April 29, 1992, was a day that would go down in race-relations infamy. Four Los Angeles police officers were acquitted in the beating of African-American motorist Rodney King following a high-speed car pursuit.
Stacey Koon, Laurence Powell, Timothy Wind, and Theodore Briseno had been charged with excessive use of force after being caught on videotape kicking and hitting a defenseless King repeatedly with nightsticks. During their testimony, the officers claimed they tried to physically restrain King prior to the disturbing beat-down.
Despite overwhelming video evidence, the Simi Valley jury handed down the controversial verdict. “The jury's verdict will not blind us to what we saw on that videotape,” said former Los Angeles mayor Tom Bradley of the decision.
“The men who beat Rodney King do not deserve to wear the uniform of the L.A.P.D.”
Indeed, the verdict sparked days of violence and rioting in Los Angeles, leaving 53 people dead, 2000 people injured and $1 billion worth of property damage.
On the third day of the riots, King made a plea to residents to find calm in the face of injustice. “People, I just want to say, you know, can we all get along?” asked the man at the center of the firestorm.
And in the wake of recent police brutality incidents from New York City to Oakland California, the question remains.
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