Future Tense

Past Imperfect

Future Visions

Disturbance One:
Thursday, Oct. 24

Disturbance Two:
Wednesday, Nov. 13

Perceptions

FLASH POINT!

St. Petersburg, Florida

It's becoming a familiar scene: Rocks, bullets, fire, tear gas and anger.

But wait. This is St. Petersburg, FL, where retirees play shuffleboard and tourists lug cameras and beach bags from one attraction to the next.

On Oct. 24, 1996 TyRon Lewis became the latest in a long line of flash points around which community's rally.

Rodney King . . . Los Angeles . . . Jonny Gammage . . . Pittsburgh . . .
Nathaniel Gaines . . . New York . . .

Mr. Lewis' shooting death by a white police officer set off two separate incidents of violent disturbances in October and November 1996. Our community still is trying to make sense of it and find peace.

But the road is long and the future promises to be tense.