Rodney King
Rodney King was a motorist who, while videotaped by a by-stander, was beaten by Los Angeles police officers (LAPD) during an arrest on March 3, 1991. King was kicked and hit 56 times with police batons. In addition to the three officers personally involved, 24 other other law enforcement officers watched the beating. [1]
The three officers and the sergeant said to be in charge of them were tried for the beating but acquitted by a jury of 10 whites, a Hispanic and an Asian. The verdict shocked African-Americans across the nation and led to massive rioting in Los Angeles which left hundreds of buildings severely damaged or destroyed and dozens dead. During the riot King pleaded with the rioters, saying on national television; "Can we all just get along?"
However, the federal government stepped-in and charged the officers with violating King's civil rights (this was a common practice in the 1960s when all-white juries routinely acquitted people charged with racially-motivated crimes). King testified in this trial on March 9, 1993. Two of the officers were convicted in this trial and there was no rioting.