If you call it a riot, it sounds like it was just a bunch of crazy people who went out and did bad things for no reason. I maintain it was somewhat understandable, if not acceptable. So I call it a rebellion.

Remarks (May 1992), quoted in Los Angeles Times (29 April 2007) "Was it a 'riot,' a 'disturbance' or a 'rebellion'?" by Swati Pandey

Was it a 'riot,' a 'disturbance' or a 'rebellion'? - LA Times[latimes.com]