Firefighter Anthony Smiljanic's Perspective

Third, the thesis is demonstrated through firefighter Anthony Smiljanic’s perspective. Anthony is apart of the Los Angeles Fire Department, and during all the rioting, he sees first hand, the things people say, and the way people feel. For instance, it is on Day 3 of the riot when he says, “There’s nothing to do but stare at new red, blue, or black graffiti that says, ‘F**k the Police,’ and ‘F**k the National Guard,’ and ‘Kill Whitey,’ and try not to take it personal (156) . . . I’ve never seen anything like it” (156). Smilijanic understands both sides of the riot, and tries to be completely unbiased and unprejudiced whilst doing his job - unlike the police who arguably started this whole riot. Smilijanic witnesses his superior Gutierrez when