In 1991 an enormous controversy erupted after five Los Angeles police officers were caught on tape beating a motorist named Rodney King. Although there continues to be much controversy over the event, many people see it as a blatant act of discrimination. Under what circumstances would this beating be considered institutional discrimination?

Question

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Institutional discrimination occurs when there is a pattern of behavior or policies within an organization that systematically disadvantage a particular group. In the case of the Rodney King beating, if the leadership of the Los Angeles Police Department condoned or encouraged the use of excessive force or racial profiling, then this incident would be seen as part of a larger pattern of discrimination within the institution. This would make it an example of institutional discrimination rather than just the actions of a few individuals.

In 1991 an Enormous Controversy Erupted After Five Los Angeles