April 29, 2013 (Monday)
“By the end of the riots, people had reduced the spotless idyllic altars of the City of Angeles to cinders. But there are still lessons in those ashes” — Brandon Bowlin
In 1991, four Los Angeles police officers were video-taped beating Rodney King, who was in custody after being in a high speed chase and violently resisting arrest. The four officers were indicted for assault and excessive force with a weapon and brought to trial. They were found innocent on April 29, 1992, and the news was met with the worst riot in American history, televised for the world to see. The following paragraphs were edited from “History.com.”
Rioters blocked traffic in south-central Los Angeles and assaulted numerous drivers. Television broadcast the beating of Reginald Denny, who was pulled from his truck and almost beaten to death. Reaction from the police was slow to materialize and the riot spread throughout the city.
The National Guard came in and a curfew was declared. By the morning, hundreds of fires were burning across the city, more than a dozen people had been killed, and hundreds were injured.
Rioting and violence continued during the next 24 hours, and business owners defended their buildings with guns. On May 1, the president ordered military troops and riot-trained federal officers to Los Angeles and by the end of the next day the city was under control. The three days of disorder killed 55 people, injured almost 2,000, led to 7,000 arrests, and caused nearly $1 billion in property damage, including the burnings of nearly 4,000 buildings.
The three days of violence and mayhem are recorded for all to read, view and hear.Read the “History.com” report by clicking here.
Devotional Thought:
During the riots, Rodney King appeared before television cameras and pleaded, “Can we all get along?” He died 20 years later on June 17, 2012. He continued to have many problems in his personal life, including drugs, etc. He successfully sued the city for millions of dollars. It’s not a fairy tale ending nor was his a beautiful life story. We all know the riots were not really about him. Yet his plea as the riots were raging, “Can we all get along?” is a plaintiff cry I find myself uttering often. Why can we not all get along? Why the crimes? Why the wars? Why? Why? Why? Actually, there is a very simple answer: we are sinners one and all. If each of us accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord and truly obeyed him in our daily lives, the world would be an entirely different place. As I have heard said many times during my lifetime, “Christ is the answer!”