Rodney King Research Paper

Accusations of excessive force by police continuously generate headlines in the media long after the 1992 Rodney King riots and trial, which triggered public attention and prompted reforms in law enforcement. Since Rodney King several racial riots have exploded over police brutality against blacks. Just recently, Michael Brown was shot and killed by an officer in Ferguson, Missouri creating protests and riots for months afterwards. In Baltimore, Maryland Freddie Gray was shot and killed which sparked outrage in the community. Despite the efforts of law enforcement to improve strategies to help these situations little has been accomplished.
March 3, 1991, a high speed chase in Los Angeles became national attention after the paroled felon, Rodney …show more content…
The four officers that was accused of beating King and caught on video was handed their verdict by a 12 person jury. The verdict of not guilty, except for one charge caused looting and riots to break out in Los Angeles causing one of the most destructive civil disturbances of the century. According to federal law, the officers could be prosecuted for violation of constitutional rights. In mid-April, a federal judge sentenced two of the officers for violation of King’s rights by unreasonable use of force under color of law and was punished to two and a half years in prison. The other two were acquitted of all …show more content…
The first act being a white truck driver who was pulled from his truck and beat by three African-Americans. Police became slow at responding and violence continued to break out. The Governor implemented a curfew and used the National Guard. By daylight dozens had been killed, hundreds injured, and hundreds of fires set. The next 24 hours didn’t get better as military troops and federal officers were sent to the area. In a total of three days, 55 individuals were killed, approximately 2.000 injured, nearly 7,000 arrests were made, 4,000 buildings burnt and $1 billion in damages.
The riots demonstrated the complications with race. In 1992 much of Los Angeles was multi-racial, diverse, and multi-ethnic, much like American today. The unthinkable question is could it ever happen again? Definitely, it could. Several riots over race have broken out over race. While not directly related to police brutality, the case of Trayvon Martin who was shot and killed by George Zimmerman while walking home from the store. Another example is the 2010 shooting of the parolee by a transit officer. There will always be the threat of a riot when inter-racial incidents involve a black

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