The United States once fought for its own freedom and continues to fight for the freedom of others around the world with the help of people of all races and orientation. But people in the U.S are still fighting for their own rights, they are still fighting against oppression and discrimination. The way you look, the color of your skin affects the way you are treated and the way people perceive you. In particular, African-Americans are stereotyped and racially discriminated against. Who you love also affects how you are treated in the U.S, whether you 're straight, gay, or bisexual, who you love should not define you. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. has expressed similar ideas of equality and freedom throughout his life. He has fought for what America
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In 1992, Rodney King, an African-American was beaten by four white police officers in Los Angeles. The four white men were acquitted of the crime even when there was video evidence of the officers using an excessive amount of force on King. Similarly, with the Emmett Till case, the jury consisted mostly of whites, and no African Americans, which explains why the men were so easily acquitted. Another similarity between the King and Till cases was that they both sparked an uproar in African American communities. City Councilman Bernard Parks observes “From the (minority) community perspective, the video validated years and years and years of complaints that this was the treatment that they were receiving,” this emphasizes how this was not the first time that the African American community was discriminated against (Castro). The discharge of the four officers lead to riots all over Los Angeles. These riots led to the destruction of homes and businesses in the area. A number of people died and many were arrested, the scenes of the riot show the utmost indignation towards the way African Americans were being treated. People were angered that crimes like this were still occurring 127 years after the end of slavery. Now Although Rodney King was a paroled felon, and did resist arrest, there was no need to use such a quantity of excessive force on King, there were other ways that the officers could have handled it. Unfortunately, this proves the point that the ideas of white supremacy had not faded, and African Americans were constantly falling victim to racism and discrimination. African Americans proved that they were citizens, they worked just as hard as whites in the country and deserved protection under the law. They were not able to be equally protected by the law, because the men who ran the law and were supposed to protect them were the racist white
In 1992, Rodney King, an African-American was beaten by four white police officers in Los Angeles. The four white men were acquitted of the crime even when there was video evidence of the officers using an excessive amount of force on King. Similarly, with the Emmett Till case, the jury consisted mostly of whites, and no African Americans, which explains why the men were so easily acquitted. Another similarity between the King and Till cases was that they both sparked an uproar in African American communities. City Councilman Bernard Parks observes “From the (minority) community perspective, the video validated years and years and years of complaints that this was the treatment that they were receiving,” this emphasizes how this was not the first time that the African American community was discriminated against (Castro). The discharge of the four officers lead to riots all over Los Angeles. These riots led to the destruction of homes and businesses in the area. A number of people died and many were arrested, the scenes of the riot show the utmost indignation towards the way African Americans were being treated. People were angered that crimes like this were still occurring 127 years after the end of slavery. Now Although Rodney King was a paroled felon, and did resist arrest, there was no need to use such a quantity of excessive force on King, there were other ways that the officers could have handled it. Unfortunately, this proves the point that the ideas of white supremacy had not faded, and African Americans were constantly falling victim to racism and discrimination. African Americans proved that they were citizens, they worked just as hard as whites in the country and deserved protection under the law. They were not able to be equally protected by the law, because the men who ran the law and were supposed to protect them were the racist white