Being an adolescent, who is in fact african american writing this essay, of course the first case which caught my attention was the 2012 Trayvon Martin case. Note, Trayvon was not killed by a member of law enforcement, rather, he was killed by a vigilante. But although Trayvon was not killed by a member of law enforcement this stirred up attention across america especially in the african american community concerning the law and members of its enforcement (judges, lawyers, police officers etc.) Following Trayvon’s death, deaths of other african americans by police officers started receiving national attention. Deaths of victims such as Mike Brown, Eric Garner, Tamir Rice and others were being talked about nationwide following the death of Trayvon.
“’Can You Be BLACK and Look at This’: Reading the Rodney King Video(s)” by Elizabeth Alexander is a powerful analysis into the deep rooted sense of community felt by people who identify as Black, with specific regards to the videotaped police beating of Rodney King; and also examines the deep rooted White stereotypes surrounding people of color in America, more notably in the judicial system. This essay details the unity and solidarity seen in the times, not only surrounding the Rodney King videos, but also surrounding other notable stories about Black violence, such as the murder of Emmett Till, and the stories of Fredrick Douglass, to name a few. It describes in detail the horrible acts committed on Black bodies, and references numerous movements
The case also changed the city itself, as it altered (Changed) everything from two mayoral (Relating to a mayor) elections to the reaction when a knot of teenage boys appeared on a dimly-lit sidewalk. Now, the case is returning as anxieties about crime, civil rights, and the economy revive. New York in the spring of 1989 was a city of jangling nerves and rising fears, with crack blighting (Ruining) whole families and neighborhoods, violent-crime rates rising for the third straight year, and homicides setting a record. Race relations framed many of the media's big stories, and Ed Koch's shrillness (sharpness) was a central issue in a tight Democratic-primary
Twenty-three years after Rodney King’s beating, police brutality is on the rise more than ever. On March 3, 1991 Rodney King led police on a high speed chase through the streets of Los Angeles County before finally surrendering. An intoxicated Rodney King resisted arrest and upon doing so he was brutally beaten by police officers. An 89-second video of Rodney King being beaten was filmed and released to the press. The video shows police officers Laurence Powell, Theodore Briseno, Timothy Wind and Stacey Koon, beating King with their batons.
According to the Declaration of Independence signed on July 4,1776 “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” The Declaration of Independence says that all men are equal; all men are equal means that every man’s life has the same value. Police brutality has been an ongoing problem since the beginning of time. The conflict of the police versus the people has become a mass media problem as well as a personal problem. Back 1992, Rodney Glen King was the first African American to go viral for being the first victim of police brutality.
The Rodney King riots impacted many people in the United States in many ways, and Matheson and Baade explain one large impact that they
The final verdict of the Rodney King trial in 1992 caused many people to grow anger, and display their anger in different ways. Some people displayed aggression and fury with the riots in Los Angeles, others attempted to get a different resolution for the LAPD officers that were acquitted, and there were also citizens who wrote about the impacts of this trial and other issues. After reading the entries and taking my experiences into account, the three responses were fitting according to the verdict. Riots are normally considered to be malicious acts that are highly frowned upon, but in some cases a riot is necessary. People express themselves in different ways when they grow angry; some people will riot because they can show people that they are upset and they believe this is the best way to get the point across.
Rodney King Riots Protest Movement Paper On April 29, 1992, A week of non stop urban violence and mayhem erupted in the streets and cities of Los Angeles, the riots were commenced by the unjust trial that let the four white police officers set free of any charges. All four officers were captured on videotape beating on a black motorist named, Rodney King after a traffic stop gone wild. The Rodney King riots impacted society greatly by presenting the nations people with an understanding of how racism was still present in america. A reminder that "justice for all" was still a long way off being set in stone and to followed by most people.
The quote stated above by Rodney King is an interpretation of how he feel towards police brutality. Rodney King was an African American male who was brutally beat by police officers when he refused to pull over. This incident showed that officers can be cruel and as a future criminal justice professional, it makes me question the understanding of ethical practices in the criminal justice system. Unlike Rodney King, the man in the video was not beat but he was tortured –twisting of his arm. Both Rodney King and the man in the video were helpless as they continued to scream for help.
The Rodney King Riot happened in Los Angeles in the year of 1992. Rodney King was an African American male who was arrested on charges because of speeding, drunk driving, and refusing to stop his vehicle. Four police officers who have claimed to have witnessed King’s actions such as being high on drugs and was trying to attack them explains why they did what they did. A resident nearby by the name of George Holliday captured about 12 minutes of the attack on film. King was tasered, brutally beaten with side-handled batons, then forced to the ground to lie still which was where he was handcuffed.
People rebel when no justice being served. It is understandable why people act a certain way. Have you ever loved someone more than yourself? A person is your biggest pride and joy to be safe? Can you imagine how it feels to no longer have your pride and joy with in a split second, due to the way they look?
The Rodney King Riot took place in response to a publicized story of police brutality that happened to a man named, Rodney King. Rodney King was a Dodgers Stadium usher, who had been arrested on charges of speeding, driving while under the influence of drugs, and for the failure to yield. The four police officers that responded to the incident, claimed that Mr.King was high on drugs, which was later proven untrue, and was trying to attack them, which then “forced” the police to beat him senseless, (SouthCentralHistory.com) they claimed self defense and said their actions did not go without a cause. A photographer at that time named George Holliday, was watching nearby the scene and decided to capture the horrifying and brutal attack of Mr.King on film.
In the film, Crips and Bloods: Made in America, by Stacy Peralta, analyzes the social conditions of young African Americans associated with gang violence in South Los Angeles as well as its influence towards the LAPD. One of the events that became rapidly known for its police abuse was the Los Angeles Riots of 1992. This occasion which surfaced through the news media after four police officers were being videotaped beating up a black motorist, Rodney King, became evident of the unnecessary brutality that was being dealt with. Since the victim was unarmed, there was no justification towards the attack, therefore, the use of force was considered unwarranted. The Federal Courts trial, that acknowledged the acquittal of these law enforcers, led to a sudden outbreak, which African Americans sought to promote social justice.
An occurrence observed by the population of Los Angeles, California conveys the existence of racism and police brutality. According to The Polls-Trends: Racial Differences in Attitudes Toward the Police, “…three quarters of blacks, but only 38 percent of whites, continued to view police brutality as a common occurrence” (Tuch and Weitzer
Police do not assume that just because you are over 30, your chances of becoming a police officer are over. Some agencies have no maximum age. Most agencies expect officers to have a high school diploma or GED at a minimum. Some agencies require a bachelor 's degree or a minimum number of college credit hours. The term "police brutality" was in use in the American press as early as 1872.
