Voices and Reactions

“Power to the people. Mark your calendar and see how long he stays in there. I’m going to fast and pray.”

--Georgiana Williams, Damian Williams’ mother

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“Mr. Williams will serve only about four years and will come out (of prison) the same way you saw him, with a big smile on his face and waving to his friends and family. In our opinion, Mr. Williams deserves 10 years of actual time.”

--Gil Garcetti, Los Angeles County district attorney

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“It was definitely within the range of sentencing that Damian Williams should have gotten. I am impressed that the judge had the guts to do it in view of tremendous amount of political pressure that had been put to him throughout the trial. I respect the judge for his courage.”

--Attorney T.S. Chung, founding president of Korean American Coalition

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“What I hope this does not do is send a message that it’s perfectly permissible to go out and riot if people get a verdict they don’t agree with.”

--Lea Purwin D’Agostino, deputy D.A. in Van Nuys

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“I thought (the sentence) was a little harsh. I think Mr. Williams has served enough time. I thought he should get an additional two years to what he has already served. . . . (The) district attorney’s office was overly aggressive in pursuing these defendants. The charges were excessive.”

--Carolyn Walters, forewoman of the jury

More Voices

“It’s a gross miscarriage of justice.”

--John Cager, minister of youth at First AME Church

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“To discuss this case any further serves no purpose. We’ve gone through a traumatic time in this city. Communities have been pitted against each other. Labels have been placed on individuals by both sides. Enough is enough. Let us get on with correcting the inequities in our society so that every human can realize his or her full potential.”

--Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles)

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“Everyone tries to compare this to the Rodney King case, and it is not. . . . I thought the sentence was very just.”

--Father Juan Santillan of Our Lady Help of Christian Church in Lincoln Heights

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“We have been through a gut-wrenching, very painful series of events. Hopefully the sentencing can close the book on this chapter because I think people want to move ahead. But moving ahead means that people can now focus attention on addressing some of the underlying problems that produced this series of events.”

--John Mack, Urban League chapter president

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“I strongly support the judge’s decision to impose the strict penalties available in this case. . . . The time has come to put behind us this unfortunate and painful chapter.”

--Gov. Pete Wilson

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“I am satisfied with the judge’s sentencing but not with the jury’s earlier verdicts. They were too lenient. I also think the other defendant should have gotten time in prison.”

--Jong Park, Koreatown liquor store employee