American residents rushed to the scene after watch-
ing the televised beating to prevent his death.
Construction worker Fidel Lopez, a Guatemalan
immigrant, arrived at the same intersection soon af-
terward. Members of the mob tore him from his
truck, ripped off his clothes, spray painted his body,
stole nearly $2,000, and smashed his head open. Ar-
riving on the scene as one of Lopez’s ears was being
severed, an African American minister took his un-
conscious body to the hospital, where his ear was re-
attached and he regained consciousness.
Although some police arrived at the fateful inter-
section, they were frightened by what they saw. Lieu-
tenant Michael Moulin, the officer in charge, or-
dered his small unit to withdraw from the scene.
Later, firefighters were also so intimidated by the
mayhem that they were not on the scene to stop the
burning.
One hour after the rioting began at the intersec-
tion, local businesses were completely looted and
burning. The mob then moved into other areas,
blocking the path of firefighters and police by posi-
tioning burning vehicles. Carjackings occurred, and
drivers were beaten as they proceeded. Other mobs
emerged as far away as Inglewood, not far from Los
Angeles International Airport, where flight patterns
were altered. The downtown protest turned more vi-
olent, with rocks thrown at windows of buildings. Po-
lice Chief Gates, assuring the public on television
that rioting would soon be brought under control,
went to a political fund-raiser instead of directing a
response while police donned riot gear and awaited
orders to act.
Within six hours after the verdict was announced,
the riots were out of control. Mayor Bradley de-
clared a state of emergency and a curfew. California
Governor Pete Wilson ordered two thousand mem-
bers of the National Guard to mobilize; they arrived
the following day (April 30). Korean Americans,
many of whom had served in the military, organized
to defend Koreatown in open gun battles as mobs
moved north toward Hollywood and northwest to-
ward Beverly Hills. California Highway Patrol offi-
cers were flown in. President George H. W. Bush also
pledged to bring support.
Calm Gradually Returns On the third day (May 1),
the burning and looting continued while the Na-
tional Guard presence swelled to 4,000, and 1,700
federal law-enforcement officials arrived. Rodney
King, interviewed on television, asked “Can we all
get along?” To assure African Americans that their
cries for justice were being heard, President Bush as-
sured that a federal grand jury investigation would
consider civil rights charges against the four officers.
On the fourth day (May 2), 4,000 active-duty sol-
diers arrived with tanks and armed personnel carri-
ers. A peace rally attracted 30,000 people. Calm re-
turned to the city, though there was a lone incident
on May 3. The riots were quelled before reaching
Beverly Hills and Hollywood.
On Monday, May 4, Bradley canceled the curfew
and banks and schools opened, but sporadic crimi-
nal activities continued for several days. California
National Guard personnel left on May 14. Federal
troops exited on May 27.
In all, fifty-three people died in the riots. Gunfire
from rioters killed twenty-five persons, and NationalThe Nineties in America Los Angeles riots 529
A fire rages near Vermont Avenue in Los Angeles on April 30,
1992, during the riots.(AP/Wide World Photos)