Quote from maxpi:
LA had a Black mayor at the time. One guy from his police commission went to the LAPD precinct leaders one at a time and told them not to resist the rioters. We never found out who sent that guy. In the areas where the precinct leaders didn't get the message or ignored it rioting was nipped in the bud. In the areas where they did not resist the rioting went on and on. Florida will be fine if the police do their job.
Citizens should find out what they are allowed to do in times of riot, I believe that they are allowed to fire away but it might depend on local laws. There were no prosecutions for shooting rioters after the LA riots.