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Twenty years ago, Rodney King took a savage beating by Los Angeles police for a routine traffic stop that forever changed the conversation of race here in America.
The beating was caught on tape and was a clear depiction of the police brutality far too many had known but most of America had denied or tolerated.
Ironically, King was again stopped by Arcadia, Calif., police officers Thursday for allegedly running a red light.
King's most-recent run-in with the law comes one day shy of the anniversary of his infamous beating on March 3, 1991. King was accompanied by his fiancée Cynthia Kelly.
King was brutally beaten by four white police officers following a high-speed chase in to the Los Angeles suburb of Lakeview Terrace on March 3, 1991. A resident, George Holliday, who heard lots of sirens and plenty of commotion decided to videotape the beating from his balcony.
Holliday's nine-minute footage aired on local television and eventually went global.
After the four officers were acquitted a year later, the decision sparked civil unrest among some black communities: 55 people died, 200 were injured and countless lootings led to $1 billion worth of property damage.
King, who was left with brain and kidney damage from the beating, was eventually awarded $3.8 million in a lawsuit he settled with the city. Throughout the years, King has unfortunately struggled with drinking, drugs and a few DUI and reckless driving arrests.
This time King was stopped, though, he received a citation by police not for running the light but for driving with an expired license.
King wound up calling up a friend to take him and his fiancée home.
Comments: (22)
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By: bob on 3/04/2011 1:08PM
It was not a routine traffic stop. Rodney king led cops on a extensive high speed chase, speed over 115 mph! When asked to get into a prone position he refused and resisted arrest. With a prior record of violence with deadly weapons along with violence against women,robbery with a deadly weapon and assualt with a deadly weapon, the cops were justified with the beatdown. His record after the beatdown solidifies that he is a dangerous convicted criminal. Along with the thousands of black criminals that rioted after the beating. He is now a millionaire and is still a criminal.
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By: SAY WHAT! on 3/04/2011 6:03PM
I'll bet he did what he was told to this time.
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By: junkybox on 3/05/2011 1:11AM
115 in a HYUNDAI? are you SERIOUS????
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By: Ms. B on 3/07/2011 7:51AM
Ignorants come in all packages and I see you are one of those that believe everything they read. That's a sign of being IGNORANT.
Frist of all if Rodney King was such a criminal he would be in prison as we write...California has what is called the "three strike law." Do your research. If you had followed the trial you would know a Hyundai CAN NOT reach the speed of 115 miles per hour...secondly, regardless of what the hell he did, after removing him from the vehicle did not require 5 LAPD officers to beat the crap out of him with batons and kick him about his head,and body. Arrest him, yes for evading (or what other offense(s) they felt he committed. What happen to his Civil rights?
There was no way he could comply because he was being beat with blows to head, and thoughout his body. So, he wasn't resisting....he just couldn't stop moving. Who could remain still during a beating like that? No one. Not even you Bob.
And being stopped for expired tags is not criminal, it's a traffic infraction.
Rodney King has been minding his own business for a long time; and the only person he has hurt is himself. The man has serious brain injuries, the City of LA owed him 3.5 millions dollars and more. He settled for less. As for the thousand "other black criminals" you made reference to, you left out the 5 major criminals who were accessory to the whole mess....The FIVE (5)WHITE LAPD OFFICERS, the biggest criminals of them all, and they walk among us. Yes, they are free to walk and beat the hell out of your son or daughter. Do your research next time before you open your mouth...because ignorants is not bliss...it's a form stupidity.
Ms. B
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By: alkay on 3/07/2011 2:35PM
lets not forget that there were countless beatings by police officers through the years. they had the riot comming. im glad it happend because it showed the cops that they shouldnt be taking their jobs for granted apon treatment of civilans. broken law or not. just arrest them, put them in jail and let the law handle it. not beat them to death. Americans is suposed to be better than that. No wonder all the middle east is trying to kill us, because of ignorant white cops/millitants who abuse their power.
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By: Matt Williams on 3/12/2011 3:33PM
Are you sure the beatings did not cause an illness that resultined in making bad decisions. Sounds like many others that I have treated with PTSD. His record was fairly clean prior to the beating. DR. Wms
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By: raven on 3/04/2011 1:29PM
I bet he complied this time though
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By: alie on 3/04/2011 3:22PM
Any person of color gets stop by the police has to fear for their life, if you know america and racism and how the cops behave in general nothing has changed, in fact it has got worse, watching movies such as "Riot" starring luke perry and cicely tyson, and crash you know that this is america!
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By: teabaggeredgar on 3/04/2011 3:40PM
@ ALIE: Rodney King deserved to be beating, after he led police on a high speed chase.
Your comment is full of HOCKEY.
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By: xtreme negro on 3/05/2011 11:16AM
This is NO story!!I was pulled over yesterday too!!!
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