Rodney king beating article

On March 3, 1991, four police officers were filmed beating taxi driver Rodney King after a pursuit through the streets of Los Angeles. The video shocked the city, and the events that followed shocked the nation.

It was one of the first police brutality videos of its kind, and forever changed the conversation about police and race in America.

King, who was intoxicated, had been caught speeding and initially tried to evade the police.

When he finally pulled over and exited his car, multiple LAPD units and a helicopter were pursuing him.

Taken by bystander George Holliday from across the street, the footage shows four officers Tazing, kicking, and hitting King with their batons upwards of 53 times.

"King claims, and several witnesses support him, that he never resisted," CBS News correspondent Jerry Bowen reported a few days later.

"Twenty-five-year-old Rodney King showed his injuries to reporters -- the bruises, broken leg, and the scar from the stun gun which jolted him with 5