Was working as a field engineer during the 1992 Los Angeles riots throughout Los Angeles. Watched Reginald Denny getting attacked live on a Hollywood Bungalo studio monitor. What happened that day, was the first trouble we saw were the Anarchists. They came out early and were hanging around 711's and small stores. Looked like they were meeting up. That riot was very different because it cut across racial lines. The main theme was that police brutality was under trial. And yes there was police brutality routinely performed in Los Angeles. Have seen it done on a person and they had some nasty bruises. But that particular person also kinda deserved it.
IMHO - The Martin Riots will not be about the police. At least initially. Blacks do realize that going up against armed America is suicidal. So what they will try to do is create some incident involving police brutality that will cut across racial lines.
I don’t have a feel for how bad or if there will be riots, but I agree with you, they will be different thatn past riots.