Rodney King's Funeral Is Held In Los Angeles

The funeral of Rodney King, whose beating by police officers sparked the US race riots in 1991, has been held in Los Angeles.

Reverend Al Sharpton delivered the eulogy at the service at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills and said Mr King had never been bitter over the attack.

"People should not be judged by the mistakes that they make, but by how they rise above them," he said.

"Rodney had risen above his mistakes, he never mocked anyone, not the police, not the justice system, not anyone. He became a symbol of forgiveness."

The funeral came nearly two weeks after King was found dead at the bottom of the swimming pool at his home in Rialto, California, on June 17. He was 47.             

Family members held a private service earlier in the day on Saturday, followed by a public memorial and burial.                

Mr King's death is being treated as an accidental drowning but authorities are awaiting post mortem results to determine the official cause of death.

Mr King became famous after his beating by Los Angeles police in 1991 was captured on video and broadcast worldwide.

The images of the grainy video became a national symbol of police brutality. It was played repeatedly for the following year, inflaming racial tensions across the country.

More than a year later, four officers charged with felony assault in the beating were acquitted by a jury with no black members.

The verdict sparked one of the most costly and deadly race riots in US history.

During the unrest, which left more than 50 people dead and caused more than $1bn (£636m) in property damage, Mr King famously pleaded for peace by asking, "Can we all get along?"

At his funeral, his famous words could be seen embroidered on the lid of his coffin, next to a portrait of him.