Origins & Early Life

Rodney Glen King (April 2, 1965 – June 17, 2012) was an African-American man who on March 3, 1991 became a victim of police brutality when he was severely beaten by officers of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) during his arrest after a high-speed pursuit on California's state freeway, Interstate 210 having initially evaded arrest. George Holliday, an uninvolved resident, saw and filmed the incident from his nearby balcony and then sent the footage, which showed an unarmed King on the ground being beaten, to KTLA, a local news station who broadcast the film, which was then rebroadcast by other stations casting a worldwide spotlight on the LAPD and King. King was taken to Pacifica Hospital after his arrest where he was found to have suffered a fractured facial bone, a broken right ankle, and multiple bruises and lacerations. Nurses later reported that the officers who accompanied King openly joked and bragged about the number of times they had hit him.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Blood and urine samples taken five hours after his arrest measured King's blood alcohol content at 0.075%, below the legal limit of 0.08%. The LAPD initially charged King with "felony evading", but later dropped the charge. Upon...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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• Albert O. Hirschman — Contemporary (Died in 2012) (2012): Pioneering American economist known for development and political economy theories.
• Alfred F. Young — Contemporary (Died in 2012) (2012): Pioneering American historian of the Revolution and working-class social history.
• 5th Dalai Lama — Shared historical date (04-02 · Died) (1682): Spiritual and political leader of Tibet, unifying the region under the Ganden Phodrang.
• Ajay Devgn — Shared historical date (04-02 · Born) (1968): Veteran Indian actor and filmmaker known for diverse roles in Hindi cinema.
• Alan Brooke, 1st Viscount Alanbrooke — Shared historical date (06-17 · Died) (1963): British Field Marshal and Chief of the Imperial General Staff during WWII.
• Alexander Shulgin — Shared historical date (06-17 · Born) (1925): Pioneering biochemist known for synthesizing and exploring over 200 psychoactive compounds.
• 1965 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1965
• April 2 (04-02) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on April 2
• 2012 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2012
• June 17 (06-17) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on June 17