Rodney King Dead: Face Of LA Riots Dies At Age 47

Rodney King, the man who was at the center of the infamous Los Angeles riots, was found dead this morning, TMZ has reported. He was 47.

According to TMZ, King's fiancée found him dead at the bottom of a pool.

This is a developing story...

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Comments

[jollygoodtimer]

11:34 PM on 07/04/2012

When people allow their thinking to become lazy and forget how to apply the process of critical analysis - they are easily led astray by false logic to reach false conclusions.

The false conclusions are reinforced by repetition until they gain the power of a cultural identity marker. Anyone who dares point out truth is criticized and ostracized.

Over time, the false conclusions are constantly cited and reaffirmed until they have become historical fact. Yet, there is only one real truth. If one person votes for the truth and one million people vote for a false mythology - the truth is still the truth, even though it is proven to be a very unpopular truth.

For example: a team of professional technicians is assigned to prepare and rig a steel-frame high rise building for a controlled demolition. The team follows the plan and the controlled demolition is performed with exactly perfect results.

however, 30 minutes prior to the controlled demolition a passenger jet is flown into the upper 25% height of the building and ignites a jet-fuel fire.

Event A precedes Event B. That alone does not prove that Event A caused Event B.

The False conclusion is reinforced by repetition (continual broadcast of same WTC video), while truth speakers are shouted down and shut out. Over time false conclusions become historical fact A.K.A. false mythology.

[Edy Williams]

09:22 PM on 06/20/2012

We Love You Rodney! Why didn't we all reach out & pat him on the back,.? he had the most Kind, niave,sweet face. As he said the words"Can't We AllGet Along?".He was trembling so. Why wasn't he pulled out of the pool at once instead of 911? If only we all could have invited him to more sports events, the emmys, he m.t.v. awards, etc. Why look at Mike Tyson & all his commercials now.Think we could have done better for our dear RODNEY! To me to ask neighbors "may I mow your lawn?".He had true talent. He was a blessed soul.Think they hit him in the head too damn hard & it was difficult for him to pull it all back perfectly together! Those RATS!

[johnnydanger]

07:33 PM on 06/19/2012

You'd think he could've paid for swimming lessons with all that dough.

[johnnydanger]

07:29 PM on 06/19/2012

He's driving that big Hyundai Excel in the sky now.

[Edy Williams]

09:38 PM on 06/20/2012

Yes, but we sure did have a treasure with a big heart that Never put his feelings first! Wish he was doing what Mike Tyson is managing to do now!

[LovelyGirl]

05:26 PM on 06/19/2012

I saw an interview with him and was surprised by how sensible and articulate he was. He seems destined to be a tragic figure. Who will ever forget "can we all get along"? People laugh and make fun of it but the message was true.

[Barry MCokiner]

05:09 PM on 06/19/2012

Mr. King- Please now rest easy. YOU were one of the main reasons this WHITE MALE became a cop. YOU my friend have paid dearly, that is why you are no longer "needed" here in the "Land of 10,000 Things" I'm certain that you have returned to your "Originating Source" and are surrounded by ONLY LOVE and COMPASSION. I'd like to apologize personally for your treatment at the hands of my brethren as I personally thought that was pathetic, and I don't think you ever got one.. thus my becoming a WHITE cop in what some folks call a "ghetto". Due to YOUR influence Mr. King, and what happened to YOU, I served the folks of said community w/a true heart and have YOU to thank for helping me decide what to do w/my life. I'm medically retired now and regret not being able to thank you personally. Travel well my friend...

[ramsha]

11:22 AM on 06/19/2012

Rodney King had problems with addiction, however he certainly had some admirable qualities that enabled him to forgive and forget the unfair treatment he was meted out by the cops that was caught by the camera for the world to see.

[cheechazteca]

08:53 AM on 06/19/2012

if they had left him alone from the start, we wouldn't be seeing this article today!

[MichiganLeslie]

08:11 AM on 06/19/2012

Bless his heart. He had a lot to overcome and endured much. He didn't choose to be put in the spotlight and the tragic events that unfolded before the world's eyes are a heavy burden for any man to bare. I have recently seen him in an interview and thought he was well spoken and I was impressed. I don't know how I would be able to function in society but he seemed to be making an honest effort. (The article makes me wonder how you can have verbal contact from the bottom of a pool.) My sympothy to everyone suffering by his passing. And remember, we can't judge. None of us have been where he has been. Nothing he did wrong can justify what was to follow.

[jlf2033]

06:01 PM on 06/19/2012

Technically he did choose his situation. He chose to run from the police and then attack them. He was not some innocent victim.

[MichiganLeslie]

06:51 PM on 06/19/2012

I agree he did something wrong and illegal. More than one thing in his lifetime, I am sure. I just keep going back to the riots in my mind. For the weight of that to be on his shoulders was not something anyone could overcome and go on to lead a normal, healthy life.

[frutann]

09:29 PM on 06/19/2012

He didn't attack the police. Whether he ran or not doesn't justify how badly the officers decided to kick the s*** ot of him. No matter what happened to him with the police he is not the one who stated the riots. It may be his situation that started the Riots but it wasn't Rodney King himself who started the Riots, that you can thank the police for. No need to use obsessive force when ou already have someone confined.

I have seen Rodney King And he is an intelligent caring person who really did try to stop drincking and smoking. He really did care for people. I wish him and his family the best and hope his children will be able to get the help they need.

[cclaker]

07:05 AM on 06/19/2012

Watching Rodney King ask the question, "Can't we all just get along?" is heartbreaking to me. It will continue to haunt us and remind us of how far we have to go in America. He was a gentle, troubled man, who did not give in to hate. Rest in peace, Rodney.

[zn365]

03:28 AM on 06/19/2012

(Continued)

Next step by the book: tasing. King was tased twice and did not go down. What was Sgt. Koon supposed to do? Say? "Well, sir, you obviously do not want to be arrested, so we will
just have to let you go your way. Have a nice evening."

The next step in the book is to inflict physical pain on a person resisting arrest. Why do you
think the police are issued batons? To lead parades? After more commands to allow handcuffing, blows were struck on the body, not the head. (His minor head injuries occurred when he hit the pavement face first a couple of times, getting up of course. After some blows were struck, the blows were stopped and he was given a chance to comply. By the book. Seeing this was not effective, Koon gave the order to strike his joints which caused more pain. This finally caused King to comply.

The jury in Simi Valley heard this account and were satisfied that the police
had acted in compliance with their training and regulations and acquitted them.

The black mayor, a former policeman himself, in cowardly fashion, did not back his police officers. The Feds had Sgt. Koon and several other officers tried on another charge and
got them sent to prison. Their going to prison is the tragedy and the shame of this situation!
It is not what happened to that fool Rodney King.

Wise up, people! Read Sgt. Koon's book "Presumed Guilty."

[SouthpawMMA]

04:21 AM on 06/19/2012

So all of those cops, who are trained in hand to hand combat, couldn't get him to the ground, kneel on him and cuff him? Sorry, not buying the words of a cop trying to justify his actions. The tape speaks for itself. I find it hard to believe those officers couldn't get him to the ground and cuff him w/out nearly killing him. It was also common practice for police to use excessive force, the difference is they actually got caught on camera that time. You sir, are not in any position to be calling another man a fool. Wow.

[SouthpawMMA]

04:41 AM on 06/19/2012

The tape speaks for itself. They did not have to almost kill him. Are you suggesting he deserved every hit he took? I'm really hoping that you're not a policeman Wow...

[SouthpawMMA]

03:16 AM on 06/19/2012

He had a troubled life, and went from being an unknown man to a household name overnight, in a way none of us would like to. I feel for his family.What really got to me today is how quick some people on Fox News were to vilify him, repeatedly calling him the reason for one of the worst riots in our history.

Greg Gutfeld said 'People are calling this man a hero, when he started riots that killed people, and ruined businesses. He was a junkie that was responsible for riotsand violence against anyone who was white' That may not be what he said word for word, but most of it is exactly what he said. Eric Bollong was quick to agree. I know Gutfeld usually isn't that serious, and likes to joke around, but this was disgusting, ane he was visibly upset.

Let me clear things up for the people at Fox. King didn't start the riots. The acquittal of the officers who nearly killed him caused the riots. The years of pain, anger and frustration exploded into the streets. King had nothing to do with this, and was even shunned by some in the black communtiy for even suggessting we should "get along". Rodney King wasn't a saint, none of us are, but he had more class than almost everyone at FOX combined. RIP Rodney King.

[mairs]

12:41 PM on 06/19/2012

Thank you for saying it so well.

[FRANKABC123]

12:27 AM on 06/19/2012

Like most I did not know the man. But did grow to like him from watching the reality show he was on. The poor man had over 3 million at one time and was working hard as part of a junk crew. He had to worry about whites being mad at him and blacks wanting to use him. No wonder the man drank.
Rather then the words "Cant will all just get along". Maybe it should have been switched to "Please just leave me to get along".. Lifes tuff enough without everybody watching your every step. God Bless Rodney and let him now rest in peace.

[mellojack2]

12:07 AM on 06/19/2012

He did have a good heart...a confused life, maybe...but a good heart...sad way to go, but he finally found some peace.

[Farrisford]

12:01 AM on 06/19/2012

His family should patent the words "Can We All Get Along".Rest in Peace Rodney.

[mairs]

12:44 PM on 06/19/2012

Rodney King isn't responsible for the riots. I can't get over white people who continuously treat black people as if they are all responsible for what each of them does.