The Beating of Rodney King Essay - 2275 Words

The Beating of Rodney King The Beating of Rodney King Throughout police history in the United States and around the world there have been numerous incidents of reported police brutality and other forms of corruption including taking bribes, theft, sexual deviance, and many more. In our present time corruption has decreased significantly from what it once was decades ago but still exists. One of the most publicized cases of police brutality, if not the most, was the beating of Rodney King. Most people have heard about the case and seen the video of the brutal beating that took place in Los Angeles on the night of March 2, 1991. The video shown to the public contained officers appearing to beat Mr. King while he is on the ground while†¦show more content†¦Being officers of the law it is their job to follow orders from superiors, this is how police organizations operate all over the country. Without a structured hierarchy officers would have leeway to do whatever they please which would likely cause chao s. Despite this it must be analyzed at to what degree was the assault, if it was blatantly too harsh then the officers could not use a â€Å"just following orders† defense as this has already been established through the Nuremberg trials. Although these trials were for a much more severe crimes they set a precedent that this could not be used as a defense if the crime is too Hyannis. The Nuremberg defense was most famously used by one of the Nazis during the trials in Israel during 1961, this man was Adolph Eichmann. He was famously quoted in this statement: â€Å"I cannot recognize the verdict of guilty. . . . It was my misfortune to become entangled in these atrocities. But these misdeeds did not happen according to my wishes. It was not my wish to slay people. . . . Once again I would stress that I am guilty of having been obedient, having subordinated myself to my official duties and the obligations of war service and my oath of allegiance and my oath of office, and in addition, once the war started, there was also martial law. . . . I did not persecute Jews with avidity and passion. That is whatShow MoreRelatedRace And Rage : The Beating Of Rodney King961 Words   |  4 Pagesand Rage: The Beating of Rodney King was a documentary about just that, the beating of Rodney King and the Chicago Riots that were a result. In 1991 Rodney King was chased by cops for several miles before finally pulling over in a parking lot. He was then beaten almost to death by police and the entire incident was recorded by a resident in a nearby apartment . Chicago riots begin in 1992 due to the police brutality incident. The damage to the city was immeasurable and finally King came on and saidRead MoreAnalysis Of The Movie The 1991 Beating Of Rodney King 1814 Words   |  8 PagesThe 1991 beating of Rodney King by Los Angeles police provides rich case material in how an attack perceived as unjust can backfire. George H. W. Bush said, â€Å"The last thing the leaders of Los Angeles expected in the early 1990s was that their city would become the scene of the nation s deadliest urban race riot since the Civil War.† The race riot that Mr. Bush is referencing are the Los Angeles race riots that occurred as a result of Rodney King’s arrest in 1991 exemplified the deep tensions betweenRead MorePolice Brutality Should Not Be Swept Under The Rug980 Words   |  4 PagesFrom the disturbing beating of Rodney King to the horrific death of Malice Green to the shooting of Michael Brown shows there is a consistent problem with po lice brutality and the exertion of force used. 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The fact that Rodney King was African American and that white police officers used unnecessary force when trying to apprehend him made itRead MorePolice Report On The Los Angeles Police Department1584 Words   |  7 PagesBMCC Ashley Chaparro Policing Research Paper On March 2, 1991, a brutal beating of a 26 year old man by the Los Angeles Police department, set tensions high between the black community and the police department, not only in Los Angeles but all across the country. This is not only considered an extremely controversial incident, but also a contradicting case. Is it a coincidence, or has the justice system failed to charge and imprison police officers who use excessive force on black members of societyRead MorePolice Accountability And The Criminal Justice System1356 Words   |  6 Pagesthe beating of Rodney King. Rodney King was an African American male who was under the influence and decided to take the police on a high speed chase (Bates Sastry, 2017). 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Rodney King had severeRead MorePolice Brutality Over The Years1458 Words   |  6 Pagesthat juries acquit the police, cops get their jobs back, and brutality happens again. One of the most broadcasted cases of police brutality, was the beating of Rodney King. On the night of March 2, 1991, a bystander named George Holiday, videotaped the moment when five officers used excess force on an African American man named Rodney King, beating him with batons as he struggled on the ground. Also, it was recorded that an officer stomped on King’s shoulder causing his head to hit hard against theRead MorePolice Brutality And The Civil Force1233 Words   |  5 Pagesto the population that police can use brute force to protect and serve the people of our country? Historical Framework The terminology of Police Brutality was used in the American press as early as 1872, when the Chicago Tribune reported on the beating of a citizen under arrest as the Harrison Street Police Station (Chicagotribune 1872). A man named Michael Clark that was well known as North Division that kept a salon at the corner of Chicago Ave and Wells street (Chicagotribune 1872). Clark wasRead MoreOppression Of The United States1401 Words   |  6 Pagesunessecarily on Black people in means of beatings and hostile arrests based on claims of suspicious looks. But what is the reason for the thought of a black man with a sweatshirt looking suspicious? Although not admitted, and maybe not even having conscious awareness of, it is so common that the thought of illegal or dangerous activity is associated with a dark skin tone. This country is prided for its many historical, respected figures such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks. People like the