Black residents in Los Angeles say that the widely publicized King beating is not news . John Hicks of the ACLU says it happens all the time . Rodney King , a black man , was arrested by California Highway patrolmen and Los Angeles police after a high speed chase . Unresisting , he was beaten by several officers with night sticks as others drove by . The incident was videotaped by a witness , who passed the tape along to media . Police claim King resisted arrest ; witnesses deny this . "But what the public has seen in black and white, no pun intended, leaves nothing to the imagination, leaves nothing to interpretation, (and) probably is the one event that may sensitize" the politicians. Police misconduct reports increased 40 percent this year , ranging from illegal search and seizure to death .
Black residents in Los Angeles say that the widely publicized King beating is not news . John Hicks of the ACLU says it happens all the time . Rodney King , a black man , was arrested by California Highway patrolmen and Los Angeles police after a high speed chase . Unresisting , he was beaten by several officers with night sticks as others drove by . The incident was videotaped by a witness , who passed the tape along to media . Police claim King resisted arrest ; witnesses deny this . Police misconduct reports increased 40 percent this year , ranging from illegal search and seizure to death .