Looking Back at the 1992 Riots

* The Times’ editorial of April 27 (“Five Years On: Scars of Riots Linger, but Gains Are Clear”) and “City Still Viewed as Racially Split” (April 29) give us details of recent troublesome L.A. history. Into that mixture should go the earlier history of our growing metropolis. We have had periodic “explosions” or “riots” in this city.

A major one took place during World War II, when soldiers from the Santa Ana army base, where I was stationed, decided to go into Los Angeles and beat up the so-called “zoot suit” Mexican and Latin American population who wore their “flamboyant” clothes as a reminder of their national heritage.

Among the many reports are:

* “The Problem of Violence: Observations of Race Conflict in Los Angeles,” by the American Council on Race Relations, 1945.

* “Violence in the City--an End or a Beginning?” by the Governor’s Commission on the Los Angeles Riots (McCone report), 1965.

* “Riots in the City: an Addition to the McCone Commission Report,” by Joseph Boskin and Frances Feldman; editor, Audrey Rawitscher, 1967.

These reports need more careful study today to get a better understanding of ways to prevent such disturbances.

H. ROGIE ROGOSIN

Laguna Hills

* The beating of Reginald Denny during the Los Angeles riots five years ago is symbolic of the very worst and the very best of human nature. The unprovoked, anonymous beating illustrates what happens when man is caught up in the frenzy of his surroundings, where normal societal restraints are lost, exhibiting the mob mentality of mindless brutality.

In complete contrast, four young citizens saw a fellow human in need, and without regard to race, familiarity or their own peril, came to Denny’s aid and performed a superhuman task. These four people performed one of the most heroic acts of the decade, and it should be recognized as such. We should all view this as proof that there is hope in the world, and there is such a thing as “man’s humanity to man.”

JOANNA RONCAGLIA

Irvine

* The next time The Times wants to conduct a poll on racial attitudes, let them ask this question: “Are you personally responsible for the poor state of race relations in your city?” I am sure that a very high percentage of respondents would indicate that they are not the problem. The perception of prejudice in others is far more pervasive than the practice of prejudice.

The Times does a disservice by overstating on its front page the level of racial disharmony, while sidestepping part of the responsibility for perpetuating this supposed rancor. If all groups share the goal of improving racial relations, how can things not improve? The answer may be that the daily drumbeat of negativism found in your pages may not allow it.

JIM SCHNEIDERMAN

Palmdale