LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA

I went to Long Beach to photograph the aftermath of the looting and rioting.  The area of Long Beach which was hit hardest was a newer redevelopment area downtown.   

I had seen the actual rioting on TV and was livid that law enforcement did little to try and prevent the looting.  Perhaps they were just outnumbered but I assume it was more because of a directive from the Mayor telling them not to engage for fear of a political backlash.  The thing which saddened me most was seeing the people who lived above the stores and in the general area, you could tell the area had been really nice and cared for before the looting.