The word most often used by outsiders to describe the Watts and other riots is "senseless". Why would people destroy their own community Popular explanations of riots focus on the character of the rioters. According to the "riffraff(群氓，社会渣滓) theory", the hint of mob action attracts delinquents (少年犯罪者), uneducated and unemployed drifters (流浪者) and criminal types who delight in violence for its own sake. Most residents do not approve of the rioters’ behavior or participate themselves. According to the "rabble-rouser (煽动者) theory", most riots are started by political militants who deliberately plant false rumors, create panic, and stir the crowd to violence. In the case of the Watts riot, investigation by the President’s National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders proved these popular theories false. A majority of Watts residents approved of the riot. Sixty-two percent saw riots as a form of protest, not criminal behavior; 64 percent thought the merchants whose stores were looted (抢劫) or burned deserved what they got; 83 percent said whites were now more aware of black Americans’ problems; 58 percent believed the long-term consequences would be favorable. About 20 percent of Watts residents were active participants in the riot; another 30 percent watched sympathetically from the sidelines. Of the 3 927 people arrested, 2 111 were over twenty-five years old, 1 113 had no previous arrest record, and 965 others had been arrested before But were never convicted. The typical rioter had been born and raised in the area, had more education than the average non-rioter, was more involved in community affairs, was employed at least part-time, and was no poorer than the average non-rioter. Three-fourths of the rioters (like three-fourths of non-rioters) had grown up in a stable, intact family. What seemed to distinguish rioters from non-participants was a strong sense of black pride and the feeling that they deserved better jobs and were being held back by racism. Finally, there was no evidence at all of a conspiracy (阴谋，密谋). Watts rioters weren’t trying to overthrow the capitalist system--far from it. As widespread looting demonstrated, they wanted a greater share of the nation’s riches.
The word most often used by outsiders to describe the Watts and other riots is "senseless". Why would people destroy their own community Popular explanations of riots focus on the character of the rioters. According to the "riffraff(群氓，社会渣滓) theory", the hint of mob action attracts delinquents (少年犯罪者), uneducated and unemployed drifters (流浪者) and criminal types who delight in violence for its own sake. Most residents do not approve of the rioters’ behavior or participate themselves. According to the "rabble-rouser (煽动者) theory", most riots are started by political militants who deliberately plant false rumors, create panic, and stir the crowd to violence.
In the case of the Watts riot, investigation by the President’s National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders proved these popular theories false. A majority of Watts residents approved of the riot. Sixty-two percent saw riots as a form of protest, not criminal behavior; 64 percent thought the merchants whose stores were looted (抢劫) or burned deserved what they got; 83 percent said whites were now more aware of black Americans’ problems; 58 percent believed the long-term consequences would be favorable. About 20 percent of Watts residents were active participants in the riot; another 30 percent watched sympathetically from the sidelines.
Of the 3 927 people arrested, 2 111 were over twenty-five years old, 1 113 had no previous arrest record, and 965 others had been arrested before But were never convicted.
The typical rioter had been born and raised in the area, had more education than the average non-rioter, was more involved in community affairs, was employed at least part-time, and was no poorer than the average non-rioter. Three-fourths of the rioters (like three-fourths of non-rioters) had grown up in a stable, intact family. What seemed to distinguish rioters from non-participants was a strong sense of black pride and the feeling that they deserved better jobs and were being held back by racism. Finally, there was no evidence at all of a conspiracy (阴谋，密谋). Watts rioters weren’t trying to overthrow the capitalist system--far from it. As widespread looting demonstrated, they wanted a greater share of the nation’s riches.
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