Can we all just get along? We've Come Full-Circle back to Rodney King’s Question

In March 1991, following a police car chase. King was severely beaten by four police officers. Forever labeled “a black motorist” in news accounts of the chase, King later acknowledged that he had been drinking. He was on parole and feared a return to state prison.

Millions of people who saw his videotaped beating were outraged. African-Americans had long complained of police brutality. With the video, everyone witnessed it. And then the country started to burn.

King spoke his unforgettable words at a televised news conference May 1, 1992, hoping to stop the deadly unrest. By the time peace was restored, after six days of upheaval, at least 55 people had been killed, the injured exceeded 2,000, and upwards of 11,000 people were arrested.

Property damage was estimated at $1 billion, with Korean merchants suffering heavy losses. Many never returned to their Los Angeles-area businesses.

We're back there again, folks. At the same crossroads. In November, we will elect a new president. America is as divided as it has ever been. The question we have to ask ourselves is, "Can we dial this back? Can we come back to respectable dialogue? Can we agree to disagree on some things while still moving forward on areas where we have common ground? In this quintessential moment, what are we going to do? Who really has the ability to unite us and lead us forward?

Source: Some of this text was taken verbetim from an article that appeared here: https://www.mercurynews.com/2017/04/30/can-we-all-just-get-along-rodney-kings-question-still-matters/