And the race-baiters took over. They suggested that the officers were acquitted because white folks were happy to see King’s beating. Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) quickly became an advocate for the rioters, and demanded that President George H.W. Bush issue a statement decrying the verdict and announce that the Justice Department would investigate.

And President Bush quickly complied. “Viewed from outside the trial,” he said, “it was hard to understand how the verdict could possibly square with the video. Those civil rights leaders with whom I met were stunned. And so was I and so was Barbara and so were my kids.”

By the end of the riots, 53 people had been killed, nearly 2,400 had been injured, over 3,000 businesses had been damaged. Nearly $1 billion in financial losses had been sustained.

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