By Barry Sheppard
SAN FRANCISCO — The conviction of two of the four Los Angeles cops charged with violating Rodney King's civil rights by nearly beating him to death was hailed by President Clinton as proof that the "system" works and that justice was served.
The four had gotten off scot free in last year's California state trial, which touched off the Los Angeles uprising. Following that verdict, the federal government indicted them on the civil rights charges.
Contrary to what happened last year, there has been no unrest in the streets, although many say that justice was only partially served.
In the first place, two of the thugs got off.
And why were only four cops charged when there were more than 20 who participated in the assault, all of whom are known and indeed were seen by the world in the famous home video?
In the days before the verdict, there was a government and media frenzy of anticipation of another explosion, and a mobilisation of police and national guardsmen. Cops were put on overtime, costing about $1.5 million, the guard was in readiness, and even marines at nearby Camp Pendelton were on alert.
The maximum sentence the two convicted cops face is 10 years in prison (they could be eligible for parole long before that).
This maximum punishment contrasts sharply with the possible penalties four young black men face for beating a white truck driver during the riot last year, a beating that also was captured on videotape.
Originally, their trial was to have coincided with that of the cops, but has been postponed.
The contrast between how the two cases have been handled is glaring. The charges against the blacks range from attempted murder on down, and they could face 40 years if convicted. The state charges against the cops were of lesser severity.
One of the blacks is alleged to have opened the door to the white victim's truck, but not to have participated in the beating, but he faces the same charges as the rest.
The four have been held in prison on high bail, while the cops have been free on bail the whole time, and the two convicted cops still are.
A defence committee has been formed for the four men, not on the basis of claiming they are innocent or that the beating of the white truck driver was a good thing, but against this double standard.
The anger of young black men at the day to day, systematic violence they receive at the hands of the police was revealed in press reports of a meeting held in Oakland, California, between what were described as "gang members" and "responsible" black community leaders in the days preceding the verdict.
Besides talking about how they catch hell from the cops just for existing, the young men also got into explaining other effects on their lives of continuing racism, especially the high unemployment rate in the black communities, which among black youth is near 50%.
Their main message was, "We need jobs."