March 3, 1991: Rodney King Beating Caught on Tape -20th anniversay

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   Stacie Lposted 14 years ago

   i remember those turbulent days ;watching the riots in horror and then Rodney tried to instill some calm and control
   times flies when you get older I guess
   a sad anniversary...

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2. 59

   feenixposted 14 years ago

   With all due respect, Stacy L, but Rodney King's irresponsible behavior and disregard for the law is what set "those turbulent days" into motion.
   
   For one thing, when the LAPD officers finally caught up with him, he had led them in an 8-mile-long chase at speeds approaching 100 mph. Then when he and the three men who were riding with him were ordered to get out of the vehicle and lie on the ground, King's passengers complied and the officers did not lay a glove on either one of them. However, King refused to comply and threw the first punches; thereby, setting off the chain of events that we all saw on videotape.
   
   Furthermore, I must say that by leading the police in an 8-mile-long car chase at speeds approaching 100 mph, King could have caused on a serious auto accident on that L.A. freeway and killed someone or a number of people, including some of my friends and family members (I am from L.A).
   
   In my opinion, on that night, King was behaving like the thug and drug addict he was and he is not owed even one iota of mercy.
   
   And, by the way, I am a black man who grew up in the "infamous" South-Central L.A.

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      Evan G Rogersposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      ZOMG?!?! Taking responsibility for one's actions?!!?
      
      ... anyway - I totally agree. I posted a link to Chris Rock's "How not to get your ass kicked by the police".

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      uncorrectedvisionposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Wasn't there also an incident in which the holy Rodney physically intimidated the first officer there?  He either hit or charged at a small, Hispanic woman cop - if I am remembering right.
      
      If the prosecutor had not bent to pressures he would have sought charges of simple assault and would have gotten a conviction of the offending officers.  Instead he went for the pandering charge(no pun intended) of attempted murder.
      
      Few people understand how really dangerous a high speed chase is for the police involved.  Let us not forget Rodney King was a criminal not a saint.

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3. 71

   Cagsilposted 14 years ago

   Another thread drumming up old events and summing them up in anniversaries.
   
   What is it with people? Too many living in the past.

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      klarawieckposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I agree... Just leave it behind... Move on!

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4. 61

   Evan G Rogersposted 14 years ago

   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uj0mtxXEGE8
   
   This is of relevance.

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5. 69

   AnnCeeposted 14 years ago

   "Can't we all just get along?"
   
   
   Sorry. 

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      uncorrectedvisionposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      The answer to Rodney's oft parodied question is "No." Ask Reginald Denny.

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6. 59

   SpanStarposted 14 years ago

   Mr.  feenix
   
   Everyone is entitled to their opinion unfortunately I'm going to have to disagree with yours. The unjustified beating of a defenseless individual on his knees by the people sworn to serve and protect is not only unlawful but criminal. Not only were these officers actions violating the law but all the other officers who refuse to intervene in this brutality questions who really should be wearing that uniform?
   
   It has been said "power corrupts" and "Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely." Now I believe in some toughness don't get me wrong I do at times feel some people might deserve some payback-(but that's just me). More often than not law enforcement agents in my opinion are finding it harder and harder to resist using that power given them. Take for example a lady in her vehicle stopped by the police and refusing to get off the phone after three or four warning the lady is tased-Where Was The Threat? Take another example: a young kid I believe around the age of 16 couldn't follow the police officer's instructions exactly as he seem to be confused with respect to what the officer wanted him to do so from my perspective the officer got tired of telling him and just he tased him.
   
   If no one is above the law-Then Isn't It Time We Started Acting like?

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      Cagsilposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, it has been and it's a lie.

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         SpanStarposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Well Cagsil it would appear we don't agree because you see power corrupting all the time.

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            Cagsilposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            It's not what I see that matters. That statement is simply untrue. Whether you want to agree or not, doesn't change the fact it's false.

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               SpanStarposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               I find the statement to be very true.

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                  Cagsilposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                  I am not surprised. However, if you're inclined...I just published my hub on the topic.

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7. 85

   donotfearposted 14 years ago

   I watched that video, and I must say ......It was....I was...
   
   

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8. 60

   S Leretsehposted 14 years ago

   R. King is such a colossal idiot.  He's broke today (spent his 3.8 million) and from what I've read, still a "proud" drunk.
   
   The police officers involved in the beating should have received suspensions, not fired. And trying them twice for the same offense was also a travesty of justice (double jeopardy).
   
   I was also appalled by the overwhelming numbers of blacks (young and old) who participated - with such enthusiasm! - in looting stores. Then there were the attacks on innocent white people...ugly!
   
   The main ingredient in provoking the riot was the TV media. From the day after the beating all the way to the Simi Valley verdict, over and over and over the people of LA were forced to watch the beating. ABC, NBC & CBS should have paid the clean-up costs.

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