At USC. In South Central.

And I was so dismayed by the looting and burning of all of the small businesses in this area. You may or may not know that South Central has (or had at the time, I don't know about the statistics now) a higher percentage of home OWNERS (vs. renters) than Pasadena, a predominantly white, middle class city nearby. So I never was exactly clear who was driving the small businesses out of the neighborhood. It sure didn't seem to me to be serving the best interests of the neighborhood.

And posting signs that said "Black owned" didn't seem to make any difference.

And all of the corner stores that made their living on alcohol sales but which also provided necessities and staples to their little areas, things like diapers and milk, had to re-apply for alcohol sales permits and most were denied by the city. So that prevented them from going back into business, which meant that people can't shop in their close neighborhood for the things they need.

I agree that protests were necessary. I condemn violence, however, irrespective of who is committing the violence. And I wonder whether the homeowners of South Central feel as though they got anything out of the riots/uprising.

I was on law review and we did a special issue on the uprising/riots. Fascinating reading.

Peace.

Interested in meditation? http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OkayDharma

May all beings be free from suffering.

May the merit of my meditation and any good acts I undertake be dedicated to the happiness and liberation of all beings.

~ ~ ~
All meetings end in separation
All acquisition ends in dispersion
All life ends in death
- The Buddha

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='_'=

Every hundred years, all new people