OT: Rodney King dead at 47
The man who was beaten by LA Police and set off riots in LA back in 1991 is dead. Found at bottom on pool.
http://www.cnn.com/2012/06/17/us/obit-rodney-king/index.html
I can't possibly imagine where this thread might end up...
This is exactly where I thought the thread would end up.
Must use restraint...
PLEASE tread lightly here...
Can't we all just get along?
I was in South Central LA on business earlier this week. Its a pretty scary place. The conditions seem ripe for another riot. Hopefully that will not happen, of course...but it is pretty easy to see how it could, the way things are going these days.
for the heads up man. i'll avoid south central now.
Maybe if you could catch a ride with LL:
According to the Los Angeles city government, that area is now called South Los Angeles. Now that they've changed the name, everything is fine.
This is not post worthy.
Motion Seconded
Have you been coming to this blog long? Everytime someone "famous" dies there is a thread. Dont like it,dont click on it.
football related. But it does remind me of living in LA during the riots.
damn i bet that was fun lol were you near the riots?? that had to be scary as hell.
RIP Rod! You will forever be remembered whether that is for your parodies or your impacts on race equality and effort you put in to trying to help African Americans along with other minorities.
Everything that just happened here is exactly why this blog has a no politics rule. It's also why racial and religious issues should be in that same category.
After the the LA acquittal, this case went to a federal trial where 2 of those 4 officers were sentenced to 32 months in prison, and their decision was not based off of a few seconds of film. Oh, and before the federal trial, the LA Mayor and the elder Bush publically decried the actions of those of officers, going as far as saying they were undeserving of being police officers.
I don't believe anyone is saying Rodney King is completely innocent (which he is clearly not), but what we are saying is he was victim of racially charged police brutatility nonetheless...and the federal government agrees. It certainly seems that you are the one in need of some more facts.
I just saw Rodney King on tv the other day. It was either AH channel or BookTV. Rodney was on a panel about race relations.
Rodney had recently authored a book
The Riot Within: My Journey from Rebellion to Redemption
http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&keywords=Rodney%20King&rh=n%3A283155%2Ck%3ARodney%20King&page=1
I always found Rodney King a likeable person.
I was in socal when he got caught, and when the first trial ended in not guilty verdicts for the cops. Can't describe the chaos and destruction. Scary business and we all slept with our sidearms. Was in trial on a homicide investigation when the verdict came. Very strange to watch the city burn for a week.
His next two arrests came across my desk too. Political hot potato to say the least. He got a pass on one and a wrist slap on the other as the powers above didn't want the headache.
Don't wish him bad, and certainly not death, but given what I know about his criminal history I suspect his ME (autopsy) report is going to have some interesting details.
I didn't realize what a hero Mr. King was. After reading all these posts maybe we should build him a statue or put his face on Mt. Rushmore.
living his life? No social commentary meant at all, but having that kind of medai spotlight and the instant name recognition he had?
Sad passing no matter his status in life. God forbid any of us get caught in that kind of media maelstrom.
Peace Rodney.