Okla-homey
4/29/2007, 06:52 AM
April 29, 1992: Rodney King trial verdict announced
http://aycu34.webshots.com/image/12753/2001887817363303111_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2001887817363303111)
Fifteen years ago today, a jury of 10 whites, one Hispanic, and one Filipina in the Los Angeles suburb of Simi Valley acquittted four police officers who had been charged with using excessive force in arresting black motorist Rodney King a year earlier.
On March 3, 1991, Rodney King, on parole from prison on a robbery conviction, led police on a high speed pursuit, refusing to pull over in response to the red lights and sirens behind him. Finally, after driving through several red lights and boulevard stops, he pulled over in the Lake View Terrace district.
The Los Angeles police were assisted by other law enforcement. King, who had a record of drunk driving and was believed to be under the influence of PCP by the officers on scene, continued to resist arrest even after being tasered, tackled, and beaten with batons by four LAPD officers: Ofc. Laurence Powell, Ofc. Timothy Wind, Ofc. Theodore Briseno and Sgt. Stacey Koon (three whites and one Hispanic).
King is also alleged to have lunged for the weapon of one of the police officers on site, although that event, supposedly being early in the altercation, was not caught on the tape. In a later interview, King said that, he fought his arrest because being on parole, he feared the apprehension and being returned to prison for parole violations.
The incident, minus the first few minutes, was captured on video by a private citizen, George Holliday, from his apartment that was in the vicinity, and it became an international media sensation and a touchpoint for activists in Los Angeles and around the United States.
http://aycu04.webshots.com/image/12683/2006246952321696274_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2006246952321696274)
From the home video that started it all.
The announcement of the verdict, which enraged the black community, prompted widespread rioting throughout much of the sprawling city. It wasn't until three days later that the arson and looting finally ended.
Immediately after the verdict was announced that afternoon, protestors took to the streets, engaging in random acts of violence. At the corner of Florence and Normandie streets, Reginald Denny, a white truck driver, was dragged from his truck and severely beaten by several angry rioters.
http://aycu20.webshots.com/image/13019/2004596121998659585_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2004596121998659585)
Helicopter video of Reginald Denny lying bashed and bleeding after being pulled from the cab of his truck by enraged rioters
A helicopter crew caught the incident on camera and broadcast it live on local television. Viewers saw first-hand that the police, woefully unprepared, were unwilling-or unable-to enforce the law in certain neighborhoods of the city.
http://aycu35.webshots.com/image/16274/2001814984924250807_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2001814984924250807)
As it became evident that breaking the law in much of South Central Los Angeles would yield little, if any, consequences, opportunistic rioters came out in full force on the night of April 29, burning retail establishments all over the area. Police still had no control of the situation the following day.
Thousands of people packed the streets and began looting stores. Korean-owned businesses were targeted in particular. For most, the looting was simply a crime of opportunity rather than any political expression.
http://aycu12.webshots.com/image/15731/2001897763002365859_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2001897763002365859)
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't we all just get along?"
http://aycu28.webshots.com/image/14267/2001891916570378485_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2001891916570378485)
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; and 3,100 businesses damaged. Smaller riots occurred in other U.S. cities.
http://aycu01.webshots.com/image/12960/2001833614099673115_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2001833614099673115)
United States Marines deploy from a deuce and a half to restore order
Two of the acquitted police officers were subsequently convicted of violating Rodney King's civil rights in a federal case and sentenced to 30 months in a federal minimum security facility.
Trucker Reginald Denny's attackers were identified through the helicopter videotape, arrested, and convicted of assault and battery. However, the jury declined to convict on attempted murder charges, apparently due to the defense's argument that the defendants had only fallen prey to "uncontrollable mob rage."
After the riots King sued the city of LA, won and was awarded $3.8 million in civil case. He used some of the money to start a rap label: Alta-Pazz Recording Company -- which is now defunct. 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.
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. Having spent his award from his lawsuit against the city and by then broke, King qualified for a public defender.
http://aycu34.webshots.com/image/12753/2001887817363303111_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2001887817363303111)
Fifteen years ago today, a jury of 10 whites, one Hispanic, and one Filipina in the Los Angeles suburb of Simi Valley acquittted four police officers who had been charged with using excessive force in arresting black motorist Rodney King a year earlier.
On March 3, 1991, Rodney King, on parole from prison on a robbery conviction, led police on a high speed pursuit, refusing to pull over in response to the red lights and sirens behind him. Finally, after driving through several red lights and boulevard stops, he pulled over in the Lake View Terrace district.
The Los Angeles police were assisted by other law enforcement. King, who had a record of drunk driving and was believed to be under the influence of PCP by the officers on scene, continued to resist arrest even after being tasered, tackled, and beaten with batons by four LAPD officers: Ofc. Laurence Powell, Ofc. Timothy Wind, Ofc. Theodore Briseno and Sgt. Stacey Koon (three whites and one Hispanic).
King is also alleged to have lunged for the weapon of one of the police officers on site, although that event, supposedly being early in the altercation, was not caught on the tape. In a later interview, King said that, he fought his arrest because being on parole, he feared the apprehension and being returned to prison for parole violations.
The incident, minus the first few minutes, was captured on video by a private citizen, George Holliday, from his apartment that was in the vicinity, and it became an international media sensation and a touchpoint for activists in Los Angeles and around the United States.
http://aycu04.webshots.com/image/12683/2006246952321696274_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2006246952321696274)
From the home video that started it all.
The announcement of the verdict, which enraged the black community, prompted widespread rioting throughout much of the sprawling city. It wasn't until three days later that the arson and looting finally ended.
Immediately after the verdict was announced that afternoon, protestors took to the streets, engaging in random acts of violence. At the corner of Florence and Normandie streets, Reginald Denny, a white truck driver, was dragged from his truck and severely beaten by several angry rioters.
http://aycu20.webshots.com/image/13019/2004596121998659585_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2004596121998659585)
Helicopter video of Reginald Denny lying bashed and bleeding after being pulled from the cab of his truck by enraged rioters
A helicopter crew caught the incident on camera and broadcast it live on local television. Viewers saw first-hand that the police, woefully unprepared, were unwilling-or unable-to enforce the law in certain neighborhoods of the city.
http://aycu35.webshots.com/image/16274/2001814984924250807_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2001814984924250807)
As it became evident that breaking the law in much of South Central Los Angeles would yield little, if any, consequences, opportunistic rioters came out in full force on the night of April 29, burning retail establishments all over the area. Police still had no control of the situation the following day.
Thousands of people packed the streets and began looting stores. Korean-owned businesses were targeted in particular. For most, the looting was simply a crime of opportunity rather than any political expression.
http://aycu12.webshots.com/image/15731/2001897763002365859_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2001897763002365859)
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't we all just get along?"
http://aycu28.webshots.com/image/14267/2001891916570378485_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2001891916570378485)
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; and 3,100 businesses damaged. Smaller riots occurred in other U.S. cities.
http://aycu01.webshots.com/image/12960/2001833614099673115_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2001833614099673115)
United States Marines deploy from a deuce and a half to restore order
Two of the acquitted police officers were subsequently convicted of violating Rodney King's civil rights in a federal case and sentenced to 30 months in a federal minimum security facility.
Trucker Reginald Denny's attackers were identified through the helicopter videotape, arrested, and convicted of assault and battery. However, the jury declined to convict on attempted murder charges, apparently due to the defense's argument that the defendants had only fallen prey to "uncontrollable mob rage."
After the riots King sued the city of LA, won and was awarded $3.8 million in civil case. He used some of the money to start a rap label: Alta-Pazz Recording Company -- which is now defunct. 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.
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. Having spent his award from his lawsuit against the city and by then broke, King qualified for a public defender.