What Happened On March 3rd?

Still a prominent issue today, tensions between the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and the city’s Black community started to increase on March 3rd of the year 1991. On this day, amateur videographer George Holliday captured footage of Los Angeles police officers brutally beating Rodney King, an unarmed Black man, following a high-speed chase where King was intoxicated.

The grainy, 89-second video showed King being repeatedly struck with batons, kicked, and tased by multiple officers, even after he appeared subdued. The sheer brutality of the incident, filmed from across the street, was undeniable.

The footage quickly spread throughout America, first through local news channels and then onto the national and international stage, creating outrage and disgust across the world. The images reminded all of the racial disparities and persistent issue of police brutality in the United States.

The Rodney King Trial forced continuous conversation about race, policing, and social justice. Despite the video evidence clearly showing the excessive use of force, the four officers involved were acquitted by a predominantly white jury. This verdict sparked widespread outrage and fueled the violent Los Angeles riots.

Beginning on April 29th, 1992, and lasting for several days, the 1992 Los Angeles Riots created a scene of chaos and destruction. Frustrations over racial injustice, waiting for change since the 13th Amendment, allowed for widespread anger.

Protestors looted and primarily targeted Korean-owned businesses, reflecting complex social and economic tensions within the community.

63 lives were lost, 2,683 were injured, and property damage reached billions of dollars. However at the end of 1993, a separate civil lawsuit was filed, and the city of Los Angeles was found liable, awarding Rodney King with $3.8 million in damages.