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Glen "Rodney" King (born April 2, 1965 in Sacramento, California) was an African-American motorist who, while videotaped by a bystander (George Holliday), was beaten repeatedly by Los Angeles police officers (LAPD) during a police stop on March 3, 1991. The incident raised an outcry, as many people, both within and outside the African-American community, believed that the beating was racially motivated, excessive and an example of police brutality. The acquittal in a state court of four officers charged with using excessive force in subduing King led to the 1992 Los Angeles riots and mass protest around the country.
Description of the event
King had been pulled over for driving recklessly while intoxicated, at times of speeds up to 115 miles per hour through Lake View Terrace, a residential neighborhood. When the police ordered him out of the car, he refused, charging one of the police officers and throwing other officers on their backs. Twice, the police attempted to subdue him with 50,000 volt tasers, such high voltage was considered to be enough to put a buffalo down, but these did not succeed. (King was thought to be on pain numbing and strength enhancing drugs, such as PCP.) King then charged toward Officer Lawrence Powell, at which point Powell struck him with his police baton. The police kicked King and struck him 33 times with night sticks, first to knock him down, then to keep him there as he attempted to resume a prone stance.
In addition to the three officers personally involved in delivering blows, 24 other law enforcement officers allegedly watched the beating; some of them were said to have assisted in holding King down by placing their feet on his back. Two other African-Americans who were in the car with King cooperated with police and were not harmed.
Christopher Commission
President George H.W. Bush set up an inquiry under Warren Christopher. The Christopher Commission documented a high level of police violence and racism and recommended sweeping police reforms. Police Assessment Resource Center downloads
Indictment and prosecution
Three officers and a sergeant were indicted on March 15 for "assault by force likely to produce great bodily injury" and with assault "under color of authority," and two were charged with filing false police reports. Three of the men charged were non-Hispanic whites, and one was Hispanic.
The defense successfully filed for a change of venue away from Los Angeles County, where the incident occurred and where, it was argued, the policemen could not receive a fair trial, to suburban Simi Valley, in Ventura County, whose population is more affluent, contains a much smaller proportion of African-Americans, and contains a disproportionately large number of law-enforcement officers. However, the jurors themselves were drawn from the entirety of Ventura County which is not an entirely white and conservative county, and includes some blue collar and minority districts. At trial, the defense argued that the officers had legitimate reason to believe King was extremely dangerous and possibly on a mind-affecting drug such as PCP and that the force used was justified by that threat.
On April 29, 1992, three of the officers were acquitted by a jury of 10 whites, one Hispanic, and an Asian. The jury could not agree on a verdict for one of the counts on one of the officers.
Verdict, LA riots, and aftermath
The verdict shocked much of the country. The President of the United States, George H. W. Bush, made a rare statement on the trial, saying that the verdict "has left us all with a deep sense of personal frustration and anguish." "Viewed from the outside, it was hard to understand how the verdict could possibly square with the video." Then he made sure that the nation understood that this was a family response, not a presidential directive. The president added that he, his wife Barbara, and his children were "stunned" by the verdict. The verdict triggered massive rioting in Los Angeles, which left hundreds of buildings severely damaged or destroyed and dozens dead. Smaller riots occurred in other U.S. cities. King made an appearance before television news cameras to plead for peace, saying, "Can't we get along here? Can't we all just get along?"
On May 1, as the unrest continued, President Bush announced that he would most likely charge the officers with violating King's civil rights. King testified in this Federal trial on March 9, 1993. Then on August 4, a federal judge sentenced LAPD officers Stacey Koon and Laurence Powell to 30 months in prison on this charge. The other officers were not convicted, and there was no rioting.
Since the 1991 incident, King has been arrested several times for drug infractions, spousal abuse, violence, and motoring offenses. Although he received $3.8 million in a civil suit against the LAPD, he is currently bankrupt and living in a drug rehab center.
Analysis and cultural impact of the event
The video of the incident is an example of inverse surveillance (i.e. citizens watching police).
African American community and civil rights leaders have repeatedly used the Rodney King incident in analogy with other incidents of police violence against black suspects.
Trivia
- King's first name is Glen, not Rodney. The media referred to him as "Rodney King" because in either initial police reports or initial news reports, he was mistakenly called Rodney King, and as the news was rebroadcast, the error was rebroadcast as well. King was never called "Rodney" until after the 1991 car stop by police.
- American punk rock-band Dog Eat Dog's song Who's the king? is partly inspired by the Rodney King-case, as the lyrics go: "Nobody moves, nobody gets hurt / But still Rodney King got treated like dirt / And why can't we all get along? / Why get along with the cops / They beat ya like a dog!".
- American ska band Sublime makes reference to Rodney King and the riots after his trial in their song April 29th, 1992(Miami)
See also
- Dark Blue is a 2002 film directed by Ron Shelton. This fictional film is based on the case of Rodney King.
- American Civil Rights Movement Timeline
External links
- Stan Chambers: "Rodney King and the Los Angeles Riots"
- Salon: "Rethinking Rodney King"
- Court TV: "Rodney King's Legacy"
- Multishow: "George Holliday's Rodney King Beating Video Official Web Site"
- Arrest record: