From Statesman to Strongman: The Dangerous Difference in Deploying the National Guard

by Mark M. Bello In April 1992, the city of Los Angeles erupted in flames. The acquittal of four white police officers who brutally beat Rodney King—a moment immortalized on grainy camcorder footage—ignited widespread outrage and unrest. The situation spiraled quickly: property destruction, looting, and violence overwhelmed local authorities. In response, Los Angeles Mayor Tom […]