fr8mech From United States of America, joined Sep 2005, 4245 posts, RR: 12 Reply 4, posted (11 months 1 week 7 hours ago) and read 1289 times:
Good riddance.
He squandered what he wrought. He changed the face of the LAPD. Brought to light some institutional and systematic issues. Good for him. Well, you really can't say he did it, but the acquittal of his attackers, and the subsequent riots, certainly forced changes.
But, he continued to be a criminal. It really is a shame.
PSA53 From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 3004 posts, RR: 4 Reply 5, posted (11 months 1 week 6 hours ago) and read 1251 times:
While King's life was no model poster boy and I'm really not going to comment on it, I certainly do condemn those who rioted at the expense of innocent victims,including Reginald Denny, but I will agree there was two very bad calls in the courts of King's and Reginald Denny.
The officers that night,in King's case,stop being peace keepers and became criminals.In Denny's case,a clear cut case of racism that the crime was protected by the media.I agree with most that the media started the riots.
But another casualty,was Tom Bradley,which I felt up to the riots was one of LA's finest mayor's.I lost all confidence in Bradley when he took sides and failed to call in the national guard in timely manner while he watch his city being trashed.
IMHO,Bradley does not deserve the LAX international terminal name.
WestJet747 From Canada, joined Aug 2011, 1258 posts, RR: 7 Reply 8, posted (11 months 1 week 5 hours ago) and read 1141 times:
Very sad to hear. I heard a radio interview with him only a month or two ago and he sounded a bit off, almost like he didn't want to be there. I guess after 20 years being asked the same questions and recounting the same stories can get pretty frustrating.
alberchico From United States of America, joined Sep 2004, 2681 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (11 months 1 week 4 hours ago) and read 1113 times:
Quoting Revelation (Reply 3): Not saying he deserved to get the snot knocked out of him courtesy of the LAPD, but he wasn't a saint.
Apparently neither was the LAPD during those years. Kind of makes you wonder how many wrongful shootings or incidents of police brutality were covered up during that era.
short summary of every jewish holiday: they tried to kill us ,we won , lets eat !
PSA53 From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 3004 posts, RR: 4 Reply 10, posted (11 months 1 week 4 hours ago) and read 1105 times:
Quoting alberchico (Reply 9): Apparently neither was the LAPD during those years. Kind of makes you wonder how many wrongful shootings or incidents of police brutality were covered up during that era.
LAPD Chief Darryl Gates, who was feuding big time with Tom Bradley, and both showing ineptness,claimed and defended the officers were following policies as per LAPD. So,i wouldn't say it was being covered upped as opposed to a policy change was badly needed.
Also remember,a lot of these LAPD policies were made decades ago in times things were more civil and all people respected verbal commands and that kind of force was never needed or questioned.
ltbewr From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 12330 posts, RR: 12 Reply 12, posted (11 months 6 days 22 hours ago) and read 921 times:
There is no doubt that Rodney King was a troubled soul. Some early word suggests he had been drinking and doing pot the preivious night. Somehow he eneded up dead by drowning in a swmming pool. Hopefully the cororner will better determine the probable medical factors that caused the death of him. Since his beating, he had several run-ins with the law, problems with drugs and alcohol use, one has to wonder if he had underlying long term and serious mental/psychlogical problems.
On a night in 1991, Rodney King chose to run from the police in his car, probably DWI by alcohol or drugs, fearful he would end up in jail if he pulled over. He had two others with him (one would die about 9 months later in a car accident) he put into danger as well as how many others in his high speed run from the police. When the police caught up to King, all adrelined up, they chose to take the anger toward the driver. Unlike other police beatings, this was caught on a video camera. It quickly got to the media causing a huge social storm at very hypersensitive time and place as to race, invoving police officers of a force (LAPD) with a seriously long term history of racial bias in their law enforcement. It was a time of violent, 'kill the F-n cops' rap music, the 'crack' cocaine epidemic, major criminal street gang activity in many Black communities.
The police officers were tired in April 1992, not in downtown LA, but in an outlying courthouse in the county closer to their homes. Almost all Blacks and probably a majority of Whites across the country thought from only the videotape there should have been convictions in that inital trial with severe punishment with long jail terms. Of course criminal trials require juries to look at the whole picture, but proscutitors make mistakes, overcharge and top defense counsel can put questions and hole in a case against their client.
The decision of the jury in that first trial would set off an obscene reaction, a massve riot there (and in other mainly Black communites in the USA) that killed over 50 people, injured 100's and cause Billions of short and still contiuing damage. Some Black members of the community brutally attacked whites in the wrong place at the wrong time, like Mr. Denny, who still suffers from the brutality, captured on live TV from a TV chopper. Unfortuntaly the riots came to be quickly called and stiill to this day and inaccuratly 'the Rodney King riots'. He even called out with simple words 'Can't we all Just Get Along?' to try to end the riots. Adding to the riots being even worse was incompentcy by LAPD, LA government (including Mayor Bradley), racial fears on both sided and the 24/7 TV coverage of them by CNN and broadcast networks. It caused a deeper shism between Blacks and the 'Justice' system including the police
There would be a trial in Federal court with 2 of the 4 officers involved convicted but only facing short terms in jail. As some justice was done, and police were in place at the time the jury gave their verdicts, there was no violent reaction
One has to wonder if the failure in 1995 to convict OJ Simpson was a reaction to the failures to convict the police officers in the first trial. As a result of the Rodney KIng and other racial events, some things changed, the LAPD had to make major changes in their leadersip, policical changes occured.
In the end Rodney King is a tragic figure in history. Dead way too soon at 47.
fr8mech From United States of America, joined Sep 2005, 4245 posts, RR: 12 Reply 13, posted (11 months 6 days 22 hours ago) and read 921 times:
Quoting WestJet747 (Reply 8): How can you say that? King was a criminal but he never actually hurt anybody. He wasn't a "saint" but he certainly didn't deserve to die at only 47.
Sorry, the man had a chance to try and make a difference, but returned to being a low level criminal. With his noteiriety he could have done more. In the end, he just started to look for attention again...
On April 12, 2012, King released a statement to the media regarding the Trayvon Martin shooting. King said he was "grieving for Trayvon Martin" and stated how the scream on the audio of George Zimmerman's 911 call reminded him of his own screaming during his beating by the LAPD.
Thank you, I haven't read that in a couple of decades.
But, you're not suggesting that I mourn everyone who dies, are you? I will choose who to mourn and I will not. I wouldn't have even had a second thought about Mr. King, if it wasn't for this thread.
Mir From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 19695 posts, RR: 56 Reply 14, posted (11 months 6 days 20 hours ago) and read 866 times:
Quoting PSA53 (Reply 10): Quoting alberchico (Reply 9):
Apparently neither was the LAPD during those years. Kind of makes you wonder how many wrongful shootings or incidents of police brutality were covered up during that era.
LAPD Chief Darryl Gates, who was feuding big time with Tom Bradley, and both showing ineptness,claimed and defended the officers were following policies as per LAPD. So,i wouldn't say it was being covered upped as opposed to a policy change was badly needed.
Or that there was a policy of covering up and looking the other way about these things.
Quoting fr8mech (Reply 13): I wouldn't have even had a second thought about Mr. King, if it wasn't for this thread.
And yet you said "good riddance" to him? That's not exactly an uncaring expression. There's a difference between not mourning and celebrating.
-Mir
7 billion, one nation, imagination...it's a beautiful day
PSA53 From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 3004 posts, RR: 4 Reply 15, posted (11 months 6 days 6 hours ago) and read 740 times:
Quoting ltbewr (Reply 12): On a night in 1991, Rodney King chose to run from the police in his car, probably DWI by alcohol or drugs, fearful he would end up in jail if he pulled over. He had two others with him (one would die about 9 months later in a car accident) he put into danger as well as how many others in his high speed run from the police. When the police caught up to King, all adrelined up, they chose to take the anger toward the driver. Unlike other police beatings, this was caught on a video camera. It quickly got to the media causing a huge social storm at very hypersensitive time and place as to race, invoving police officers of a force (LAPD) with a seriously long term history of racial bias in their law enforcement. It was a time of violent, 'kill the F-n cops' rap music, the 'crack' cocaine epidemic, major criminal street gang activity in many Black communities.
Actually,radio this morning said King,with friends(camera) planned out the whole thing.I always had suspicion but couldn't confirm it. King got very drunk, plan to drive over 100 mph and lead police right in front of "target" apartments where his friend with the camera filmed while King provoked the police officers.
So,the police officers we're entrapped.But that's no excuse for they're conduct even if King used fists at them.But I had always felt that King wasn't Mr.innocent NOR the media.
It was the first time that I really seriously questioned the media's credibility and it almost appeared they wanted the riots to happen.
P.S. Also in the radio report,King's girlfriend/wife pleaded with King not go on TV and make what is now his famous words.
Maverick623 From United States of America, joined Nov 2006, 4744 posts, RR: 6 Reply 16, posted (11 months 6 days 1 hour ago) and read 651 times:
Quoting ltbewr (Reply 12): One has to wonder if the failure in 1995 to convict OJ Simpson was a reaction to the failures to convict the police officers in the first trial.
It was a reaction to the horrible detective work done by the LAPD. It was certainly a vote of no confidence, but I don't think it had much to do with the Rodney King case (other than it just being another proverbial straw on the camel's back).
Sponsor Message: 
From United States of America, joined May 2006, 1220 posts, 
From Canada, joined Feb 2006, 3854 posts, 
Printer friendly format 
