The Conservative Cave
Current Events => The DUmpster => Topic started by: Ralph Wiggum on August 25, 2011, 10:16:20 AM
-
In a current thread (http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1810301) about a not so recent Rodney King arrest, DUmmy Coffee Boy/Javaman recalls the LA riots after the King verdict:
Javaman (1000+ posts) Thu Aug-25-11 10:14 AM
Response to Original message
4. Was it that long ago? Almost 20 years?
Edited on Thu Aug-25-11 10:16 AM by Javaman
I was living in L.A. when the verdict came down. I was working on a commercial shoot in Antelope Valley. We had to cut shooting short due to a curfew that that was imposed due to the rioting.
I remember, before we wrapped everything, looking toward L.A. and seeing a plume of smoke. "That's not good", I thought.
We packed up and drove back. Myself and the rest of the crew had arrived back in town after Curfew.
After dropping off my production truck, I drove back to my apt in North Hollywood. The air was thick with smoke. The streets were deserted except for the random National Guard Humvee.
About 2 blocks from my apt., I was stopped by a Guard Unit.
They asked what I was doing out on the street after curfew. I explained I was coming back from a commercial shoot. He asked to see my license.
This was way before 9/11.
I stated, "is there Marchall Law?" He told me no. Then what came out of my mouth next, surprised even me, "then you have no right to ask for my license".
He exchanged glances with another soldier, the other guy nodded. He then told me, "get the **** out of here".
I rolled up my window and went home.
The next day, I had to take one of the camera trucks into hollywood for some retrofitting for the production. The location of the company, I needed to get to, was located at Western and Santa Monica.
Basically about 1/2 mile north from where Reginald Denny got his head bashed in.
I rolled slowly down the street. All my doors were locked. Groups of people were running in and out of various stores stealing stuff. Most of the windows were broken.
Large groups of people, 20-30, were drifting across Santa Monica.
I passed a convenience store. I suspect it was the owner and another guy, were on the roof with shot guns keeping guard. The road was covered with trash.
There was a Sears at the intersection of Santa Monica and Western. The glass for the windows and doors were busted out and several couches and other things were pulled out into the street.
About a block before I reached that intersection, two humvees pull up with guys manning the guns on the top.
I quickly turned down a side street. I was a dutiful if not stupid Production Assistant at the time, I had to take this truck to be refitted, nothing was going to stop me. I had to stay on mission. I know, dumb.
As I passed through the side streets, more groups of angry people roamed around. Many eying my truck. Some banged on my doors and threw things at me, but not much more. I had a tire iron on the seat.
I got to Western and turned right. Luckily, the place I needed to go was just one more block away and was enclosed in barb-wire (just a fact of having a business in that area). I was waved in by a guy carrying a pistol and the gate was closed behind me.
while there, a platoon (not sure of the size) of national guard, started clearing the streets. Mostly just crowd control and everyone just sort of broke up and left. I watched all of this from the front window of the business.
When I was finished, it was eerie quiet outside, with the exception of the ever present helicopters over head.
I then drove down Hollywood blvd. A number of stores had been looted. Stuff was all over the street.
From there, I went down Highland to Melrose.
Not as bad as Hollywood Blvd, but bad, never the less.
I finally got back to the production office.
They cut me loose.
It was a very interesting few days.
Needless to say, we were all very surprised at the verdict.
20 years later.
Mr. King, in no way deserved what he got from those asshole cops that night. While, he isn't a model citizen by any stretch of the imagination, I feel really bad for the guy. It seemed as if everyone wanted him to be something for them. Some wanted a hero, some wanted a leader, some wanted a new MLK, some wanted a scapegoat. Sadly, no one ever asked what Mr. King wanted. It seems he's just like everyone else. He wanted to be left alone to live his life the way he wanted to. Sadly, he has never been given that chance. While 20 years have passed, he is still paraded out before us all to pass judgment for whatever reason, to satisfy what?
I feel sad for our nation.
-
Marschall, Marshal's gay cousin.
-
Maxine Water's constitutiants are evil, and this narrative from the java primitive explains why.
It's also a glimpse into the type of chaos Dear Leader would like to see happen, as would al-Qaeda.
.
-
constitutiants
:lmao: :rotf: Dude, in a thread about a mangled word. Priceless!
-
Is it called "Marcel Law" in France?
:popcorn:
-
I saw the "uncut", "Uncensored" video one time...from then on all you ever saw was the cops beating hell out of him. If you ever saw the whole video, you'd wonder why they didn't just shoot the hopped up S.O.B..
-
I saw the "uncut", "Uncensored" video one time...from then on all you ever saw was the cops beating hell out of him. If you ever saw the whole video, you'd wonder why they didn't just shoot the hopped up S.O.B..
Yep. I did as well.
-
Is it called "Marcel Law" in France?
:popcorn:
:nelson:
:rotf:
-
I too was there in 91 and the Guard didn't come in for three or four days after the start of the rioting.
Damn DUches can't tell the truth about anything.
-
Juan. Pitched for the Giants.
-
Now here's a nightmare-inducing thought: What about Moo-chelle Law?
:panic:
-
I think the primitive meant to type Me-Chell law.... Where we are forced to buy overpriced 'organic' vegetables ( Vs the cheap 'synthetic' vegetables I normally eat..... :whatever:) else pay a fine to the gub-mint..
The monies collected are used to provide affordable health care for ailing trees, before it's too late..
-
Now here's a nightmare-inducing thought: What about Moo-chelle Law?
:panic:
You're right. That was nightmare inducing.