Rodney King found dead in swimming pool

[broncofan]

That's where the edited version of the tape that's become the 'history' of the incident starts. Just Rodney on the ground, being hit over and over again for what seems like no good reason at all.

What you described as preceding this doesn't justify the "edited" portion that outraged people. It did not just appear to be for no good reason but was for no good reason as he is not supposed to be hit when he's no longer a threat. I understand that you're providing context, but it looks quite bad if there is tape of a person on the ground being beaten when the police's job is to apprehend criminals, not punish them.

[Token Williams-Black]

If four + armed cops can't apprehend one man, something is wrong.

[broncofan]

Queens Guy,
I just watched the tape posted on the third page. It pretty much speaks for itself. He was hit about ten times for every twitch of a muscle. I thought maybe this was something worth arguing over but after watching that I realize that those who are not convinced the force was excessive never will be.

[buttslinger]

It's funny, because every time I see an episode of "COPS" the police are always so nice......

[TSLoverIB]

Yes we know he was beat to death.

[giovanni_hotel]

Before the King incident, LA cops had a nasty rep for beating the shit out of Black men on general principle. There was never such a thing as a 'second request' from LA officers for a citizen to comply with their orders.

White people up until this point thought that Black people complaining about routine police brutality at the hands of LAPD was another urban myth.
THe Rodney King attempted murder blew the lid off LA police brutality.
A lesser man would have damn near been killed with the beating they gave RK.
Still to this day, that's one of the worst beatings I've ever seen.

It's bizarre to me that anyone would attempt to put that beating into 'context'.

[fastingforlife]

Did Mr. King have any broken bones? Any internal organ damage? Any missing teeth? How much time did he spend in the hospital? How many months was in in physical therapy...."for the worst beating any man on earth has ever endured?" The only thing the police did was try to subdue him according to protocol. Now the beating that Mr. King gave his then wife, shortly after the riots...that was a first rate ass whooping.

[Token Williams-Black]

King was taken to Pacifica Hospital immediately after his arrest. He suffered a fractured facial bone, a broken right ankle, and numerous bruises and lacerations. In a negligence claim filed with the city, King alleged he had suffered "11 skull fractures, permanent brain damage, broken [bones and teeth], kidney damage [and] emotional and physical trauma."

[fastingforlife]

If four + armed cops can't apprehend one man, something is wrong.

Do you have the slightest idea how strong a six foot three, 250 lb, black man is? Do you ever wonder why they dominate every physically demanding sport? They are unstoppable. Then, when you jack them up on alcohol and drugs, they could probably throw around 8 to 10 white men like they were stuffed animals. Four+ armed cops means nothing to these guys. They must be properly subdued, before you bring them back to the precinct, or all hell is going to breakout. I know of cases, where they have bitten off cops noses, while handcuffed. Dealing with these "supermen" is not for the weak of heart or stomach.

[fastingforlife]

King was taken to Pacifica Hospital immediately after his arrest. He suffered a fractured facial bone, a broken right ankle, and numerous bruises and lacerations. In a negligence claim filed with the city, King alleged he had suffered "11 skull fractures, permanent brain damage, broken [bones and teeth], kidney damage [and] emotional and physical trauma."

Bullshit. The average 16 year old kid is roughed up more, playing football on a Saturday afternoon.