The incident raised a public outcry among people who believed it was racially motivated. In an environment of growing tension between the black community and the LAPD as well as increasing anger over police brutality and more general issues of unemployment, racial tension, and poverty facing the black community in South Central Los Angeles, the acquittal in a state court of the four officers charged with using excessive force in subduing King provided the spark that led to the 1992 Los Angeles riots.
Videotape footage of the police using batons against Rodney King
On March 3, 1991, California Highway Patrol officers saw King speeding on Interstate 210 and reportedly chased him for 8 miles (13 km) at speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour (160 km/h), though it was later pointed out by the manufacturer of King's Hyundai that the car was incapable of going over 95 miles per hour (150 km/h) even at its peak performance. When he stopped in Lake View Terrace, he did not obey repeated commands to exit the car or lie down and as can allegedly be seen in the first few seconds of the video, charged one of the officers, after which the police struck King with a PR24 baton that put him on the ground. King's black male passengers were taken into custody without incident and later released without charges.
Initially, a female highway patrol officer, Melanie Singer, approached King and drew her pistol. Officer Singer reported that King then turned around and shook his buttocks at her and did not comply with her commands. King also reportedly waved at the police helicopter that had him under spotlight. When the local police arrived, Sergeant Stacey Koon requested that Singer stand down and that weapons not be pointed at King. Force level was then escalated to verbal commands, to force King to comply; but he refused[citation needed]. Koon then ordered four officers to "swarm"[5] King, to force him into the felony prone position, but it was alleged that King threw all four of them off. Officer Koon fired a taser on King twice, but King continued his attempts to get up. King was repeatedly told to put his hands behind his back and assume the felony prone position, but still refused to comply. At that point, Sergeant Stacey Koon commanded the officers to use their PR24 batons to strike King. One of the officers involved with the beating had a long history with Rodney King. The Officer knew Mr. King by name and had been assaulted by him in the past. The officer feared that Mr. King would assault him again and increased his level of force. Only after doing so was LAPD able to apprehend King. While most police departments teach officers how to perform armlocks and other restraint techniques with their batons, the LAPD officers had only been trained in striking techniques.[1]
At trial, the defense for the policemen argued that the officers had legitimate reason to believe King was extremely dangerous and possibly on a mind-affecting drug such as PCP and that the force used was justified by that threat. One piece of evidence offered to support this argument was that King showed no response after having been shot by at least one taser weapon.[2] The video also shows the officers repeatedly striking King while giving him verbal commands. However, the videotape shows King repeatedly trying to get up, despite the officers' verbal commands for King to assume the felony prone position. The officers later argued that they were responding to King's failure to comply with their commands, and that their actions were in compliance with standard police procedure.
Rodney King was charged with felony evasion the night of the incident, but this charge was later dropped.
Indictment and prosecution of arresting officers
Four officers and a sergeant were indicted on March 14 for "assault by force likely to produce great bodily injury" and with assault "under color of authority," and two were charged with filing false police reports. Three of the men charged were white, and one was Latino.
The defense successfully filed for a change of venue away from Los Angeles County, where the incident occurred and where, they argued, the defendants could not receive a fair trial, to suburban Simi Valley, in Ventura County.
On April 29, 1992, three of the officers, Sergeant Stacey Koon, Officers Theodore Briseno and Timothy Wind, were subsequently acquitted by a jury of ten whites, one Latino, and an Asian. The jury could not agree on a verdict for one of the counts on one of the officers, Laurence Powell. The verdict triggered massive rioting in Los Angeles, which lasted for 4 days, making it one of the worst civil disturbances in Los Angeles history. By the time the police, Marine Corps and National Guard restored order, there was nearly $1 billion in damage, with "55 deaths; 2,383 injuries; more than 7000 fire responses; 3,100 businesses damaged." (Smith, Anna Deavere) Smaller riots occurred in other U.S. cities. On May 1, 1992, the third day of the Los Angeles riots, King appeared in public before television news cameras to appeal for calm and plead for peace, asking, "People, I just want to say, you know, can we all get along?"[3]
After the riots, federal charges of civil rights violations were brought against the officers. Two officers, Officer Laurence Powell and Sergeant Stacey Koon, were found guilty and sentenced to 30 months of prison, and another two acquitted.
Analysis and cultural impact of the event
The video of the incident is an example of inverse surveillance (i.e. citizens watching police). As a result of the incident, several Copwatch organizations were formed nationwide to safeguard against future abuses. Counter-police-abuse organizations and justice committees for victims of police violence increased after 1992, and a national umbrella group known as the October 22nd Coalition to Stop Police Brutality was established. Black community and civil rights leaders have repeatedly used the Rodney King incident in analogy along with other incidents of police violence against black suspects.
Recent life
After the riots King was awarded $3.8 million in civil case, and used some of the money to start a rap label: Alta-Pazz Recording Company.[4] He would be arrested again on charges of spousal assault in 1999. Then in 2001 he was ordered to undergo a year of drug treatment after pleading guilty to 3 counts of being under the influence of PCP and indecent exposure.[5] On August 27th, 2003 he would be arrested again on similar charges as his 1991 arrest. King was said to be speeding as he ran a red light while under the influence of PCP, and failed to yield to cops. The money King was awarded was used to pay his more than one million dollars in legal fees, and is now all but gone.[6]
References in popular culture
In the 2003 film, Bad Santa, Billy Bob Thornton's character, Willie, was fired upon by police while unarmed. During a narration near the end of the film, Willie said, "...everyone agreeing that the Phoenix police department shooting an unarmed Santa eight times in the back was even more fucked up than the Rodney King thing."
In the 2001 movie Black Knight with Martin Lawrence, Martin's character references to King's famous line "Can't we all get along?".
Within a month after the riots, popular TV show L.A. Law depicted the riots involving a plot in which major character Stuart Markowitz (Michael Tucker) receives a near fatal beating from a rioter.
In The Simpsons episode "Sideshow Bob Roberts", talkshow host Birch Barlow replies to Sideshow Bob's phone call by saying Bob was "another intelligent Conservative railroaded by our liberal justice system just like Colonel Oliver North, Officer Stacey Koons" [sic], Koon being one of the police officers involved in the Rodney King incident.
In the "Big Gay Al's Big Gay Boat Ride" episode of South Park one of the announcers at the football game said, "I haven't seen a beating like that since Rodney King".
Footage of the Rodney King incident was used in the title credits of the movie Malcolm X.
The Rodney King incident was disregarded by Derek, a white supremecist, in American History X. He claimed in a flashback, before he learned the errors of his ways, that King got what he deserved.
Rodney King and the April Riots are the focus of the song "April 29, 1992 (Miami)" by Sublime; April 29th, 1992 is the day that frontman Brad Nowell wrote the song. He couldn't think of a song title according to an acquaintance so he titled it after the date. The first line of the song reads, "April 26, 1992, there was a riot on the streets tell me where were you..." which is the incorrect date for the start of the riots. The actual reference to Rodney King says, "But if you look at the streets, it wasn't about Rodney King. It's this fucked-up situation and these fucked-up police"
The 1996 film Jingle All The Way, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, contains a scene in which the character Myron Larabee (Sinbad) gets jumped by an angry mob in a shopping mall and he yells out "Rodney King! Rodney King...," relating it in a comical way.
The 2002 film Dark Blue, starring Kurt Russell, takes place during the days leading up to and including the Rodney King trial verdict.
Numerous rappers have used Rodney King as an example of police brutality.
In Naked Gun 33⅓, the Black character Tyrone is interviewed during a prison riot. He says, "Can't we all just get along?"
In the film Airheads, the chant "Rodney King" is used by the rock fans apparently from presence of police officers in the movie.
In an episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000 with the short movie Last Clear Chance, Mike Nelson replies "Like being spanked by Rodney King" when onscreen the police officer is asked why he can't go to a funeral.
In another episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000 with the movie The Amazing Colossal Man, one of the characters states the police won't hurt the main character, "...unless he gives them any trouble" to which Crow responds, "Yeah, like Rodney King!"
Finally, in the MST3K film "Crash of the Moons" (EP417), Gypsy, Crow and Tom Servo sing a song called "Gypsy Moon", where Gypsy references Sgt. Stacey Koon. "Gypsy: Although I'd just as soon take Nyquil with a spoon, Then listen to you two drone on about the gypsy moon, If the choice between you too goons, I'd rather date Stacey Koon!
In the film, Three Kings, when the main characters storm the Iraqi bunker, the soldiers there are viewing footage of the incident.
Ice Cube says "Didn't wanna go out like my man Rodney King" in his song Alive on Arrival. On the same album there is a skit focussing on police brutality (a shooting) where the officer says "I'm gonna do you like King... Rodney King, Martin Luther King..." He also brings up April 29 and Malcolm X references in his song, Wicked. His song "Tear This Muthafucka Up" focusses on the riots and the protagonists in the King incident, naming the officers and stating as a parting shot: "But your National Guard ain't hard. You had to get Rodney to stop me..."
Rodney King is substituted into the chorus instead of the title line in the song "Like a King" by Ben Harper.
In the movie Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood there is a scene where police officers are playing an arcade game titled "Rodney's Ride", in which the object is to beat a suspect. At one point, a "bonus" applies when a video camera appears to tape the beating.
In the 1998 filmRide two characters steal a local police officer's gun and when the officer finds the two and arrests them, one character utters "Rodney King".
In the TV series Reno 911!, in the 14th episode of the second season, when a "tourist couple from Sparks" videotapes the beating of Milkshake by members of the Reno Sheriff's Department and subsequent death in traffic, it is possible to tell from clues in the DVD commentary and Google Earth that this scene was filmed around the corner from where the Rodney King incident took place (Foothill Blvd and Osborne St, right by Hansen Lake near Sun Valley). It can only be assumed that this location was chosen by the show's creators on purpose, judging by the content of the episode, though this of course is pure conjecture.
In the TV series Boston Legal - Season 1, Episode 15: "Tortured Souls", Alan Shore studies footage of the Rodney King police beating, which is seen on screen. In this episode he is taking on a case of police brutality.
In one of his books, Howard Stern said that drunk driver King should be beaten any time he reaches for his car keys.
In D-12's song "Fight Music" they refer to beating someone saying, "if any nigga lookin too hard, we Rodney kingin' 'em."
In the My Name Is Earl episode Y2K, Randy wants to do some looting during Y2K, saying "I'm still kinda mad about that Larry King verdict."
The Boondocks also made a couple of references to Rodney King. In the episode Granddad's Fight Riley quotes "Granddad, Rodney King just called and said Damn! I thought I got my ass whooped." Also in the episode The Block is Hot Ruckus is beaten by cops the same way Rodney King was.
In the intro to the Eazy-E song 'Neighborhood Snyper', Rodney King is giving a speech while everyone listening is yelling insults at him; afterwards, King and everyone else involved is scattering in fear while Eazy-E is firing shots.
In Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, which is set around 1992, there is a mission where a similar situation sparks a similar style of riot.
Twiztid's Diemuthfuckdie! from their 1998 debut album Mostasteless contains the verse "And every cop should be beat like Rodney King/Non stop from the summer till it turn to spring/Shove a doughnut in their mouth and a badge in their ass/Because the pigs don't get no class/They get their wigs spilt."
In the sitcom "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air", Will tells Carlton that if he wants to get his head bashed in he can star in the next Rodney King video. In a later episode the Los Angeles cop that brings Will after Uncle Phil boots him out of the house tells the family that he had better "beat it"
In the song 'Build Great Man' by the reggae artist Jah Cure he says, "them kill Malcolm X and Martin Luther King and the same thing they go and do to Rodney King." When Jah Cure wrote this song he was in prison for charges of rape, robbery and possession of a gun.
In the song 'California Screaming', The Selecter sings "Once upon a time, a King had a dream, then two LA cops made another King scream", pointing to Martin Luther King and Rodney King respectively.
In Marvel's Runaways comic book series issue #14 the runaways get into a fight with the police and one of the runaways says to the cops, "This is for Rodney King, y'all."
In the 1993 Film Robin Hood: Men In Tights, Robin of Loxley (played by Cary Elwes) comes across a bunch of royal knights holding Achoo (played by Dave Chappelle) against a tree and beating him. After Robin asks aloud "Achoo?", since he can't tell who the victim really is, they reply "Bless you!" and continue the beating. When Robin dismounts his horse, while the knights and Achoo are off camera, one can hear Achoo say "Man I hope someone's gettin' a video of this thing!"
In the song 'Nutz On Ya Chin', Eazy-E says "Check me and Rodney King, Fuck Tha Police part 2".
In the song "Twista Feat Faith Evans - HOPE", one of the lyrics says, "And in the famous words of Mr. King why can't we all just get along?" referring to the time King confronted the cameras about the racism he had suffered.
Bill Hicks had an entire bit about the incident from his Arizona Bay album: While I was in England, I got to see footage of the Rodney King trial that I was never able to see over here. I think I figured out why the LA riots occurred. Did you guys see these cops testifying? Did these guys have balls or what? They carry their balls in a wheelbarrow. "'Cuse me, 'cuse me, man with big balls coming through. Man with big balls is here to testify." "Please place your right testicle on the bible." BOOOM. This guy, Officer Coon … is life too fucking weird or what? Officer Coon actually look into the camera and says: "Yeah, that Rodney King beating tape, it's all in how you look at it." The courtroom murmurs: "Jesus, what balls." … "Really? How would you look at it, Officer Coon?" "Well, if you play it backwards, you see us pick King up and helping him on his way." Mmm... not guilty.
The former rap group, NWA, released a song called "Fuck Tha Police" reffering to the LAPD. It stirred up controversy between the rap community (especially NWA) and the city of Los Angeles. Dr. Dre on VH1's Behind The Music said that the DA's and Tom Bradley asked NWA to not release the song. NWA then released the song on Straight Outta Compton. Events later showed many of NWA's Straight Outta Compton CD's being smashed out in front of City Hall on news camera.
The novel Nigger Heaven by Carl Van Vechten was banned from Orange County libraries following the Rodney King riots.
In the 1992 song "Dead Yankee Drawl" by Manic Street Preachers, one line says, "Cos reality for T.V. is Disney, not King, Rodney".
In the movie Barbershop, Cedric The Entertainer said, "Rodney King should've got his ass beat for driven drunk in the suburbs."
In the Dog Eat Dog "Who's the king?" there is the line "nobody moves, nobody gets hurt, but still rodney king got treated like dirt."
The Downset song "Anger" got a part where the singer repeats the line "April, 29th, Florence and Normandy" which points to the above mentioned incident.
In the Comedy Central show Halfway Home, after Kenny has given the boys horse Viagra, one of the boys walks into the room and is asked by Kenny "Any luck?" refering to the long lasting erection all four of the boys have, to which he answers "Naw, and I've been beating it like Rodney King."
Lyrics in the song 'April 29, 1992'by the band Sublime described the riots on the streets. Lyrics included, "...April 26th, 1992 There was a riot on the streets Tell me where were you?...It wasn't about Rodney King It's bout this fucked up situation and these fucked up police...And screamin' 187 on a mother fuckin' cop..."
References
^ Massad Ayoob The Ayoob Files: The Book, Police Bookshelf, Concord NH, 1995.
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