Who is Rodney King and why is he important?

Rodney King was an African American man who was violently beaten by Los Angeles police officers in 1991, an incident caught on video. The acquittal of the officers involved in his beating sparked widespread riots in Los Angeles in 1992, highlighting issues of police brutality and racial injustice in the United States. King's case brought attention to the need for police reform and greater accountability in law enforcement.