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Rodney King funeral set for Saturday; family asks for donations to cover costs

Rodney King speaks with fans before presenting his autobiographical book 'The Riot Within...My Journey from Rebellion to Redemption' at the Eso Won Book Store in L.A. on April 30, 2012.
The family of Rodney King has established a fund at Bank of America to help pay for the funeral, the cost of which could exceed $20,000.
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JOE KLAMAR/AFP/Getty Images
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A public funeral for the late Rodney King is set for Saturday in the Hollywood Hills. King’s family is organizing the service.

In a statement, spokeswoman Kali Bowyer said the family established a fund at Bank of America to help pay for the funeral, the cost of which could exceed $20,000. She added that the family’s raised most of that amount.

King died earlier this month in the backyard pool of his home in Rialto. Police there say it was an accidental drowning with no obvious physical trauma, but autopsy and toxicology test results may not be available for a few more weeks.

Rodney King moved to Rialto shortly after TV news around the world broadcast his videotaped beating at the hands of LAPD officers. The officers’ acquittal triggered a week of deadly riots.

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King later won a multimillion-dollar settlement lawsuit against the city of Los Angeles.

Saturday’s public memorial for Rodney King starts at 2 p.m. in Forest Lawn cemetery's Hall of Liberty.

This story has been updated.

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