Dannemeyer Blasts King, Backs Officers

Rep. William E. Dannemeyer (R-Fullerton) on Thursday came out in support of the four officers acquitted in the beating of motorist Rodney King, saying that “one could only conclude that the force used was justified.”

Dannemeyer, a U.S. Senate candidate, released a statement criticizing King, “who resisted and had to be subdued in order to be arrested.”

“I was impressed by the trial juror who said that if you looked only at the initially shown videotape, one would tend to vote to convict the officers of excessive force,” said Dannemeyer. “However, if you heard the testimony regarding what happened before the footage shown on television, one could only conclude that the force used was justified.”

Dannemeyer said the beating and turmoil that followed the verdict had its roots in a moral breakdown of society.

“When America removed voluntary prayer from public schools in 1962, we said to the next generation, everyone has rights, duties are no longer binding on any of us,” the congressman said. “Children raised in this environment are sometimes inclined to do what Rodney King did, as determined by the jury, ‘No one will tell me what to do, ever.’ ”