Local authorities claim that the recent unrest in L.A. bears no similarity to the turmoil experienced in 1992, often compared to the Rodney King incident.
Venturing Down Memory Lane: Reflections on 90s Unrest and the Present Upheaval in LA
The streets of LA, albeit for different reasons, have seen their fair share of turmoil over the past three decades. The clashes between National Guard troops, police, and protesters now paint a vivid resemblance to memories etched deep in the hearts of some Angelenos, echoing the deadly riots that erupted following the LAPD officers' acquittal for assaulting Rodney King in 1992.
But leaders who witnessed the uprising firsthand claim that the tactics currently unfolding, with President Trump's deployment of soldiers to LA and surrounding communities, bear little resemblance to the coordinated, collaborative response that occurred back then.
"It's not even close," said former LAPD chief Bernard Parks, who was a deputy chief during the 1992 unrest. "What you get is all theatrics, aiming to portray a grim picture of LA, as if the city is being overwhelmed."
The mayhem of the 90s ensued after four LAPD officers were acquitted despite being videotaped assaulting King. The events unfolded at a time when a deep chasm of distrust and animosity existed between minority communities and the city's police department. Federal troops joined hands with local law enforcement officers to restore order, but the outcomes were far from rosy. More than 60 people lost their lives, thousands were injured, and thousands more were arrested. Property damage exceeded $1 billion.
In stark contrast, the recent outbursts on the city's streets present a picture significantly more limited in scope, as stated by Mayor Karen Bass.
"There was massive civil unrest back then," she stated. "But here, nothing of that scale is happening."
As of Wednesday evening, hundreds of protesters were arrested or detained due to their actions during the protests, with buildings in downtown LA being vandalized, and businesses ransacked. Bass enacted a curfew in the city's civic core from 8 pm to 6 am, which she expects to continue for several days.
However, Zev Yaroslavsky, who served on the City Council in 1992, categorized the riots as "a massive citywide uprising," with thousands of people taking to the streets in various parts of the city. Yaroslavsky, who later served on the county Board of Supervisors for two decades, pointed out that while there are instances of inappropriate behavior among protesters currently, the impact on Los Angeles is a relatively small part of a sprawling city.
"All you are seeing is what's happening at 2nd and Alameda," he stated. "There's a whole other city, a whole other county that is carrying on as usual."
Another significant distinction from 1992 was the bipartisan cooperation among local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. In 1992, Governor Pete Wilson and Democratic Mayor Tom Bradley requested assistance from then-President George H.W. Bush. This cooperation is notably absent in the current situation, as the Trump administration sent ICE agents to LA and Federalized the state's National Guard without the state's governor's request, a practice last seen in the U.S. during the 1960s.
In closing, former LAPD chief Parks highlighted the consequences of poor communication between federal authorities and LA officials. Parks emphasized that the lack of coordination could inflame the situation by creating unnecessary delays in local law enforcement response, thereby exacerbating the crisis.
"You have spontaneous multiple events," he said. "And that is the key weakness in any operation. It takes time. You don't have a large number of people waiting idly for the next event, especially when it's spontaneous."
- Despite the current upheaval in Los Angeles reminding some residents of the 1992 unrest, former LAPD chief Bernard Parks has pointed out that the tactical responses are starkly different.
- In 1992, a deep chasm of distrust and animosity existed between minority communities and the city's police department, leading to widespread riots after four LAPD officers were acquitted for assaulting Rodney King, resulting in more than 60 deaths, thousands of injuries, and billions in property damage.
- In contrast, Mayor Karen Bass has stated that the recent protests in Los Angeles are of a significantly smaller scale, with hundreds of protesters being arrested or detained, buildings vandalized, and businesses ransacked.
- Zev Yaroslavsky, who served on the City Council in 1992, described the riots as a "massive citywide uprising" with thousands of people taking to the streets across the city, while the current situation primarily revolves around events at 2nd and Alameda.
- A major distinction from 1992 is the lack of bipartisan cooperation among local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, as the Trump administration sent ICE agents to Los Angeles and Federalized the state's National Guard without the state's governor's request, a practice that was not seen since the 1960s.
