ABC NEWS NIGHTLINE: SPECIAL INVESTIGATION: MOMENT OF CRISIS: ANATOMY OF A RIOT (TV)

Summary

This special takes an in-depth look at the 1992 Los Angeles riots that began after three white police officers accused of beating a black man were pronounced not guilty in court. Ted Koppel hosts this program, which documents the progression of the riots in order to discern how the situation in Los Angeles got out of control. The following people comment on the incidents in L.A.: Lt. Mike Moulin of the Los Angeles Police Department; Mayor Tom Bradley; Lt. Michael Hillman of the police department's Metropolitan Division; Ted Rohrlich, an L.A. Times staff writer; Officer Steve Zaby of the 77th Division of the police department; Bart Bartholomew, a freelance photographer; Linda Breakstone, a KABC political correspondent; Sgt. Dennis Zine of the Valley Traffic Division of the police department; former Assistant Police Chief Jesse Brewer; victim Larry Tarvin; Rick Orlov of the Los Angeles Daily News; Officer Kenyard Bilal of the 77th Division of the police department; Willy Fobbs of the Metro Unit Probation Department; and Police Commissioner Daryl Gates. These individuals discuss the following topics, among others: whether or not a plan was made in the event of a riot; what their reactions were to the events in Los Angeles; how Mayor Bradley added to the problems; why the LAPD was not able to respond to the riots; their views of the events that occurred after the "not guilty" verdict was announced; the genesis and first events of the riot; why police officers retreated from the crowds; the lack of communication between the mayor and the chief of police; the attack on Bart Bartholomew; the rescue of an unconscious woman; the actions of the police commissioner; the lack of command over the police department; the frustrations of officers who were told not to respond to the mayhem; the problems with organizing the police; the spread of the destruction and the calling in of the National Guard; why looting was not stopped; why it took so long to deploy the National Guard in the streets of Los Angeles; and the results of the riots. Also included is footage of the following events: public reactions to the verdict as it was announced; Harold Greene and Christine Lund of KABC-TV Los Angeles reporting on the verdict; officials giving speeches about the riots; L.A. crowds looting; attacks on cars and trucks; police officers attempting to back off protestors in front of police headquarters; and the beating of a truck driver, as well as audio of the beating of a news reporter. Other clips feature the following: a minister attempting to help a victim who has been beaten, fires and acts of vandalism, fire trucks responding to calls without any LAPD help, an announcement that a firefighter has been shot, Governor Pete Wilson discussing the calling in of the National Guard, frenzied looting, and two Korean businessmen defending themselves with guns. Includes commercials, promos, and public service announcements. This program is closed-captioned.

Cataloging of this program was made possible by The Marc Haas and Helen Hotze Haas Foundation.

Details

  • NETWORK: ABC
  • DATE: May 28, 1992 10:00 PM
  • RUNNING TIME: 0:57:45
  • COLOR/B&W: Color
  • CATALOG ID: T:29584
  • GENRE: Documentaries; News
  • SUBJECT HEADING: News; Pillage; Race relations; Riots
  • SERIES RUN: ABC - TV, 1992
  • COMMERCIALS:
    • TV - Commercials - AT&T phone service
    • TV - Commercials - Boboli pizza pie crust
    • TV - Commercials - Cotton fabric
    • TV - Commercials - Discover credit cards
    • TV - Commercials - Ford automobiles
    • TV - Commercials - Fruit & Fibre cereal
    • TV - Commercials - K-Mart stores
    • TV - Commercials - Kaopectate anti-diarrhea medicine
    • TV - Commercials - Kellogg's Just Right cereal
    • TV - Commercials - Lever 2000 soap
    • TV - Commercials - Listerine antiseptic
    • TV - Commercials - Miracle-Gro No-Clog-2 garden and lawn feeder
    • TV - Commercials - Rolaids antacid tablets
    • TV - Commercials - Shout stain remover
    • TV - Commercials - Surf laundry detergent
    • TV - Commercials - Whirlpool dishwashers
    • TV - Commercials - Wisk laundry detergent
    • TV - PSA - Environmental Defense Fund: Recycle
    • TV - Promos - "ABC's Wide World of Sports"
    • TV - Promos - "ABC News: 20/20"
    • TV - Promos - "City Heat"
    • TV - Promos - "Critical Condition"
    • TV - Promos - "Primetime Live"
    • TV - Promos - "The Commish"
    • TV - Promos - "USA Music Challenge"

CREDITS

  • Ted Koppel … Host
  • Bart Bartholomew
  • Kenyard Bilal
  • Tom Bradley
  • Linda Breakstone
  • Jesse Brewer
  • Willy Fobbs
  • Harold Greene
  • Michael Hillman
  • Christine Lund
  • Mike Moulin
  • Rick Orlov
  • Ted Rohrlich
  • Larry Tarvin
  • Pete Wilson
  • Steve Zaby
  • Dennis Zine