RIOTS ROCK SAN JOSE People react with shock, anger to King verdict tPvo4 PAR DAILY Ito Vol. 98, No. 64 Published for San lose State University since 1934 Friday, May 1, 1992 Protest erupts into violence
MYCIO I. Sanchez -- - Daily staff phot,,,, Protestors were divided as some called for violence (top) and others begged for a peaceful demonstration (bottom) Wednesday night against the verdict of the Rodney King beating trial Protests and rallies take over campus, downtown as result of discontent
Pushing as a unit, the racially mixed but predominantly Riot breeds violence black and Ilispanic crowd, forged off down San Salvador. Rallies split between peace, destruction Spartan Daily City Editor Tony Marck was jumped, Daily sta ff report struck and his backpack was stolen. A flash was yanked Daily staff report RELATED SToRiES Swarming though SJSII and San Jose's downtown from Spartan Daily photographer Scott Sady. streets, crowds of stink ms and local residents stung the city Guy Wallrath was watching television in his Joe West As of 10:40 p.m. Thursday night, downtown San Jose Opinions on the verdict Page 1 with anger and violence Wednesday night. room when someone came in and said, "Man, if you're was seeing a repeat performance of the night before Thursday's press conference, police And they left scars. white, don't go downstairs." magnified. respond to the violence Page 3 What started as a mild campus protest against the The crowd moved like molten lava, splitting near the Rioting, window breaking, looting, fires and arrests Timeline, map and photographs of Wednes- acquittal of four Los Angeles police officers in the Rodney Dining Commons. One group set out for ITPD while the again tainted the night air as violent protests of the verdict day night's riots, campus reactions King beating case, split off in two or more groups about other began the march to San Jose Police Department and in the Rodney King beating case continued. Awes 4 and 5 11:30 p.m., ending in at least five student arrests and leav- City Hall. Like moths drawn to a flame, passers-by and A fire was reported in the Engineering Building over the Page 6 ing a residue of shattered windows and looted stores in their television viewers joined the forces. Windows were broken Spartan Daily's police scanner at 10:21. The report could Damage report path. at I PD and paper bins upset. not be confirmed. At least two fire trucks had just raced up First-person account of the riot. an RA dis- Momentum for this tense four-hour infestation gained Alberto Vcrduzco, a sophomore in mathematics. yelled San Fernando at 10:10. cusses riot repercussions, summary of the strength after at least two campus groups, Striving Black "If they won't give us justice, we have to take it." Once again the protest seemed to split in half. A mostly news from Associated Press Page 7 Brothers & Sisters and Students tinned for Accessible Educa- A blur of hoarse voices echoed between SIMI buildings peaceful protest had its beginnings at 7 p.m. at Sixth and tion, began to organize a peaceful protest against the verdict at on San Carlos One black student, I,es Shepherd. had expe- Julian streets. They had maintained their composure still by "This is a state of emergency. This campus is not safe Joe West flail, according to Juan Ham, SI1AE president. rienced police brutality firsthand, but didn't approve of the 9:45 p.m and moved their demonstration to the San Jose for you. Go away." a 11niversily police officer in front of With a swelling chant of, "No justice, no peace." some violence from some of the crowd. police department. Admissions and Records told reporters at 10:15. of the protesters huddled together, trying to ignite a flag. "I've been Nat up by police in Inglewood just for look- Others broke off on their own. Angry rioters stormed "Don't take the bus. Don't take the Light Rail. ('all your Ilaro directed the crowd to head for the police department ing wrong," he said as he strode down San (ark.. "But the down Second Street, breaking windows and screaming. daddy, your boyfriend. Somebody to pick you up." he said. while some protesters buffeted a KNIN news crew on the answer is to use your minds not your fists." By 10:15 the violent mob had clashed with police on At 10:35 members of the mob had made their way scene. The KNTV reporter, Wallis Alvin, shouted "Why Many screamed with anger over Wednesday's verdict. Santa Clara and First Street. Riot police chased anyone on through campus, running and shouting that they would try don't you guys go to the police department?" KNITV news "There was a goddamn video and nothing happened to the street. The scene was described as chaos. to block off Highway 280 as they headed in the direction of director said Thursday that Alviar was "trying to diffuse the the officers," said sophomore Dana Lovelace. "If they were Moving down San ("arlos toward &1St 1, shouting Duncan Hall. The crowd turned their wrath on people, situation." crowds left broken windows in their tracks. Police cars But it only seemed to encourage it. See RIOT Page 6 drove into the crowds and three to six arrests were made. See RAM; Page 6
4 2 Friday, May 1, 1992 San lose State University SPARTAN DAILY FORUM OPINIONS EDITORIAL Verdict sparks flames of anger across America
Nation moves Guard onto the streets of L.A., sending the city into a police state mentality. This would succeed in bringing order to the toward 'separate troubled area. Order, that is, until the Guard left the area and the residents pick but unequal' up the riots where they left off. Or, the National Guard can ignore the the tinder-dry section problem and go home, and the rioters can that is South Central Los continue their actions until the only In remaining part of the site is the concrete Angeles, the verdict was it was built upon. the spark to set it all off. No matter what, the riots will The fire of anger burning within the continue. The people of South Central residents translated to a conflagration of L.A. and African-Americans around the flames and smoke, not only in Los nation will not forgive the gross violation Angeles, but all over the country. of justice that Rodney King faced. Unlike It wasn't surprising. The only question the white Americans who suffer from left is, where do we go from here? short-term memory loss (where did the In the introduction of the "Report of furor over sexual harassment go?), the National Advisory Commission on African-Americans have been keeping Civil Disorders," Tom Wicker, former score on the injustices they have faced New York Times Bureau Chief, and are lashing out concluded that "Our nation is moving Also from Wicker's introduction: toward two societies, one black, one "Segregation and poverty have created in white separate but unequal." the racial ghetto a destructive Wicker wrote these words 24 years environment totally unknown to most ago. white Americans. What white Americans but what In 1992, more than ever, his words are have never fully understood Ed Fowler Spartan Daily still true. the Negro can never forget is that The result of the trial against the four white society is deeply implicated in the LAPD officers was a brutal slap in the ghetto. White institutions created it, face of minorities. white institutions maintain it, and white LETTERS TO THE EDITOR And now, minorities are slapping society condones it." back. Brutally. And now, black Americans are As far as we can tell, the state has two burning it down, in the ultimate response Stop the hatred Each other. doned; nevertheless, it is an integral part of options. against the hell they have been put As individuals we have the ability to our justice system, education system, and Gov. Wilson can put the National through for the past 300 years. Editor, stand together, to look beyond color, sex, most other systems. Most people placed the Lately this newspaper has run stories and ethnicity. To let ourselves rise above the blame where it belonged: on our govern- letters that attack oppression throughout the problems of the world and unite to improve ment But! was concerned about signs I saw world, that examine the injustices of govern- it for future generations. We have the power protesting "White Justice". ments, that cry in fear of losing liberties and to begin again. What our parents have left The trial was not white justice. It was no point to racism and anti-semitism. I'm going for us will not work. Let's start over so that justice, period. Although racism by blacks WRITER'S to try not to talk about that stuff. our own children won't be so cynical. against whites is more easily understood What lam going to talk about is what we We did not decide the fate in the Rodney than the opposite, it is still wrong. None of should be reading about: How to stop the King case. We do not support war in the us chose our race; therefore, being of any FORUM Monika Jung hatred. On Wednesday this country thought Middle East. We did not elect to use the gas race could definitely not be a personal fault. that 12 people in Southern California would chamber. It is not a fault, period. We may have some say that it is wrong to beat a man excessive- We can move on ... together. Stop the differences but we are all equal (though ly. They didn't say that, but we already know hatred! Someone should make buttons that apparently, some pigs are more equal). that it was wrong. What is so incredible is say that. Racism breeds racism and serves the gov- Was blind, but now I see what happened in the aftermath of the ver- Randy Levinson ernment that inflicts it. It is not black against dict: nine people dead (and none by the Senior, administration of justice white, but poor against rich, and "we the dismissed the evidence in front of my hands of the police). people" against the corporations controlling Ihaven't cried in along while, but when I came home Wednesday night face and made excuses. I tried to put For someone who was not alive in 1965 Wake up to reality the power in this country, even though and turned on the television myself in the shoes of the Senate. to see what happened in Watts,! was aston- blacks and native Indians are indeed more displaying the fury of injustice, my I let them get away with Thomas's ished by the rioting; L.A. looked like a disas- Editor, affected than other groups. It is time to be heart tugged down the tears. nomination just like I let Bush get away ter area, kind of like in October '89 when the I was delighted to see my campus waking very angry and it is a good time to act upon I sat there for some time unable to with the belief we needed a war. I whole Bay Area pulled together to help each up in response to the outrageous results of this anger. But one has to make sure to direct comprehend the juries verdict in the protested and wrote letters against the other in the face of a disaster that was com- the Rodney King's beaters trial.! was at the the anger where it belongs, so that "we the Rodney King incident. Until now, I have war but to no avail the war fought on. pletely unexpected. What about today? Our amphitheater on Thursday at noon where people" can be united. Those of us who are always considered myself to be an I went to great lengths to believe the economy is depressed, the job market sucks, many people expressed their disgust with the prejudiced could be educated once the edu- optimist. I have seen injustices prevail; American system worked the best it it's a bitch to graduate, and who really wants American justice system and with govern- cation system is renovated. You cannot i.e. Clarence Thomas, William Kennedy could. After all, we are better off than a to anyway? We live in a perpetual disaster ment sponsored racism. Most were using BEAT the prejudice out of a person. Smith, Oliver North and the Iran-Iraq lot of countries, I thought. I made excuse area, and we saw it coming. What do we do very strong, very appropriate words. Ben Weinberg war, to name a few, but my naive after excuse trying to believe in a county now? Who is there to turn to? Ourselves. This racism may not be officially con- Senior, journalism personality blinded me from the truth. I was brought up to love. My whole life I have truly believed I am as guilty as the twelve people on America was increasingly becoming a the jury who let four racist, beating, just place when it isn't. incompetent, disgusting policemen free Carol Tavris wrote that psychologists to beat again. say we need to believe in a just world, a The jury permitted the travesty IN THE world in which people get what they because they wanted to believe in the deserve, good is rewarded, and sin four white cops' reasoning to beat a punished. The belief in this just world is black man. The jury justified the beating CATBIRD SEAT Ellie Molloy a fundamental delusion that is central in because this world is racist and white the way we organize experience, making jurors would rather believe in an entity sense out of confusion, justice out of (the police force) they were brought up to cruelty and unfairness and orderliness out respect and believe in rather than a black of random events. This belief in a just man who's race has been historically Play perpetuates homeless stereotype world protects the legitimacy of the discriminated against for centuries. established order. This lying to ourselves has gone much "Squats", a play about Homeless individuals are "college This time, though, Nelson, who now Researchers say that when a belief in too far and the fighting in toe streets Whenthe homeless, opens at the students, grandmothers, everyday people," lives in the Evergreen area and is pursuing a just world clashes with an obvious fact illustrates just how far it has gone. University Theatre today, she says. "Only a minority of people who a bachelor's degree in sociology, chose to of injustice, one will deny the evidence I am scared. Veronica Nelson will not be are homeless are on drugs." keep her distance from the stage. Reality or reinterpret the event entirely. A person The King verdict is doing nothing for in the cast. The SJSU student, who was People often cannot afford even so- hurts. She did not feel at home with any of will go to great lengths to protect the racial ties. I walked by a black man today once homeless herself, chose not to called affordable housing and find the characters in "Squats", she says. basic faith. holding up a sign protesting the verdict audition, although tempted to do so. themselves without a place to live, Nelson Veronica Nelson may not be This theory epitomizes and defines and I felt like a piece of shit. I hate being Nelson, 35, and the mother of four says. "A job which pays $5 an hour performing this time around, but she will America and the people in it. a white person right now and I feel like I children ages 4-18, did not participate doesn't pay the rent." stop by the 390-seat auditorium to check Since we were small children our am being scrutinized and looked down because, she says, the play gives a Nelson knows the pain of loss. Loss of out "Squats". "I've got friends in the parents taught us what was good and bad upon when I walk by a group of black stereotypical view of homelessness. "I self-esteem. Loss of self-worth. "In show. It's going to be a good show. I'm and our teachers implied America was people. have to deal with men and women and welfare lines you hear a lot of no's," she definitely going to be there," she says. the greatest place in the world. America My only hope is that things will get children who arc fighting on a day-to-day says. Presently, residents at her shelter was the place dreams could come true. better before they get worse. It took basis to get hack on their feet," Nelson hear themselves addressed as "Mr. and "Squats" will be performed at 8 p.m. The idea that all people were created looting, arson, fighting and deaths to says. Her experience working at the San Mrs." It helps them feel good about May 1-2 and May 7-9 and at 2 p.m. May 6 equal and democracy is for all rang finally make Bush realize he has to take a Jose Family Shelter confirms her personal themselves, Nelson says. at the University Theatre, Fifth at San through my brain as truth. stand on an issue be has previously experience: The homeless dislike being "When I went to school at SJSU I Fernando Street. General admission is $9 I have taken what I have learned and avoided. cast in a stereotypical manner. started as a homeless person. I lived at the and $6 for students. The box office is treated it as fact. Now we will have to see what it will "Squats" gives credence to our San Jose Family Shelter and auditioned open from 12:30 to 5 p.m. weekdays or When Clarence Thomas' nomination take to make some changes. Hopefully preconceived notions about homelessness, for a part in 'To Be Young, Gifted and call during those hours at (408) 924-4555. I had this feeling in my gut this way will not be violent. Nelson says. Actors portray abusive Black. Nelson played a variety of parts, was accepted, Ellie Molloy is a Daily staff columnist. of disappointment and anger. How could parents, alcoholics, drug abusers and run- including Mama in a scene from Lorraine Monika Jung is a Daily staff Her column appears every Friday. they believe him over Anita Hill? I writer. aways, which, Nelson feels, is inaccurate. Hansberry's "A Raisin in the Sun."
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EDITORIAL STAFF ADVERTISING STAFF ANGFJA HILL, executive editor MICHELE BALL, advertising director FONY MARF.K, it)' editor JASON ROTHMAN, arts and entertainment editor LYNN BENSON, pnkluaion and design editor MONICA CAMPBELL, features editor VERA DAYODDI, retail advertising manager GREG CAMPBELL, production manager LESLIE A. SAL/MANN, photo editor ANNE DOILIQUET, sports editor HANN SCHNITTGRITND, art director RAMIE G. RAMIREZ, marketing manager DONNA BRAMMER, chief photographer JOHN VIFJRA, wire editor ANDY RAVI, national advertising manager MIKE CHO, downtown manager CIUSTA E. HARDIE, forum editor TRACI DDGUCM, copy chief REPORTERS: Vibha Bann), Adele Oalluect. Stacey Goggin. Brian Harr, Month Jung. Dorothy nudes. Marcia Lepler. lea Mahler. Veil na Nome. ("primal Niederer. Mike O'Reilly. Smits Patel, Tolm Perez, Atone Sayarnemd, Jim Silva PNOTOGRAPITIRS: Shells Dawkina. ACCOUNT EXECV7IVES: Ryan CAM, Neelam Patel Nader Saghall Marne Rowland. Scon Sady, Matelot Sanchez. Nathan Souza CoLUMNISTS: Brooke Shelby Biggs, Swan Brown, Ted R Comerford, RiMert ARTIST? Lisa Quinn I Muer khatorner. Ellie Molloy, Robert W Scoble Corr Dunned: Pete Borello, Barbara !Milroy, Faye Well. ARTISTS: FA Fowler. Fred I impert
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SPARTAN DAILY San lase State University IN Friday, May 1, 1992 Police respond to protest SJSU officials speak out on campus riot with riot-control tactics goal was to try and find a positive out- San Jose police did not interfere and come and not to find and punish the allowed UPD to deal with protesters By Alarvia 1.epler can involve calling in extra officers students involved. helped to reduce the potential vio- Daily Stall %roes and special units. "I think, as an educational institu- lence. If further assistance on campus is tion, we have a special mission to try But Chief Abeyta said officers Responding to an emergency call necessary, the SJPD will be there, and educate our students in how to would get counseling to help them at 11:16 p.m. from the University Damon said. deal with problems," Batt said. Ile said deal with the public's anger against Police Department, San Jose Police UN) officers are trained in the violence is never a solution. police as a result of the King incident. Department dispatched approximate- same way as San Jose police officers Henry praised the university police Abeyta said the main role of offi- ly 30 officers to campus Wednesday with the same powers and authority for their handling of the protests. cers on duty Thursday night would be night. as they have. Part of that training "What happened in L.A. doesn't to observe. They would only get According to UPD spokesman involves riot and crowd control. happen here," he said. involved if there was a threat to human Richard Staley, the San Jose officers Routinely, UPI) officers carry Batt cited the establishment of a safety or significant property damage. were called for assistance when the about 30 pounds of equipment on human relations board at SJSU as an Gerald Brody, interim vice presi- initial crowd of angry demonstrators their belts including: police radio, example of the university's long stand- dent for Student Affairs, and Fred Naj7 in front of Joe West Hall grew to a tear gas, handcuffs, keys, semi-auto- ing commitment to improving race jar, director of university housing ser- size that exceeded the ability of matic service pistol, spare anununi- relations on campus, and the adminis- vices, were also present at the confer- UPD officers to ensure their own tion, baton and flashlight. Under tration's current efforts were not just a ence. safety and the safety of students. The their shirts they wear soft body Vehna Nurse - Daily staff photographer "knee-jerk reaction" Najjar, who said he spent the night crowd was estimated to be between armor known to most people as bul- Janet Redding, director of university advances, with UPD Chief During the protest, henry had bot- walking up and down the residential 200 and 300 people. let-proof vests. They carry in their Richard Abeyta and Interim Executive Vice President Dean Batt tles thrown at the squad car he was sit- halls, said students there were dealing Throughout the night, UPD did patrol cars helmets with shields and ting in and was doused with water by with the events well and carrying on a everything to maintain the peace and gas masks. Of the 300 angry students protest- protesters. Nonetheless, he empathized healthy dialogue. avoid escalating the situation, Staley The helmet and shield were the Administrators ing, only 10 or 20 were involved with with their anger. Batt encouraged everyone to keep said. And while UPD officers were only special equipment worn by the violence, according to Batt, who "I did not feel this was a riot. I did channels of communications open. equipped with helmets, shields and UPD officers, Staley said. voice optimism praised student leaders who advocated not feel under siege" said Henry. "I've "I would be extremely disappointed batons, Staley said none of the offi- Wednesady there were between non-violence through the night. been in riots before" if we can't find a way to take a step cers used batons against the 15 and 20 UPD officers, according By Smita Patel Batt said the university's primary Henry said he thought the fact that forward and learn from this and grow.' protesters. to Samuel Henry, assistant vice pres- Daily staff WIWI' "Keeping the peace does not ident for student affairs.The large mean charging into the crowd," he group broke into two groups shortly Administrators, who had spent said. after 11 p.m. One group of about most of the previous night trying to With more protests and demon- 150 people forged west through calm angry students protesting the strations planned on campus, UPD is campus toward the UPD building Rodney King verdict, tried to cast a on what Staley calls "a higher degree and downtown San Jose. The other positive light on the incidents at a Earn $ while quit smoking of alertness," which he said involves group, about equal in size, according news conference Thursday. you a modified staffing pattern for the to an SJPD press release headed Dean Batt, SJSU's interim execu- time being. Staley said he does not northbound toward the SJPD and tive vice president, said the administra- know how many officers will be City Hall. tion's main concern is to let students SJSU SJSU included in that pattern, but at a news As many as five dozen windows know the administration understands SJSU conference Thursday afternoon, and doors were broken on campus their frustrations. FACULTY STAFF lIPD Chief Richard Abeyta said the mostly in Joe West Hall and the Din- "Our objective was to take some- STUDENTS department has 7 to 8 officers on ing Commons. A number of fire thing that was an angry moment for a WANTED WANTED duty now. The usual is 4 to 5 per extinguishers were tampered with lot of people and to focus that into a WANTED shift. and some trash cans damaged. The positive action," said Samuel Henry, Staley said officers will work in tJPD building, according to Staley, assistant vice president for student TO RECEIVE TO RECEIVE TO RECEIVE pairs if there is a concern for person- was not entered into by the protesters affairs. He spoke to a group of approx- al safety. Otherwise, procedures will and was undamaged. imately 300 angry students in front of REWARDS REWARDS REWARDS be normal. There is no actual written There were no reported injuries to Joe West Hall Wednesday night. policy for defining an alert status. students or officers, according to Sta- Henry was instrumental in arrang-
Officer Veronica Damon, spokes- ley. ing the forum Thursday morning Project, sponsored by San Jose woman for the SJPD, said her No arrests were made on campus, which gave students an opportunity to To participate in the Tobacco Use Awareness and Cessation (TUAC) department was well prepared for although SJPD officers arrested four vent their frustrations and concerns, State University Student Health Service. Students, staff and faculty tobacco users who register for the some kind of occurrence. SJSU students on suspicion of fail- according to Batt. program and attend 4 counseling sessions will receive a $20.00 certificate valid at Spartan Shops dining Damon anticipates future demon- ure to disperse and one SJSU student Anger over the acquittal of four facilities and Spartan Bookstore. Individuals who attend the counseling sessions with a student, staff, or strations and said SJPD is "on alert," on obstruction of an officer. All white police officers charged with the faculty tobacco user will receive a $28.00 certificate. meaning that the number of down- charges are misdemeanors. The five beating of a black motorist sparked town officers is increased and the students were booked in the Santa riots and protests in Los Angeles, command staff remains in touch with Clara County jail, cited and released. which were followed by protests at Remember, health problems associated with tobacco use have increased! It is the chief, single, cause of 11PD and the SJSU administration, At some future date, they will have SJSU and downtown San Jose. premature mortality in America, responsible for more than 390,000 deaths 1 in 6 U.S. deaths each she said. It can involve the addition to appear in court. None of the stu- Students piotesting at SJSU caused year. Also, in the United States alone an estimated 53,000 people die from secondhand smoke each yen of the riot helmet and shield to the dents was in police custody as of between $14,000-16,000 in damage, officers' equipment and if necessary Thursday at 1 p.m. mostly in the form of broken glass DON'T WAIT!!! A limited number of rewards are available for spring and summer 1992. Learn quit doors and windows, according to Batt. tobacco use skills now and receive a financial reward for your efforts. Call (408) 924-6119 or 924-6117 and make an appointment today. It can't do laundry or find you a date, but it can help you find more time for both.
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