It’s been 29 years since Rodney King survived an act of police brutality by the Los Angeles Police Department and his daughter, Lora King, shared with Ryan Seacrest on-air on Wednesday, June 10, that while she remains “hopeful” for change, we shouldn’t be where we are in 2020.
Lora was 7 when her dad was beaten by LAPD officers after a high speed chase on March 3, 1991.
“I remember a lot,” she recalled of the ensuing 1992 riots. “My liquor store on the corner that my sister and myself used to walk to was burned down, like everything was burnt down, so I have a really strong memory of it.”
Today, Lora is mom to a 1-year-old son and the force behind the Rodney King Foundation.
“Today I have a son,” she shared. “… I couldn’t imagine my life without him. This is America 2020. We shouldn’t be where we are. I don’t feel like things have changed because it’s unfortunate," she added. "We definitely shouldn’t be here, where we are at. As soon as I feel like we’ve taken a step in the right direction of change, boom! We’re all watching another viral video.”
Lora added that she understands the frustration and anger, but that she doesn’t agree with the violence in the wake of George Floyd and countless others’ deaths.
“I would tell you to get with like-minded people; I would tell you to get with non-profits,” she shared of what to do. “Like, at the Rodney King Foundation, we’re partnering with a company called Engage the Vision which has uncomfortable conversations. It does youth advocacy; it does self esteem building; police relations and its like we need that. We need those uncomfortable conversations because everybody tiptoes around and its like we all have something at the core that we can contribute. We’re all a part of this big magical puzzle. … I still have hope because our ancestors got us to this point and it’s up to us to keep going.”
Lora concluded that people need to engage with others and learn to grow.
“Be open-minded and hear people out, you never know. … My dad had ex-clan members that become his best friend, you know, just off of conversation, uncomfortable dialogue, that’s a step. Take that step. Be uncomfortable. It’s OK. We grow in uncomfortableness.”
Watch back the full interview in the video above to learn more from Lora, including what else you can do to support and help make the change.