Baldilocks
I honestly think there were some people who wanted a riot to happen. Some people on the Right would have scratched their heads and said, "See, they are animals." Some on the Left would have justified riots as acts of a public frustrated by racism and injustice. As far as I can see, there was neither in this case. Tookie was a thug, perhaps a redeemed one... will leave that to the ultimate judge, but a thug who was directly or indirectly responsible for the deaths of hundreds if not thousands over the years (gang warfare, drugs, etc.). He got his ticket punched. Like J says, dead topic...
Few in South Central Los Angeles could get outraged about the passing of such a man. Too many of us who lived, or live there, have too many bad memories of, "that which Tookie wrought." As for his bretheren in the gangs... I suspect they knew that the LAPD was prepared for anything that might have happened yesterday. After the Rodney King Riots, I dont suspect LAPD will ever find themselves "unprepared," again. So like the cowards that they are, the gangsters were not going to risk challenging a prepared police department.
So the riots did not happen. And seriously, I doubt if there will be any cannonization of Saint Tookie, either. Those who want to compare him to Malcom X are idiots. I grew up in the era of Malcom X, and Tookie Williams was no Malcom X, any more than Cindy Sheehan is the modern Rosa Parks. This will be a story that will fade from the pages soon. If some of the folks who wanted to "save Tookie," are really serious, they should put their money where their mouths are and found an anti gang foundation in the mans name. Put some money where it is needed to help divert youth from gangs... But they won't. They will just move on to the next cause celebre, after all, "that is what hollywood is about."
As for the people on the Right and Left who were waiting for a riot, sorry you did not get a show...
Posted by David A at December 14, 2005 10:55 AM
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Crime | 411 Words
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Comments
Posted by: Juliette at December 14, 2005 01:21 PM
Preach brother. I grew up in Inglewood during the 70s and 80s, home of both the Inglewood Family and Crenshaw Mafia Bloods. To think that I had to constantly look over my shoulder because of these cowards makes me sick. And to watch my boys, cats who were good brothers and could have made positive contributions to the black community, get swept up in this crap makes me sick too. Thanks for the post!
Posted by: Lawrence Ross at December 14, 2005 05:50 PM
I come from the right, and I disagree that we wanted riots to happen. Most conservative blogs I read called BS on the riot speculation. People are more sane than that.
Also, I disagree that the right thinks of potential rioters as animals (come on, that whole "the right is a bunch of bigots" thing is a tired, untruthful canard).
But, I do agree that the sudden raising in stature of Tookie the gang-founder and murderer is retarded.
Posted by: indolene at December 14, 2005 08:15 PM
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