In a few weeks, late April, the 20th anniversary of race riots in Los Angeles will be marked. Horrific doesn't begin to describe the separate and nearly fatal beatings visited upon Rodney King and Reginald Denny.
Rodney King was savagely beaten by four LAPD cops. Unknown to police at the time, the incident was videotaped by a private citizen. The video was broadcast hundreds, if not thousands, of times on local and national television. Great tension surrounded the criminal trial of the four LAPD officers. When acquittals were announced, violence and rioting erupted unimpeded for several days.
Reginald Denny was pulled from his commercial truck and likewise savagely beaten by four angry rioters. Again, this attack was videotaped by a helicopter crew. The video of Denny's beating was played hundreds, perhaps thousands, of times on television as well.
Eventually, civil lawsuits awarded Rodney King $3.8 million for his suffering at the hands of police. LAPD refused to come to the aid of Reginald Denny even though they were parked nearby at the time of his beating. Reginald Denny's civil lawsuit was unsuccessful. He got nothing. Nada.
Rodney King was savagely beaten by four LAPD cops. Unknown to police at the time, the incident was videotaped by a private citizen. The video was broadcast hundreds, if not thousands, of times on local and national television. Great tension surrounded the criminal trial of the four LAPD officers. When acquittals were announced, violence and rioting erupted unimpeded for several days.
Reginald Denny was pulled from his commercial truck and likewise savagely beaten by four angry rioters. Again, this attack was videotaped by a helicopter crew. The video of Denny's beating was played hundreds, perhaps thousands, of times on television as well.
Eventually, civil lawsuits awarded Rodney King $3.8 million for his suffering at the hands of police. LAPD refused to come to the aid of Reginald Denny even though they were parked nearby at the time of his beating. Reginald Denny's civil lawsuit was unsuccessful. He got nothing. Nada.