Unfortunately, Governor Brown was in Greece. The Lieutenant Governor
was afraid to make such an important decision on his own initiative.
Finally, Los Angeles officials phoned Governor Brown in Athens, and he
gave his authority for calling out the Guard.
By the time the Guard arrived, all of Watts was covered with billowing
clouds of smoke. The looting and burning were no longer confined to
roving gangs of youths. Angry adults, who had previously only urged
them on, had become intoxicated by the mood of destruction. People of
all ages, many of whom had had no previous police record, began to
join. The pressure chamber had blown its valve and was now letting off
steam. Watts abandoned itself to an emotional orgy.
The National Guard had not been adequately trained to handle civil
disorders. It also came with a point of view which was unsuited to a
civilian outburst. They had been trained to work against an enemy, and
had a tendency to interpret every action in this way and to view all
the residents of Watts as enemies. When two drunks in a car refused to
stop at a Guard roadblock and ran into a line of soldiers, the Guard
interpreted it as a deliberate and malicious suicide attack.
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