Rodney King
Victim of police brutality whose beating sparked the 1992 Los Angeles riots.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
Rodney Glen King (April 2, 1965 – June 17, 2012) was an African-American man who became a victim of police brutality on March 3, 1991, when he was severely beaten by officers of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) during his arrest after a high-speed pursuit. The incident was filmed by an uninvolved resident, George Holliday, and the footage was broadcast worldwide, casting a spotlight on the LAPD and King. The acquittal of three of the four officers charged with excessive force sparked the 1992 Los Angeles riots, during which King appeared on television to advocate for peace.
- born
- April 2, 1965
- died
- June 17, 2012
- field
- Victim of police brutality
- nationality
- American
- known_for
- Being beaten by LAPD officers in 1991; his videotaped beating and the subsequent 1992 Los Angeles riots
Lore & Background
Early in the morning of Sunday, March 3, 1991, King, with friends Bryant Allen and Freddie Helms, was driving a 1987 Hyundai Excel west on the Foothill Freeway (Interstate 210) after spending the night watching basketball and drinking. At 12:30 a.m., California Highway Patrol officers Tim and Melanie Singer noticed King's car speeding and pursued him; the pursuit reached 115 mph and continued through residential streets. King later said he fled to avoid a driving under the influence charge and a parole violation. After approximately 8 miles, officers cornered King. LAPD Sergeant Stacey Koon ordered officers Laurence Powell, Timothy Wind, Theodore Briseno, and Rolando Solano to subdue King using a 'swarm' technique. The officers beat King with batons, with 33 blows and seven kicks hitting him, as captured on George Holliday's videotape. King was taken to Pacifica Hospital, where he was found to have a fractured facial bone, a broken right ankle, and multiple bruises and lacerations. Nurses reported that the officers who accompanied King openly joked and bragged about the number of times they had hit him. Blood and urine samples taken five hours after his arrest measured King's blood alcohol content at 0.075%, below the legal limit of 0.08%. The LAPD initially charged King with 'felony evading' but later dropped the charge.
Reader's Guide
Rodney King's significance lies in the videotaped police beating that became a global symbol of police brutality and racial injustice. The footage, broadcast repeatedly, turned what would have been a violent incident into a media sensation that exposed the LAPD's use of force. The acquittal of three of the four officers charged with excessive force triggered the 1992 Los Angeles riots, which were sparked by outrage among minorities over the verdict and long-standing societal issues. King's televised plea for peace, often paraphrased as 'Can we all just get along?', became a lasting call for reconciliation. The federal government later prosecuted a separate civil rights case, resulting in two officers being found guilty in federal court in April 1993 and sentenced to prison, while two were acquitted. In a 1994 civil lawsuit, a jury found the City of Los Angeles liable and awarded King $3.8 million. King's case remains a pivotal moment in discussions of police accountability and race relations in the United States.
Did You Know?
- George Holliday, an uninvolved resident, filmed the beating from his nearby balcony and sent the footage to KTLA, a local news station.
- King suffered a fractured facial bone, a broken right ankle, and multiple bruises and lacerations; nurses reported that the officers who accompanied him joked and bragged about the number of times they had hit him.
- Blood and urine samples taken five hours after King's arrest measured his blood alcohol content at 0.075%, below the legal limit of 0.08%.
- In a separate civil lawsuit in 1994, a jury found the City of Los Angeles liable and awarded King $3.8 million.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Rodney King?
Rodney Glen King (1965–2012) was an African-American man from Los Angeles who became a national figure after being severely beaten by LAPD officers during a 1991 traffic stop. His case became a defining moment in the American conversation about police violence and racial injustice.
What happened during the 1991 beating?
On March 3, 1991, King was pulled over following a high-speed chase and was struck repeatedly by multiple LAPD officers while lying on the ground. The entire incident was captured on video by a bystander, George Holliday, and the footage was broadcast to audiences around the world.
How did Rodney King's case connect to the 1992 Los Angeles riots?
The acquittal of three of the four officers charged with using excessive force against King ignited widespread outrage in Los Angeles. The resulting civil unrest, which erupted in April 1992, caused hundreds of deaths and massive property damage across the city.
What was the verdict in the officers' trial?
In a 1992 federal jury trial, three of the four LAPD officers were found not guilty of violating King's civil rights. The verdict shocked the public and is widely regarded as a catalyst for the riots that followed.
What did Rodney King do during the 1992 riots?
Amid the chaos, King took to national television to call for calm and urged both the public and law enforcement to de-escalate. His plea for peace stood in stark contrast to the destruction unfolding around him in Los Angeles.
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