Rodney King, for years held out as an example of rampant police brutality in the United States now has confirmed that he had it coming.
King issued a written statement which he hoped would counter what he now calls "the misuse of videos showcasing police brutality":
"First things first" said King. "I am a black man. That's what cops do to black men. At first, I didn't know what to say, cause, well, they really beat the shit out of me and I wasn't thinking clearly for a few months; but, I've had a chance to reflect on things and now I can see it for what it was.
"I didn't have to go out that night. I made that decision. If I hadn't gone out maybe no cops would have seen me and if they never saw me they probably wouldn't have busted me up nearly that bad. I'm ready to accept the blame for what I did."
