We discuss the largely forgotten story of one of the largest riots in New York City history. In September 1992, some 10,000 off duty NYPs descended upon City Hall in a racially charged and drunken protest/riot, with their fury directed at Mayor David Dinkens, NYC's first and so far only Black mayor. We take a look at the details of the bizarre spectacle of off duty and on duty cops meeting at a bit of an "awkward" crossroads during the riot, the historical context of the event, and the instrumental role of the vile figure of Rudolph "9/11" "Don't-Call-Italians-Fascist" Giuliani.

Support: patreon.com/heatdeathpod

General Recommendations

• JD's Recommendation: Bad Religion - Let Them Eat War
• JNM's Recommendations: 1) The Vanguard Live with Abby Martin 2) “Here’s the awful truth: even if every person, every automobile, and every factory suddenly emitted zero emissions, the earth would still be headed—head first and at full speed—toward total disaster for one major reason: the US military.” —Barry Sanders, earthsgreatestenemy.com

Further Reading, Viewing, Listening

• In 1992, thousands of furious, drunken cops descended on City Hall — and changed New York history
• Rudy Giuliani’s 1992 police riot
• Crowd psychology
• Groupthink
• Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds by Charles Mackay
• The Crowd: A Study of the Popular Mind by Gustave Le Bon
• Rudy Giuliani Is Accused Of Inciting A Riot. It’s Not The First Time
• Officers Rally And Dinkins Is Their Target (1992 NYT Article)
• Rudy’s Racist Rants: An NYPD History Lesson
• Dinkins Denounces Police Protest As Furthering an Image of Racism
• WATCH: Did You Know Rudy Giuliani Helped Start A Police Riot In 1992?
• On My Mind; The Drug Papers by A. M. Rosenthal

Locationless Locations

• heatdeathpod.com
• Every show-related link is corralled and available here.
• Twitter: @heatdeathpod
• Please send all Letters of Derision, Indifference, Inquiry, Mild Elation, et cetera to:

Send us a text

Support the show