THE DENNY BEATING TRIAL: THE VERDICTS : Voices and Reactions

After the reading of most of the verdicts Monday, people around the city commented:

“We are elated with the fact that the jury came back and did not find guilt on the most serious crimes. Damian Williams will not be spending life in prison.”

--Don Jackson, spokesman for Damian Monroe Williams’ family

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“Our judicial system is running its course. Now is the time to look forward, not back. . . . “

--Mayor Richard Riordan

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“The reactions and the response of our community today has made me, as your new chief of police, and me and my family as new residents of this city, very, very proud.”

--Police Chief Willie L. Williams

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“Let’s get on with life.”

--Reginald O. Denny

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“How we respond to the (verdicts) are reflections of how mature we are as a community. It’s past time we came of age.”

--The Rev. Cecil Murray of First AME Church

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“I think there is a sigh of relief that the majority of people feel. This anxiety and tension and confusion is tiring and it seems it’s nearing an end or so we hope. . . . It’s hard to escape the fact that the prosecution’s strategy exploded.”

--City Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas

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“It doesn’t do any justice to the victim. I think they were guilty all the way through.”

--Steve Ratcliff, 40, commenting outside Criminal Courts building

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“This restores hope for the young blacks in America in the judicial system.”

--Bryan Fleming, an African-American supporter of the defendants

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“When people do something wrong, they’re supposed to pay. . . . I didn’t do nothing to them. I only tried to live.”

--Beating victim Fidel Lopez

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“I know they were out there rioting but they weren’t the only ones. They shouldn’t be convicted for the crimes of others.”

--Dee Paterson, 62, a nurse in South-Central

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“We know they’re guilty. But I understand this is our system.”

--Former LAPD Chief Daryl F. Gates

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“They got off too easy . . . just like (LAPD Sgt. Stacey C.) Koon and (Laurence M.) Powell got by too easy. Something is wrong with our justice system. If I walk down the street and slap you upside the head and nobody gives me a proper punishment, I’ll do it again. That’s what’s going on now.”

--Richard Andrews, who rebuilt his Crenshaw area shop after riots.

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“After the verdict was read, everyone was saying sarcastically that now the white people are going to riot. But after that kind of talk, people generally agreed that Williams and Watson got off too easy.”

--Melton Bernard, machinist

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“While I have empathy toward African-Americans and their oppressive history in this country, fair is fair. In this case, the defendants deserved punishment. It’s frightening to think our system of justice has come to this.”

--Min Paek, Korean American Grocers’ Victims Assn.

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“I’m not going to question it. I’m glad it’s over. I think it’s important that we start focusing on our solutions. And we have to put this chapter behind us.”

--City Councilman Mike Hernandez

SOURCE: Times staff and wire reports