Rodney King Newspaper Articles

This first posting is a response to a series of newspaper articles covering the beating of Rodney King in 1991:

The crux of these articles lies in understanding the role and influence of the law in all sectors.  Law manifests itself in several senses: in the police officers themselves, in the way citizens obey or disobey the law, and in a courtroom.  Here, the law becomes one of the most important factors in determining how society operates.  And though the law is often considered the deciding element on what is right and what is wrong, these newspaper articles seek to dispel this belief.  These statements seem to argue that the law may be inherently flawed, as behind the scenes it can be intrinsically violent and dishonest.  This particular fact becomes clear in article 5, when, "A little more than four months ago a videotaped beating of a black motorist by Los Angeles police officers stirred national outrage, an independent commission today issued a harsh indictment of the Los Angeles Police Department as an agency that has tolerated excessive force and overt racism among its officers" (Reinhold A1).
         Another important element to consider is the place of media as an influence on how justice comes about.  The fact that this particular incident was filmed demonstrates how different forms of media can affect how an event is understood.  Though film and other forms of communication are commonplace in crime today, the Rodney King incident set a precedent for acts of crime that followed or will follow.
        Race is also an incredibly important factor, as many took on the belief that this act of violence was racially charged.  The verdict by the court also speaks to this fact, due to the acquittal of the police officers.  Following the decision, the President of the Los Angeles NAACP spoke out, referring to the sentence as, "'a sign of institutional racism at work"' (Perez- Pena A28).  Here it becomes clear that race will always be relevant in the law and so many other sectors.  It can never truly be ignored, even if people claim they see beyond boundaries of color.
         Many of these articles relied upon the desire to preserve and restore justice as a means of responding to those who committed acts of violence.  In article 2, the Mayor states that, "The L.A.P.D's reputation cannot be restored as long as Daryl Gates is at the center of the storm of protest" (Reinhold A17).  But an area of confusion lies in whether or not the general population is in support of bringing justice to what has happened.  At first, it seems apparent that normal citizens, mainly those not in a position of power, feel that the chief should resign, while political leaders are hesitant to say they feel the same way.  But in later newspaper pieces, it became unclear where citizens stand on the issue.  And the fact that the jury voted the way it did speaks volumes to this fact.  One must also consider the incredible dichotomy present in Rodney King himself.  He is both a criminal and a victim, a man on parole and a man seeking justice through the law.
       Another interesting and puzzling factor is the role of the pictures in the trial.  Article 9 cites the fact that the defense is opposed to bringing photographs into the trial, because they would, "show the effects of the beating far more graphically than those previously shown at the trial" (Perez-Pena A17). Perhaps the video quality lacked clarity, but it is hard to imagine that this footage was not particularly violent and disturbing.  This reality demonstrates a fear on behalf of the jury to understand that the world is dangerous and violent.  It seems that the defense is afraid to shed complete light on the situation, as doing so could turn the decision around.
      One can also examine the police reaction to the riots.  So many of the officers claimed that they were acting appropriately when they dealt with Rodney King, yet they were so blatantly unequipped to handle the aftermath.  Article 15 articulates this reality, "The Los Angeles Police, apparently caught off guard by the violent reaction to the acquittal of four white police officers in the beating of a black motorist, were slow to react, even after the scope of the anarchy sweeping the city had become apparent" (Reinhold A1).  It is difficult to imagine that people who are hired to understand the nature of violence could not appropriately handle this situation.  It also seems improbable that no one would be angered by how racially charged the acquittal comes across, and how it defends brutal acts of violence.
         Ultimately these series of events do much to undermine the law and question its validity.  At the heard of the Los Angeles police force lies a potentially flawed and violent system that does not bring justice in the way it is meant to.  One must question both the law and what it stands for, as an inherently flawed system cannot truly be trusted to provide justice in an immoral world.  The people of Los Angeles come to question who they can really trust to bring peace to their town, especially if those hired to do so are failing.  An interesting aspect of this lies in the aftermath of the trial.  When the law fails to act or appropriately predict outcomes, violence and acts of dissent continue.  Thus, one can determine that the law is a necessary evil.  With it violence still happens, but without it, the world turns to chaos.
      As previously discussed, the Rodney King incident also calls for a consideration of the media.  An accurate and in depth portrayal of the beatings can provide incredible insight into what has happened, and allows for a greater perspective of the situation.  But with this information also comes a series of questions.  One must look at the source of the tape and evaluate potential biases or lenses that the person filming brings to the situation.  It seems that the introduction of media in crime creates a whole new series of complications and facts to wonder about.