Rodney King

Rodney Glen King was an African-American construction worker who became well known after being beaten harshly by Los Angeles police officers following a high-speed car chase on March 3, 1991. George Holliday, a resident in the nearby area, witnessed the beating and videotaped much of it from the balcony of his nearby apartment.

This incident was one of the first cases grassroots media. This is because when 'King' was getting beat up there were people filming it. This footage first went to the police but they ignored it then the person who filmed it when to the news and they broadcasted about it. The footage then became an instant media sensation.

This event caused riots in Los Angeles in 1992. This riot happened because of the Rodney King accident. This event was the cause for 53 deaths and over 2000 injuries.

I watched the video of Rodney King and i was quite shocked on how brutial it was. I can now see why so many people upraged from this. It wasn't a fight it was a beating, 10 guys on 1. I think that the riots where justified for this reason, however the killings wern't.

There are many different views of this story, i was watching the film 'American History X' and this scene popped up which i found interesting. They start of talking about the roits. The people in this who are against Rodney King are White supremistists so that changes the view. However some of the points they talk about in this i agree with. This shows in there view, grassroots media can have a negitive effect.