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'''Rodney King''' (d. June 2012) was an [[African American]] construction worker and resident of California. In 1991, he was pulled over and arrested for driving under the influence and speeding.  King was arrested by four Los Angeles Police Department officers: Laurence Powell, Timothy Wind, Theodore Briseno and Sergeant Stacey Koon. A taser was used to subdue King, and he was repeatedly beaten.

'''Rodney King''' (died June 2012) was an [[African American]] construction worker and resident of California. In 1991, he was pulled over and arrested for driving under the influence and speeding.  King was arrested by four Los Angeles Police Department officers: Laurence Powell, Timothy Wind, Theodore Briseno and Sergeant Stacey Koon. A taser was used to subdue King, and he was repeatedly beaten.

The police were unaware that they were being videotaped from a nearby apartment, and when the cameraman publicly released the video it became an international sensation.  The infamous footage strained race relations between the LAPD and the African American community, with many residents calling for charges.  The four officers were charged with beating King, but a state court jury convicted only one.  Subsequent to the acquittals in state court, a federal prosecution for civil rights violations was initiated; the federal jury convicted only two officers.   

The police were unaware that they were being videotaped from a nearby apartment, and when the cameraman publicly released the video it became an international sensation.  The infamous footage strained race relations between the LAPD and the African American community, with many residents calling for charges.  The four officers were charged with beating King, but a state court jury convicted only one.  Subsequent to the acquittals in state court, a federal prosecution for civil rights violations was initiated; the federal jury convicted only two officers.   

Announcement of the state court acquittal of three police officers (and a hung jury on the fourth) triggered the [[1992 Los Angeles riots]], which caused more than 50 deaths, nearly 3,000 injuries, and perhaps billions of dollars in property damages to businesses.  The LAPD failed to anticipate the riots, and responded poorly to the crisis that was of its own making.  One white construction worker, Reginald Denny, was grabbed and pulled out of his car at an intersection, and beaten unconscious while on camera.  He continued to suffer two decades later from his injuries caused by that beating.

Announcement of the state court acquittal of three police officers (and a hung jury on the fourth) triggered the [[1992 Los Angeles riots]], which caused more than 50 deaths, nearly 3,000 injuries, and perhaps billions of dollars in property damages to businesses.  The LAPD failed to anticipate the riots, and responded poorly to the crisis that was of its own making.  One white construction worker, Reginald Denny, was grabbed and pulled out of his car at an intersection, and beaten unconscious while on camera.  He continued to suffer two decades later from his injuries caused by that beating.

King obtained a $3.8 million settlement from the City of Los Angeles.  In June 2012, King passed away at the age of 47. While the autopsy blamed his death on accidental drowning, the coroner noted that a variety of illegal drugs consumed by Rodney contributed to his death. <ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/23/us/rodney-king-autopsy/index.html?hpt=us_c2</ref>

King obtained a $3.8 million settlement from the City of Los Angeles.  In June 2012, King passed away at the age of 47. While the autopsy blamed his death on accidental drowning, the coroner noted that a variety of illegal drugs consumed by Rodney contributed to his death.<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/23/us/rodney-king-autopsy/index.html?hpt=us_c2]</ref>

Towards the end of his life, Rodney King observed:<ref>http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/06/17/12266275-rodney-king-motorist-whose-beating-by-los-angeles-police-officers-sparked-deadly-us-race-riots-dead-at-47?lite&gt1=43001</ref>

Towards the end of his life, Rodney King observed:<ref>http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/06/17/12266275-rodney-king-motorist-whose-beating-by-los-angeles-police-officers-sparked-deadly-us-race-riots-dead-at-47?lite&gt1=43001</ref>