rodney-king-in-pool
‘Can We All Get Along’
Rodney King, whose beating by four white police officers in 1991 was captured on videotape, exacerbating racial tensions in Los Angeles, was found dead at the bottom of his pool in June this year. No foul play was suspected.
Rodney King became a symbol of civil rights and his case spotlighted the prevalence of racial profiling and police brutality in the USA.
King was beaten nearly to death. Three surgeons operated on him for five hours. The video of the beating appeared on national television two days later. African-Americans in Los Angeles exploded in outrage. Rioters ran through the streets — looting businesses, torching buildings and attacking those who were in the wrong place at the wrong time. The violence was responsible for more than 50 deaths and $1 billion in property damage. On the third day of rioting, King emerged from seclusion to make a plea: “People, I just want to say, can we all get along? Can we get along?” – Courtesy the Oregon Herald