In 1992 when I was in high-school in Newark, NJ I decided to join the rest of my high-school during the Rodney King riot. We left school as a group around 1:00 and there were many with good intentions.
Mounted police arrived and one girl pulled out a knife, lunged at a police horse and stabbed it. The police began swinging and things went nuts. Then a group of people who were basically troublemakers started breaking windows on West Market Street. They started looting.
Sneakers, clothes,etc... it raged for 3 or 4 hours until people got out of work. White people were robbed, and beaten. Then black people were also robbed and beaten. Our presiding overseer Br. Kurtz was hit in the head with a brick.
I stole some shoes and clothes. I did it not because I was angry, but because I got caught up.
I dont sympathize. I understand how it happens. The mob mentality is strong and persuasive. Most people are involved because they want shit they can't afford.