Where Are the Mourning Politicians?

Due to work constraints, I took a break last week. I’m back, continuing my series of chasing the One Thing in the realm of politics.

Late Spring, 1992

Los Angeles burned.

I watched with passing interest from the living room of Middle America. Why the fires, the looting, the riots? Rodney King—a black man—had been kicked and beaten by a group of police officers, and the event had been caught on tape by a bystander. The officers were charged. Tried. Ultimately acquitted. And in the fury of this misc...