L.A. Riots Remembered Across the City
By Juli Ruiz
Sunday, April 29, 2012 | 10:18 a.m. PDT
Several events are scheduled Sunday across Los Angeles in remembrance of the riots 20 years ago. ATVN is covering the following events:
- Services at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m at the First AME Church, 2270 S. Harvard Blvd.
- Photographer Gary Leonard will host a reception at noon at his gallery, Take My Picture, for an exhibition of photos and videos taken by him and his son David on April 29, 1992 -- the day the Los Angeles riots broke out. The month-long exhibition is titled ``Parker Center" and is located at 860 S. Broadway
- Community Coalition, a social justice organization based in South Los Angeles, will continue a weekend-long commemoration of the L.A. riots by hosting ``South L.A. Rises: Community Fair and Rally'' at 1:00 p.m. to draw attention to vacant lots on Vermont and Manchester avenues. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is expected to attend. The rally will be held at 81st Street and Vermont Avenue
- The Anti-Defamation League will release a joint statement of unity, signed by a coalition of organizations in commemoration of the 20-year anniversary of the riots. The initiative involves Los Angeles' diverse communities in a stand against hatred, including the ACLU, Police Commission, NAACP, Asian Pacific American Legal Center, CHIRLA and the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center. It will be released at 1:30 p.m. at the Robert F. Kennedy School, 701 S. Catalina St.
- At 2 p.m.Revolution Books will host a panel discussion titled ``It's Right to Rebel Against Injustice,'' looking at the roots of the 1992 riots and what has or has not changed since then. KPCC reporter Frank Stolze will participate and the event will take place at 5726 Hollywood Blvd.
- A group called the Coalition for Community Control over Police will hold a speakout to mark the 20th anniversary of the riots at the intersections is Florence and Normandie avenues at 3 p.m.
- From 3:30-5 p.m. the SAIGU campaign will host an event featuring Mayor Villaraigosa and California Speaker of the Assembly John Perez. The event will take place at the Former Grand Olympic Auditorium in downtown Los Angeles, 1801 S. Grand Ave
- At 4 p.m. a "Solidarity Press Conference'' will be held in remembrance of the devastation and loss during the 1992 Los Angeles riots. Participating organizations are the 77th Street Area Community Police Advisory Board, the 77th Street Area Clergy Council, Cease Fire, Detours Mentoring Group, Project Accountability, Seeking Peaceful Solutions, Unity 2. It will take place on the northeast corner of the intersection of Florence and Normandie avenues.
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I was there! Sat home due to Martial Law, then Decided,Hey, Let's Leave! So , we did,and i Have Never been Happier about any Decision in My Life! It was NOT about Race, or even Rodney King, It WAS about L.A. P.D. ,and their Constant abuse of anyone who appeared Poor ,and could not afford an Attorney! I was harassed By them on Numerous occasions,and I am 6'1" Tall , Blond, and about as white-looking as possible,however, I made one fatal , (Nearly so after a few Beatings!) mistake! I appeared Poor, or working class, so , they felt no need to exercise ANY Caution about abusing Me verbally,and Physically! At 17 Years of age, I was stopped by Lennox Division Sheriff, Physically assaulted,and then Thrown into an ADULT JAIL! I caught the Crabs there,(Thanks Lennox Division!) and then , Unknowingly , gave them to My Girlfriend at the time! Happy Christmas Honey, We have the Crabs, Courtesy of the Lennox Sheriffs Division! The Officer that Beat me up ,actually had over 27 Complaints against Him of harassing Juveniles,and My Mother Filed a Formal Complaint, then the"Officer " was summarily Stripped of rank ,and benefits,and FIRED!!!! So ,as You can see, occasionally, Justice IS SERVED,and it is served COLD ! Police are Supposed to Be PUBLIC SERVANTS ,Not Neo-Nazi Storm-Troopers! We all need to let Our Elected Officials KNOW , we will not Stand for any More of this INSANITY, and I mean Everywhere in Our Beloved U.S.A. ! And we Need to do it NOW!