Rage Riot While Clintons Speak

By Stephen M. Silverman

08/11/1998 at 12:00 AM EDT

Rage Against the Machine could not have been a more appropriate name for the alternative rap-metal group yesterday, when Los Angeles Police on horseback fired pepper spray and rubber bullets at a crowd of 9,000 people after some 40 of them reportedly turned violent during a free Rage concert outside the Democratic National Convention. The black-clad youths who reputedly started the skirmish took to hurling concrete blocks, water bottles and parking signs at the cops, reported Reuters. "The police completely overreacted," said Michael Schmier, an unsuccessful Senate candidate who was caught in the melee -- which took place exactly at the time when Bill and Hillary Clinton were speaking inside the Staples Center. Meanwhile, LAPD Comdr. Dave Kalish said before TV news cameras, "We believe our response was strategic, measured and appropriate to the situation." He entertained no questions from reporters.