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CNN Live Today

South Central Remains Economically Disadvantaged After Riots

Aired April 29, 2002 - 11:35   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: We have been revisiting the days of rage ten years ago here in Los Angeles. Right now, CNN's Eric Horng takes a look back at the riots, and at the recovery efforts.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ERIC HORNG, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Five days of rage. Five days of fear. When it was over, more than 50 people were dead, thousands of buildings had burned. The city of Los Angeles and much of the nation left wondering how things could have come to this.

RODNEY KING, VICTIM OF ALLEGED POLICE BRUTALITY: Can we all get along? Can we get along?

HORNG: Shortly after the acquittal of four white police officers accused in the videotaped beating of black motorist Rodney King, the city's South Central district erupted in chaos. The violence and looting spreading to nearby neighborhoods.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Fires all over the city, and the police not doing anything about it. Word getting out, and people just getting the idea, I can go get some stuff, and nobody is going to stop me.

HORNG: By one estimate, the riots caused a billion dollars worth of damage.

(on camera): Ten years later, South Central remains one of the city's poorest neighborhoods, even as the nation's economy as a whole prospered during the 90s, South Central lost tens of thousands of jobs. Today, unemployment remains well above 20 percent.

(voice-over): The process of rebuilding has been hard. Repairing the community's image even harder. Especially for those trying to bring industry into the neighborhood.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: People have that perception that something -- we are at the OK Coral, or something out here every day, and it is not that.

HORNG: Also attempting an image makeover, the LAPD. Despite other problems, the department is more racially diverse today. As for Rodney King, after years of run-ins with the law, he will be spending this anniversary in a drug rehab center.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There is people carrying away boxes...

HORNG: A decade later, opinions vary about the lessons learned from the riots. The answers remain as complicated as life in LA itself.

Eric Horng, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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