Racial Violence Breaks Out After Clergy-Media Jail Tour

The Sheriff’s Department struggled for a sixth day Thursday to halt violence in the County Jail system, as 200 Latino and black inmates clashed just after officials had guided the media through the Pitchess Detention Center on a tour.

Sheriff Lee Baca said officials were studying videotape of the riots in an attempt to identify the ringleaders and move them into single cells, presumably making it harder for them to instigate fights.

Baca again said that the melees, which left dozens of inmates injured and one dead, were started by Latino gang members as apparent revenge for feuds that began on the streets of Los Angeles.

“It will continue until the Latinos have had enough,” Baca said.

Jail officials have said that Latino inmates far outnumber black inmates, and that has emboldened some Latino gang members to act.

Meanwhile, a group of predominantly black activists, including representatives from the National Assn. for the Advancement of Colored People , held news conferences in South Los Angeles to condemn the violence.

Activist Earl Ofari Hutchinson of the Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable called upon political leaders, particularly Latino elected officials, to speak out against the jail attacks.

“We have got to stop the code of violence,” he said. “The silence by every major Latino leader in the city is troubling.”

Sheriff’s officials acknowledged that they have been overwhelmed by a week’s worth of violence that has left at least 28 hospitalized and nearly 90 injured. The worst of the attacks occurred Saturday at Pitchess’ North County Correctional Facility. Killed in that attack was a black inmate, Wayne Tiznor, 45, a convicted rapist in jail on a parole violation for failing to register as a sex offender.

Investigators said they traced Saturday’s riot to Mexican Mafia prison gang leaders, who they said “greenlighted” Latino jail inmates to attack blacks.

Since then, violence has continued at Pitchess in Castaic as well as at the Men’s Central Jail in downtown Los Angeles.

Thursday’s disturbance began shortly before 1 p.m. in two dormitories, each holding about 100 inmates in a large open room with bunk beds. The fighting, which resulted in no major injuries, was quelled when deputies fired gas into the areas.

“We are going to [review] extensive video monitoring of inmates to identify the instigators,” Baca said. “Those who initiated this are going to be identified. They are going to be isolated. They are going to lose all their privileges, and they are going to be charged with additional crimes.”

There are some indications that the level of violence might be declining, Baca said.

“In the latest disturbances, there was a lot of symbolic fighting,” he said. “Latino inmates were following the racial code of the jails that requires them to fight, but not really inflicting injuries. It’s clear many are reluctant to be involved.”

The violence came after about 70 clergy members -- most of them African American -- toured the North County Correctional Facility, along with about two dozen media members.

The clergy said they wanted to check the condition of the prisoners and offer solace in difficult times.

“Black inmates are begging us for help. They want to stay segregated and be protected,” said Najee Ali, of Project Islamic Hope, who was among those let inside. “They aren’t trying to start any trouble.”

The tense atmosphere was inescapable. Before the group entered, Sammy Jones, chief of the sheriff’s Custody Division, repeatedly admonished the ministers not to relay rumors or inflame passions. “I need people who are going to improve the situation, not add to it,” he said.

The group, whose ranks included several Nation of Islam members, including Tony Muhammad, talked with prisoners through the bars of the large dormitories where they were housed. To ease racial tensions, black prisoners had been separated from Latinos.

Inmates of both races complained that they had not been allowed to shower, phone home or put on clean clothes since the fighting began Saturday.

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Times staff writer Stuart Pfeifer contributed to this report.