[Fiji Hill]

My grandfather, uncle and their family (Americans of Japanese descent) ran and lived behind a small market right in the middle of the LA Watts riot in 1965. Even though we lived only 10 miles away there was nothing that could be done to help them.

A friend of mine had an aunt who lived at around 95th Street and Figueroa, a few miles west of Watts, and right in the middle of the riot zone. He and his father and sister were preparing to drive their station wagon into the area, armed with rifles and pistols and with heavy planks to use in the windows as armor, and rescue her, but it turned out she was OK.

[chrisinoc]

“A friend of mine had an aunt who lived at around 95th Street and Figueroa, a few miles west of Watts, and right in the middle of the riot zone. He and his father and sister were preparing to drive their station wagon into the area, armed with rifles and pistols and with heavy planks to use in the windows as armor, and rescue her, but it turned out she was OK.”

People who have businesses or homes in the area are getting smart by arming themselves rather than depending on the mercy of the rioters or police. In 1992, Hollytron in east Hollywood put people on the roof with rifles and no one came near the store.