out good. If you do things the bad way, things will turn out bad. Don’t screw up and no one will screw with you.