If memory serves, the cops were acquitted of the charge of murder. Murder implies intent, premeditation. The cops in the Rodney King case were over-charged—probably in response to the mob-mentality resulting from the excerpted video being played over and over again.
Look, the idea of “what to think” is taught in the media, as well as in the public schools.
Rodney King didn’t die; there were no murder charges.
The cops were accused for the beating, and cleared by a jury (who saw the WHOLE tape - it was evidence). The feds then got involved and brought them up ion charges in a second trial, for civil rights violations (the catch-all when the desired verdict isn’t reached); this second layer of protection is only available to ethnic minorities, women, homosexuals, basically anyone but a Christian male of European descent. In the second trial they got the desired verdict (and more whites fled CA).