Rodney King Found Dead

20 Comments

• | Reply

• Adam Scott Thompson | June 19, 2012 5:32 PMReply

  That pool would later be acquitted.

• turner | June 18, 2012 1:10 AMReply

  R.I.P. at last...

• BluTopaz | June 17, 2012 7:13 PMReply

  Aside from Rodney's sad life, the other tragedy re: that incident was that nothing has changed at all. Cops all over America know they can now murder unarmed civilians and walk away from it, even when they are caught on camera. It's a national disgrace. Poor Rodney became a symbol of police brutality; I had no idea he still suffered physically from the beating. And the public does not need to know all the details surrounding his death. He could have been given that much dignity at least.

• Guy | June 17, 2012 5:52 PMReply

  Avoid the Yahoo comments section like the plague.

• AccidentalVisitor | June 17, 2012 8:53 PM

  Avoid AOL, FOX, CBS News and a thousand other sites while you're at it too. That type of stuff is rampant at a whole lot of places.

• Ava | June 17, 2012 7:11 PM

  I agree with Guy. The racists really flock to that comments section.
  
  Rodney King's adult life seemed to be characterized by these tragedies of bad circumstance, seemingly brought on by alcoholism. If over-consumption of alcohol is what led to his apparent drowning, it will be a testament to how powerful a force addiction truly is. R.I.P. and heartfelt condolences to his family. A life is lost and that is truly sad.

• Onyx | June 17, 2012 5:30 PMReply

  CNN will have a special on tonight at 8:00 EST on what really happened that night.
  
  The police speculated that King was high. King admits he'd been drinking.
  No one deserved the type of beating King received. As per the police transmissions, they even
  laughed at how badly he'd been beaten, and at some point I hope this article is expanded or links are included to shed light on that night.
  
  Excerpt:
  1:13 a.m. From Powell and Wind to the foot patrol: "I haven't beaten anyone this bad in a long time."
  1:15 a.m. From the foot patrol to Powell and Winds: "Oh not again....Why for you do that....I thought you agreed to chill out for awhile....What did he do?"
  
  1:16 a.m. From Powell and Wind to the foot patrol: "I think he was dusted...many broken bones later....After the pursuit...."
  
  1:17 a.m. From the foot patrol to Powell and Wind: "What pursuit?"
  
  Link: http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/lapd/Kingtransmissions.html

• Kid chaos | June 17, 2012 5:10 PMReply

  Mr.king drug use started the riots if the fool was not high then those white mutha fuker would not have beat him.Blacks need to look in the mirror all the problem of black a america is there.

• Laura | June 17, 2012 7:56 PM

  Somebody need they diaper changed.

• Miles Ellison | June 17, 2012 6:43 PM

  Do you type with the hood on or off? Are the multiple misspellings the result of you being late for your meeting? Are they the result of the eye holes being backwards? Or have the fumes from the burning cross affected your cognitive processes?

• other song | June 17, 2012 6:33 PM

  @Accidentalvisitor, seriously. I always wonder what kind of bizarro world people like Kid Chaos live in, where you blame the victim first.

• AccidentalVisitor | June 17, 2012 5:54 PM

  You are a swell human being.

• CareyCarey | June 17, 2012 2:38 PMReply

  There is a defining moment in every person's life. Within that moment, everything that that person is, shines its brightest. That's possibly why I believe we should love one another when we least deserve it, because that's when we really need it. We shouldn't love someone for their looks, or their clothes, or for their fancy car, but because they sing a song only "we" can hear. That's my segway into what I believe are the most defining moments in the lives of every person of color in the USA. I believe it's safe to say The Emancipation Proclamation, Malcom X's speech "The Ballot Or The Bullet", Martin Luther King's "I’ve Been To The Mountain Top", The OJ Simpson Verdict, President Barrack Obama's inauguration and the Rodney King incident, are epitomes of the words "defining moments". R I P Rodney. YOU, along with the above, are indelibly etched in my mind. Although unlike the above leaders, you didn't consciously sign up for your "leadership" role, nevertheless, you showed the world what POC still face in this America.

• CareyCarey | June 17, 2012 7:27 PM

  Mr Guiltison, I am going to assume you're a white person because my point flew over your head. The OJ Simpson "VERDICT" WAS A DEFINING MOMENT! You see, it shined a light on the hypocriscy of the American justice system. Black Americans have been murdered by the hands of white citizens, including police officers, yet, when they are judged in a court of law by a jury of their peers, they frequently are exonerated. However, on that day October 5th 1995, I remember where I was and the expressions on white folks faces when the verdict was read. I am not saying OJ Simpson was innocent, nor was he a leader, nor someone to be admired, I am simply pointing out that his journey, much like all African American's struggles, were brought to life on that October day, thus, that moment in time, was a defining moment in all " our" lives. So again, I can only assume you didn't get the message because it did not speak to YOU.

• O. Jay Guiltison | June 17, 2012 6:56 PM

  Rodney King was a decent person (despite his all too human flaws of addiction). You had me until you listed OJ/verdict. A leader? A defining moment? Holy shit...
  
  Rodney King's message was of forgiveness and unity. What is OJ's message? OJ was interested in telling you how he would have murdered Nicole. How's that for a defining moment?

• aswilliams | June 17, 2012 3:49 PM

  CareyCarey, I love your post these are the defining moments in Black America throughout history that shaped America. R.I.P. Rodney King I pray that Christ Jesus welcomes you into his Kingdom where you can be free and suffer no pain.

• cinexa | June 17, 2012 11:53 AMReply

  RIP Rodney King

• Carey | June 18, 2012 8:59 AM

  Did I say "deceased"? Well, I should have :-)

• CareyCarey | June 18, 2012 8:55 AM

  ASWILLIAMS & JYE BROWN, Y'all felt it - huh? I am glad you did. I just knew (for me) Rodney King's life was just as important as the other gentlemen I mentioned. And unfortunately, just like those gentlemen, the mere mention of his name will lead to a complex array of conversations, which I try to avoid like they're the black plague. I have a little saying... "I Don't Look In Caskets". I don't care to listen to the negative conversations of others. I know exactly how the decest person or persons have affected my life, so that's all I need to know. When Michael Jackson passed away, I didn't listen (for weeks). When Whitney Houston left too soon, I didn't listen. I especially paid absolutely no attention to the opinions of white folks. Why should I? What were they going to tell me that I needed to know, or hear? Nope, I will not listen to one bit of news on the passing of Rodney King. I am a black man in American, so I've lived Rodney King's life -- IN SO MANY WAYS. And you're right JYE, white america just can't touch this (because they don't have to).

• Jye Brown | June 18, 2012 7:51 AM

  @Careycarey - You so hit the nail on the head. White america just can't comprehend our struggles. I remember exactly where I was the day OJ was cleared of all charges, and I remember the look on my white co-workers faces when the verdict was read (can you believe my job actually allowed us to "watch" tv on this day!!! That's how important this moment in history was). And there's also something else that wasn't mentioned regarding the OJ trial - he was cleared by a lead attorney who was also Black!!! This showed white america that black people too have brains and can use the legal system to our advantage just like they can. RIP Rodney King and may God have mercy on your soul and grant you entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven.