Rodney King Police Brutality

Words: 1654
Pages: 7

ABSTRACT: Rodney King in his earlier years had no trouble with the police. But at 24 he robbed a store and was put on patrol. One night King led officers on a high speed chase and later tried to avoid the police in attempt to not get caught violating his parole. Eventually they pulled him out the car and proceeded to beat him. Later a video came out and it showed King getting beaten by the cops following him. The video spread and sparked reactions all across America. Riots broke out and caused a lot of damage and even deaths. The cops responsible were on trial but a year later the charges were dropped. In 1993 the there was another trial against the officers. It ended with two of the officers being found guilty and the other two once again acquitted of any charges.

KEYWORDS: Rodney King, Assault, Police Brutality, Acquitted, Symbol, Forgiving

CONTEXT
King was born in Sacramento, California. He was raised by his parents Odessa King and Ronald King. King attended John Muir High School. His father died at the age of 42 leaving his mother in charge of him and his four siblings. On November 3rd, 1989 King robbed a store:“He got into trouble with the law for the first time when he was 24 years old, after he
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What happened to Rodney King was horrible. But the implications that came with it some might say was a turning point. There were mixed reactions from everyone: “People were angry for him and identify with him, but with that they are uplifting their own brutality stories. People rose up not for Rodney King. It was more than him. It was us seeing ourselves in him.”(Jennings). He was symbol for police brutality. For everyone before him and after him his experience highlighted the horrible reality of police brutality and abuse of power that blacks in America