How Roof Koreans Took Back Los Angeles... (ft. donut operator)
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Published 2022-06-02
At the start of the riots, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) offered next to no help to the Korean business owners, or indeed anyone caught in the fray and largely retreated from the situation as things slowly went from bad to worse. With no police force to protect people the city was at the brink, with both racial and economic issues taking the forefront.
And it was this according to Kim that was sparked it all “We saw the police didn’t care about our community, and was actually more interested in arresting us volunteer defenders (Roof Koreans) rather than looters and rioters, and running away during gun fights. We couldn’t rely on police, they were not there to protect us. They were there to protect wealthy white neighbourhoods while letting Koreatown burn”
And as the situation intensified it would be almost a week before the besieged business owners would see any form of law enforcement, so they set about defending themselves. Thus, the roof Koreans and the meme it created were born.
Cameo by @DonutOperator
Music by Karl Casey @WhiteBatAudio :
by order of appearance:
Song 1: • Aggressive Cyberpunk Darksynth - Spla...
Song 2: • Cyberpunk Electro Industrial - The De...
Song 3: • Cyberpunk Dark Synthwave - Redux // R...
Song 4: • Cyberpunk Industrial Darksynth - Cons...
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All Comments (21)
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What story do you want me to talk about next?
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This is literally what a militia is meant to be. Props to these true Americans, immigrants or not
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The black man screaming "it's not right!" at the people destroying the community he was likely born and raised in always gets me
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I had Korean friends all armed to the teeth driving from orange county to Korea town to help Koreans business from these looters. I was amazed by the unity of Southern California Koreans.
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They ain’t Koreans, they’re Korean Americans. Respect.
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Koreans were absolutely being targeted in the riots. They stood up for themselves in legitimate self defense.
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I served in the army with a man that was of Korean decent from LA. We always joked and said he was our secret weapon the rooftop Korean. Turns out his dad was actually one of the rooftop Koreans.
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A lawless mob is a form of tyranny. 2A is about ending tyranny. Well done, Koreans. Did I say "Koreans"? I meant "fellow Americans (that came from Korea)".
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It's infuriating that law enforcement will take away your ability to defend yourself and then not provide protection when it's needed. I was so happy to see those business owners take a stand against the looters.
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My dad was a roof top Korean. After he left the ROK Army in 1971, he swore to never use a gun again. My dad broke his promise to himself so he could keep his promise to me: to raise me never wanting for basic human needs. To me the story of rooftop Koreans is about a generation of Koreans who survived the Korean War, fought in Vietnam, and later on the roofs so their families could live the American dream. Thanks for sharing their story
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I need a home security system that offers "roofs koreans" as a home security option
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Kenneth K. Lee is the man in the red shirt sadly passed away recently
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Just realized how brilliant it was to use the radio station as a makeshift 911. Since they were speaking Korean the rioters couldn’t eaves drop and know what was going down. Similar to Navajo code-talkers.
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"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State..." They look pretty well regulated to me. Props to any American regardless of background who uses their rights to stand up for themselves.
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My dad was stuck in an apartment complex in La being guarded by Koreans, he said it was the most surreal moment of his life.
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This is what makes koreans so good. Instead of playing victim, they decided to fight back and hold.
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7:40 The idea of a radio station becoming a makeshift 911 dispatch for vigilante guards because the formal process failed is so sad, but so inspiring. It never should have gotten this bad, but thanks to these Americans of Korean descent, some semblance of order was maintained. With how the last few years have gone, it may be necessary for Americans of all descents to once again defend the order those elected and sworn to do so fail.
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Public schools should teach our kids that Rooftop Koreans are American heroes.
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I was 21 when this happened. My dad, who was a captain in the korean army, had a store in downtown LA. He told my older brother and me that we needed to protect our business. The three of us got there to find that the other korean store owners were already on the roof armed. Spent 3 days on that roof taking turns keeping watch. Shot warning shots and got shot at but fortunately no one got hurt. Thank you for this video, it brought tears to my eyes
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I was there back in April-May 1992, deploying out of San Diego with C/3-185 AR. I personally saw the Korean business owners defending their property with my own eyes. We (the California Army National Guard) waved at them. We figured that we were in this together. Very difficult and trying times, thanks for putting this video out so people can learn about the history of the LA Riots...
