While reading an article on the LA Riots of 15 years ago recounted in the Times, I recalled the rage I felt while watching the police beating their prisoner unmercifully. I was naive enough to believe that they wouldnt, couldnt get away with that sort of brutality.
We all tut tutted in our comfortable, civilized homes and sat back waiting for JUSTICE.
To recap the story. Rodney King was on probation for a robbery offense when patrol men detected him speeding. Instead of pulling over he fled hitting speeds of 115 mph. He was worried he would have his probation revoked. When the chasing officers finally pulled him over a struggle ensued. It is debatable what caused this struggle but some other officers quickly decided that King was resisting arrest. Two shots from a Taser gun were fired into King by Sgt Koon and when that failed to subdue him all the officers joined in beating him senseless.
What the officers hadnt realised was that the incident was videod by a man living nearby. This tape sent shockwaves around the world, igniting an already enraged and frustrated African American community.
When the officers were acquitted a year later by an all white jury this fury erupted into one of the worst single riots in American histroy. The date was 29th April 1992 and it resulted in 53 people dead.
In the midst of the furor King was quoted as saying "Can we all just get along?"
He eventually won $3.8 million in damages from the City of Los Angeles for the beating incident which was lost through some unfortunate investments.
But this still leaves the feeling of unfairness. For the riots were caused by a deep frustration about the lack of justice. Racial profiling and abuse by the police has still long gone unchecked.
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