Rodney King 3 Days After Beating, 1991, CBS News
|
On March 3, 1991, Rodney King, an African-American, was brutally beaten by three white Los Angeles police officers after resisting arrest. The incident was captured on film by a passerby. This video sparked national outrage over police brutality. Four police officers were indicted in connection with the beating, but, on April 29th, 1992, they were found not guilty by a heavily-white jury. Riots and looting erupted in Los Angeles in response to the verdict, becoming one of the most destructive disturbances in U.S. history. 55 people were killed before the riots ended on May 2nd. In the aftermath of the riots, two of the police officers were convicted under federal law for violating Rodney King’s constitutional rights.
|
Sources to Get Started |
|