By Alex Alonso for Streetgangs.com Magazine
Unfortunately there was what many called a .riot. that took place after the conclusion of the game. It started off with a celebration in front of the Staples Center around a fire on the sidewalk by those that where watching the game outside on the large screen television. There was an estimated 10,000 people watching the game outside and about 15 minutes after the conclusion of the game there were three small fires burning on the sidewalk in the street in front of the Staples Center. After the three fires were burning, a small group of about 5 males started to destroy an LAPD black & white cruiser that was parked on the street. After about 3 minutes into the assault on the LAPD car, several other people joined in and within 5 minutes, the car was ignited. Less than one minute later, about 15 LAPD officers in full riot gear converged on the car and chased off all the males. One officer attempted to open the trunk of the car, I believe to retrieve an extinguisher, but his key could not open the trunk, and within several minutes the car was fully engulfed. I watched all of this from the live television broadcast, and decided to grab my camcorder and camera to witness the events in person. I live about 3 miles west of the Staples Center and left my house at about 10pm.
It took me less than 8 minutes to find the epicenter of the action, and to my surprise it was not as large scale as the media (KCAL News) was presenting it on the live new cast. There was extensive damage to store fronts, bus benches, and newspaper stands, but the element of danger that was being portrayed via the telecast was extremely exaggerated. I spent two hours walking from block to block, taking pictures of the action and video taping those that were involved. There were several street trashcans and trash dumpsters on fire. The crowd was mostly male, about 80 percent, and of the males, most of them were Hispanic of Mexican decent. I also witnessed several small stores along Pico east of Staples being looted too. Some storeowners in the area came down as they too witnessed the events on television and came down to check if their stores were damaged. The LAPD, in full riot gear, converged several streets and chased groups away, but the same individuals were just being displaced to another block in the area. As more officers were deployed, the groups were being pushed further and further east and south of the Staples Center. Some of the groups were burning trashcans as far north to 30th street near the University of Southern California.
My response to this event is, "this is what happens when your team wins." I remember when the New York Yankees won the World Series in 1996 for the first time since 1977; the Bronx went crazy, especially around 161st and Jerome Avenue. I recall a car being flipped over and small fires erupting when the final game took place in Atlanta. The reaction on talk radio, characterizing these Hispanic youths as criminals, barbarians, savages, and gangsters is again overstated. OK, several people vandalized a police vehicle and set fires but there were no gang members down there. You may even work and know some of these people and they are not savages or criminal deviants. It was a celebration that went out of control. To be surprised that this riot took place and that the destruction occurred, would suggest to me that you are flat out nave. I was not surprised at what took place because this was the first time in 12 years that the Lakers won a championship. The Los Angeles Lakers management broadcasted a public service announcement when there was 1 minute left in the game asking for the fans to act with dignity, why? Because they foreseen what might take place. I feel that a degree of the negative backlash towards the participants of this riot is more about expressing discontent towards this racial minority group. The negative comments heard often emphasized the race of these participants rather than the acts they committed. Although there were very few blacks involved, many radio callers criticized the role of blacks; what riot were they watching. Whatever your view, the adrenalin rush is over so if the Lakers win another championship next year I do not expect to see the same reaction.
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Small Riot Erupts Outside the Staples Center after Lakers Win Championship
May 30, 2000
On May 19, 2000 the Los Angeles Lakers won the NBA championship over the Indiana Pacers. This marked the first championship in 12 years, and it was the first championship at the new Staples Center, which is located on Figueroa and just north of Pico in the downtown Los Angeles area.
