Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Remembering the Rodney King Race Riot
The Christian Diarist ^ | April 30, 2012 | JP

Posted on 04/30/2012 5:04:12 PM PDT by CHRISTIAN DIARIST

Today marks the 20th anniversary of America’s last major race riot.

It took place in Los Angeles following the acquittal of three white LAPD officers on brutality charges in the beating of black motorist Rodney King.

Unbeknownst to the officers, King’s beatdown was captured on videotape by eyewitness George Holliday. The video went “viral” in an age long before YouTube, with repeated airings by television newscasts around the world.

The L.A.riot resulted in 53 deaths and nearly 2,400 injuries. The toll also included 7,000 fires, damages to some 3,100 businesses and nearly $1 billion in economic losses suffered by the nation’s second-largest city.

Long after the U.S.military quelled the riot and restored order in L.A., race relations remained tense not only in the so-called City of Angels, but throughout the country.

Indeed, many pointed to the Rodney King incident as prima facie evidence that America was an inherently racist country.

It was as if King belonged in the same category as such black civil rights martyrs as Emmit Till, James Meredith and Martin Luther King Jr.

Well, Rodney King was no martyr; no blameless victim of police brutality.

Out on parole, his blood alcohol level estimated at nearly two and a half times the legal limit for drunk driving, King got behind the wheel of a car and went flying down an L.A.freeway with two of his homeboys.

He was flagged for speeding by California Highway Patrol, ignored their flashing lights signaling for him to pull over, suddenly found LAPD joining in his pursuit, and led them on an eight-mile high-speed chase.

When King finally brought his car to a stop, police ordered King and his passngers to get out and lie face down on the ground. King’s homeboys complied and were taken into custody without incident. King resisted and officers subdued him with a taser and batons.

King became a cause célèbre for demagogues stoking the flames of racial enmity. But King, himself, in a moment of grace I attribute to the influence of the Holy Spirit, called for loving kindness between whites and blacks.

“Can’t we all just get along?” he famously asked.

Martin Luther King couldn’t have put it any better.


TOPICS: Government; Politics; Religion; Society
KEYWORDS: blogpimp; california; cynthiakelly; lapd; race; riot; rodneyking
Alas, 20 years after the Rodney King case, the racial demagoguery continues in the Trayvon Martin case.
1 posted on 04/30/2012 5:04:28 PM PDT by CHRISTIAN DIARIST
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: CHRISTIAN DIARIST

I remember driving home — EARLY — and seeing all the smoke from the fires from the 5 freeway.

It looked like one of those alien invasion movies.

People were driving in the shoulders of the freeway to get home as soon as possible.

And then I stared, transfixed, for 3 days and kept yelling at the TV “when will LAW Return???” I saw the city of my birth, the city I still love, become a raw sewer of everything evil in humans. There was no “dignity,” no “justice.”

It was like watching animals humping in the wild.

And I don’t apologize for that comparison.

The tears I shed watching poor Reginald Denny get beaten up (I saw it live) were only exceeded, in my life, by my tears on 9/11.

And, even with thousands of hours of tape, they prosecuted only a handful of people. Message: It is OK to be part of a mob.

Get ready for it to happen again with Martin/Zimmerman. The black community has already planned it, with the advance blessing of the usual race pimps.


2 posted on 04/30/2012 5:23:52 PM PDT by freedumb2003 ('RETRO' Abortions = performed on 84th trimester individuals who think killing babies is a "right.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: CHRISTIAN DIARIST
this is all you need to remember...

3 posted on 04/30/2012 5:31:22 PM PDT by Chode (American Hedonist - *DTOM* -ww- NO Pity for the LAZY)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: CHRISTIAN DIARIST
I don't know if it is true or an urban legend but I have heard that Maxine Waters single handed stopped the riots. I believe it to be true, since I remember her giving a speech down there on the street. She gave a speech and told the rioting princes and princesses of the urban jungle that if they did not get off the streets the mailman would not be able to get through with their checks.
As in WELFARE checks.
4 posted on 04/30/2012 6:04:52 PM PDT by Tupelo ( 2012 TEA PARTYER but no longer a Republican)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson