Overview of the case and the trial’s lasting impact.

The case concerns the famous 1992 court trial concerning the 1991 case of police brutality involving Rodney King, an African American pulled over for speeding, and four LAPD officers in Los Angeles. On 3rd March 1991, at night, George Holliday captured a video of the four officers “kicking, stomping on, and beating King with metal batons” while their sergeant watched (website). The major players in the arrest included “Laurence Powell, Timothy Wind, Theodore Briseno, Ronaldo Solano, and Sergeant Stacey Koon” (website). The court trial started on 5th March 1992 and continued for several months before the verdict was finally ruled on 29th April. The case held that the officers had used excessive force, hence violating the plaintiff’s rights. Evidently, “Holliday’s camera records Powell and Wind inflicting over fifty baton blows and several kicks, officer Briseno stomping on King’s shoulder, causing his head to hit hard against the asphalt and one of the batons landing on King’s head” (website). On the other hand, the defendants held that the used force was warranted since the plaintiff was resisting arrest, and was under the influence of drugs and was drunk. For example, “sergeant Charles Duke defended that it was necessary to break a bone and that every one of the fifty-six baton swings shown on the videotape was justified” (website). In addition, officers like Briseno and Powell believed King was out of control.

The recorded video was the first evidence to be ever played in public. Hence the court proceeding was closely followed by the public. However, the biased jury in Simi Valley found the officers not guilty, prompting riots and violence across Los Angeles. Notably, “Simi Valley’s jury pool of 260 people included only a half dozen African Americans–and five of those had no interest in serving on a jury in what they considered hostile territory” (website). Similarly, the majority of the jury appeared to be in support of the officers. Within the five days of the riots, fifty people died, seven thousand were apprehended, hundreds of million-dollar property destroyed, and hundreds were injured (website). Following the riots, a second trial by federal civil rights on 25th February 1993 found Koon and Powel guilty while the other two were acquitted. The trial had a lasting impact on America. National awareness was created on instances like officers using excessive force and institutional racism within their departments. Consequently, King’s trial sparked national activism on vital issues like social injustices, civil liberties, and racial discrimination. Also, the trial zeroed in on officers taking accountability and the need for reforms within the justice department.

Significance of the trial on American society and government.

The significance of King’s trial was heavily felt by American society and government. The trial pointed out the issue of police brutality within American society. Holliday’s video evidence which was widely shared, raised serious concern and disturbance within the American society that questioned the use of force by officers. American society was rather shocked and was left in horror after watching the brutality in the video. This further raised concerns about how people of color are treated in America and their civil rights. “A poll taken in Los Angeles after the tape had been running showed that 92% of those polled believed that excessive force was used against Rodney King” (website). Briseno also agrees that the force used was excessive. Fuelled by the prosecution, the public was able to recognize that the LAPD officers illegally used too much unnecessary force and failed to respect the rights of King. For instance, when the officers were acquitted in the first trial, american society still believed the officers were guilty; hence descended into riots and anger. Evidently, “a crowd outside the Ventura County Courthouse shouted (Guilty! Guilty!) as the defendants were escorted away by sheriff’s deputies” (website). Thus, the trial awakened American society concerning the issue of police brutality within the justice department, whereby they questioned the extent of force used by law enforcers.

In addition, King’s trial also highlighted racism within American society. Notably, the case concerns a harmless Black American beaten up brutally by four White officers while their supervisor watches. This excessive use of force by the officers was viewed by some Americans as an issue to do with institutional racism within the LAPD. According to the website, “a few people considered race an issue in the King beating. Even King’s own attorney, Steven Lerman, agreed with that assessment” (website). King also believed that he was brutally beaten because of his race. He noted “that as he was being hit, the officers were chanting either ‘What’s up killer? How do you feel killer? [or] What’s up nigger?” (website). Even the Mayor was able to see systemic racism within the police departments. “Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley declared, there appears to be a dangerous trend of racially motivated incidents running through at least some segments of the Police Department” (website). Additionally, the case was transferred to a neighborhood consisting of majority White residents and the jury comprised of majority White Americans. Thus, their verdict that acquitted the officers was seen by the majority of African Americans as an injustice fueled by racism. Thus, the trial prompted American society to see and condemn cases of systemic racism within the society.

In regards to the government, the trial pointed out the need for the government to reform the justice and law enforcement departments and for officers to take accountability. In the course of the trial, the LAPD department was necessitated to rethink its stand on using excessive force and systemic racism. Fueled by King’s trial, changes were implemented within law enforcement and the justice departments. For example, “Mayor Bradley appointed a commission headed by Warren Christopher to investigate LAPD practices and make recommendations for reform” (website). In addition, the second trial led by the federal government selected a racially mixed jury, including two Black American jurors. Regarding accountability, “Terry White forced Powell to concede that everybody out there was responsible for their own actions” (Website). Also, the trial zeroed in on evidence within the government’s legal system. The trial pointed out how evidence like videos can provide useful information in such cases as police brutality. Thus, this raised the need for video evidence within the legal system. Overall, the trial prompted changes within the government legal system and law enforcement and made officers take responsibility for their actions.