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On March 3, 1991, in Los Angeles, California, several police cars chased Rodney G. King, a robbery parolee
who was speeding. Fearing that his probation for a robbery offense would be revoked because of the traffic violation,
King led the CHP on this high speed chase.Two friends were with him in the car. After the police chase during which
he drove through several intersections against red lights, King eventually was forced to stop. Although the two passengers
in the car complied with police requests to exit the car and were subdued with minor resistance, King apparently refused to exit
the car and was physically assisted in doing so. He was subsequently struck as many as 56 times by officers wielding batons,
kicked at least six times, and shot with a Taser electronic stun gun.
The beating was administered by three Los Angeles police officers, allegedly at the order of a police
sargeant who was on the scene. Twenty-three other law enforcement officers were also present and watched the beating, but
apparently made no effort to stop it. There were also several civilian bystanders, incuding George Holiday, who witnessed
the incident. Holiday videotaped the beating of King. King suffered extensive injuries as a result of the beating, including
a broken leg, skull fractures, nerve damage to part of his face and multiple cuts, bruises and lacerations.
"I was just trying to stay alive."
Rodney King
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I can absolutely relate to Rodney King's fears, as I have been badly
beaten by the cops and the fear is very, very real. You really do feel as though you may die, and the experience
is very frightening and traumatic; something which never leaves you. I wish Rodney all the best in trying,
somehow, to put this behind him.
D. Lee Oliver
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