How Roof Koreans Took Back Los Angeles... (ft. donut operator)

patreon: / popomedic
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 D...
Song 2: • Cyberpunk Electro Indu...
Song 3: • Cyberpunk Dark Synthwa...
Song 4: • Cyberpunk Industrial D...
instagram: / popoxmedic
twitter: / popoxmedic
twitch: / popomedic
discord: / discord
NEW MERCH: ethos.to/popomedic
second channel: / @danecannavo
___________________________________________
business: [e-mail]
___________________________________________

[@PopoMedic]

What story do you want me to talk about next?

[@Moritz558]

The Waco siege would be interesting.

[@noaddedcaffeine]

Ruby Ridge would be nice if you haven't done it yet or Shawn Nelson's tank rampage

[@abefroman4953]

Sagon Penn and San Diego PD

[@rc51bandit]

Ft. Polk, Louisiana helicopter bank robbery

[@scienceandmatter8739]

GERMAN LEGEND JSTARK1809

[@GP-nr2fm]

Public schools should teach our kids that Rooftop Koreans are American heroes.

[@kabysummit5801]

Whether the public schools came through or not, we the society can do that for our youngsters.

[@pongangelo2048]

Nah, schools are pro BLM. Any stories that vilifying black people are unacceptable. Stories involving black people must paint them as the victims.

[@TheHoodVoice2024]

Teach it in Asia

[@kabysummit5801]

@@TheHoodVoice2024 You bet it should. And you better believe news travels.

[@ospreyslender8931]

they dont even teach geography in the US, no point in teaching about Korean Americans when they only want to hear about themselves.

[@punakahuna4803]

This is literally what a militia is meant to be. Props to these true Americans, immigrants or not

[@Joe-qv7jk]

“Americans” are not native to America……..

[@whitedom2041]

they are not true americans bruh they litterally isolate themselves in a korea town... they live in a community filled with koreans they speak korean all their shops had korean language on it but oogga booga pea brain american think he has gun he shoot ppl he true american ooga booga loooool at you

[@robertortiz-wilson1588]

Absolutely!!!

[@SirAndrewll]

Immigrants seem to be more American than half of Americans nowadays

[@loganwgriffith]

F yeah. More American than most of our citizens. This is why we "need" ARs and AKs!

[@jacksonhodge4638]

They ain’t Koreans, they’re Korean Americans. Respect.

[@jsk6390]

Wow someone can be this dumb lol

[@jennifurzoe1302]

Americans of Korean descent

[@anydaynow01]

I would say they're just Americans. The vast majority of us aren't the original people on this continent. And American heroes at that, the founding fathers would be proud of their organized defense until the cavalry arrived.

[@ddickeybenton8154]

corrected again. Americans period...

[@nbkd2wnoo9]

@@anydaynow01yc

[@LaxTenzin]

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.

[@Darthdoodoo]

Fuk yea dude asians are great at sticking together to help each other. Thats why they will be the next super power cuz they know unity not diversity is their strength

[@greerstirling9665]

When I heard about this years ago, I thought it was absolutely hilarious the Korean Americans pulled up and turned the tide.

[@jgw9990]

​@@DarthdoodooThey won't be. Unfortunately Asians don't have enough children anymore. China, Korea and Japan are all dying out now. Vietnam still has a high birth rate I think

[@Alex-xz7ij]

That’s Terr-orist act

[@Justdont693]

@@jgw9990this is a worldwide problem. Russia, Europe, North AND South America, all also have falling birth rates. India I think is rising….

[@rogerrabbit8304]

The black man screaming "it's not right!" at the people destroying the community he was likely born and raised in always gets me

[@walruspanda0072]

His business was one of many looted and destroyed during the riots as well

[@lecoureurdesbois86]

"Stop acting white"

[@Hoochibaba]

Such a chilling video to watch. A man born with nothing built something for himself then destroyed by the people in his community

[@rationalicthus]

I'll never forget watching it as it happened. Terrifying, and somewhat new back then. Now it's an everyday occurrence it seems.

[@josephcortez9356]

That black man had internal white supremacy and was violently fighting a "mostly" peaceful protest. Joking by the way.

[@whatevesdude4193]

I need a home security system that offers "roofs koreans" as a home security option

[@GamerMarine89]

You just need to feed, water and occasionally supply them with ammo

[@bjrnterjesen651]

🤣🤣

[@samholdsworth420]

You can buy a rooftop Caucasian for half the price...

[@jayoh123]

dosnt have to be koreans. just good people that will stand up for whats right.

[@damianstemarie]

Be your own rooftop korean

[@deepprakash4841]

Weak men create hard times. Hard times create strong men. Strong men create Rooftop Koreans.

[@VZWK]

You should've substituted strong men for roof Koreans rather than hard times

[@8qjfhai8]

​@@VZWKare you high

[@dannydanumba2619]

Rooftop Koreans create vantage points

[@Pepe-pq3om]

​@@8qjfhai8He's right, the usual saying goes: "Weak men creat hard times, hard times create strong men, strong men create good times, and good times create weak men." So in the original comment Rooftop Korean is substituting good times, which is dumb and doesn't even make sense. So what the original comment should have done is to replace strong men for rooftop Koreans instead, so that it would go: "...weak men create hard times, hard times create rooftop Koreans." Which totally makes since.

[@8qjfhai8]

@@Pepe-pq3om "rather than hard times"

[@boatznhoez1095]

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.

[@PisaniProductions]

Another guy in the comments said that too, wonder if y’all knew each other?

[@qwertpoiuy430]

@@PisaniProductions there’s a lot of Korean Americans, and lots of Koreans that took place

[@boatznhoez1095]

@@PisaniProductions I mean its always a possibility, but the army is a big place.

[@johnychrist5475]

@@boatznhoez1095 the army actually feels really small when you're in it, meet alot of the same faces all over the world

[@boatznhoez1095]

@@johnychrist5475 thats fair, but ive been out for a little over ten years now and once you add veterans and prior service it gets a bit harder to say yeah I know that guy without some specifics

[@robdlc438]

Koreans were absolutely being targeted in the riots. They stood up for themselves in legitimate self defense.

[@SuiSSe-Torture-Prisonniers-CH]

There are numerous Crips testimonies, saying that they bought their guns from the police, and MS13 stands for Mason with the occult number 13 attached to it - yes, all these gangs work for their Masters in the US Government and US Authorities, who are predominently Freemason members being the top gang on the food chain. Total intel on the enemy within in KZbin video "The Swiss Beast - Home of the Devil; Part 1 Nazi-Templars" also on channel Giureh. We are being ruled by a foreign power, that has become domestic and has taken over all key positions in society.

[@deeznutz8320]

@S Because that Korean lady shot a black girl in the back after a robbery i believe? It was right during the Rodney King verdict

[@SuiSSe-Torture-Prisonniers-CH]

@Somebody Same problem in South Africa.

[@MRFittedcap5950]

I don’t condone Koreans being targeted, but You do know why, right?

[@MolpPlom]

@@SuiSSe-Torture-Prisonniers-CH yeah the problem with black appear when they leave africa

[@ctg6734]

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.

[@tylerbonser7686]

The government wants to take away our ability. It's up to the people on whether or not to let that happen.

[@CCOT_GD_]

This is what makes koreans so good. Instead of playing victim, they decided to fight back and hold.

[@suzanneflowers2230]

Exactly.

[@Mijah-ff8ib]

We don’t sit around and cry racism while destroying everything others‘d built and ask for handouts. One thing I can say with 100% about Korean immigrants is that they’re resilient and hardest working people. Always stay focused on education, career and most importantly building a strong family! At least that’s what my family has been working towards 3very day.

[@vincent2053]

@@Mijah-ff8ibnice

[@urmaker]

We don't need the second ammendment. The police will protect you! As we see in this beautiful display.

[@mikepalmer2219]

My son is a sheriff deputy and he says keeping the peace only works until people decide they don’t want to anymore. It’s a kind of illusion people have bought into. As soon as a situation like this happens where thousands of people decide to riot nothing will stop them. You can bring in the national guard and start mowing people down I suppose. But when people cross the line into a riot of this capacity you best get the hell out.

[@kevinb1096]

In 2005 the supreme court ruled the police have no duty to protect. Which is why we need full automatics.

[@wolfenrichtophen6010]

@@kevinb1096 Full-Automatics are hard to control though. Semi-Auto works just as well. You need decent training to operate a Full-Auto weapon.

[@kevinb1096]

@@wolfenrichtophen6010 it ain't about being accurate. If you're surrounded 50 to 1. You're just going to spray. I turned down the wrong street when the stuff was popping off in Baltimore and I almost got surrounded. Semi auto wouldn't have helped me out if I got stopped.

[@TheGryfx]

Was just thinking the same thing. The police are here to protect the status quo nothing more. When shit hits the fan they won't be out to serve you.

[@jameslee652]

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

[@SynthCool]

well duh we destroyed and destabilized your weak little countries in the 60s so you had no choice but the american dream lol

[@DK-421]

Sorry that your family had to go through all this.

[@TheCaptainbeefylog]

It may be just my opinion, but these are the kind of people who built America and made it the land of opportunity, by their hard work and determination. True Americans. Massive respect to your father and his compatriots. It's sad that your father had to break his promise and I suspect that decision cost him something deep inside, so my respect for people such as he is only increased.

[@ShawsOwn]

Damned. That's a perspective that I hadn't considered until you shared this. I was stationed in Korea & saw how hard mandatory service was for a lot of Korean men. My job's (USAF Security Forces) Korean counter of Air Police has a lot of suicides. So I could see how setting that aside would be a relief. Then having to take arms up again after that. That's massive determination & must have mentally hung over many of the roof top Koreans. Thank you for sharing this perspective & my thanks to your dad for his service to both of his countries.

[@dxpdigital5343]

lmao slavery built america, are you out your fckn mind?

[@user-gt9vq1wk7d]

Black people so mad someone stopped them from getting more free stuff…

[@funnyk2755]

Black lives matter 😂

[@shilombaba]

*"Black people so mad someone stopped them from getting more free stuff…"* Yeah right ? because white people never stole and never got free stuff. Even funnier when you realise white men actually stole those black people in the first place.

[@GermLoc]

FUCK YES! I remember this. THIS type of unity is what all true americans need to become. That was their property, hard work, livelihood! PROTECT all that you are! Mad respect to the entire Korean Community!!!!!!!!

[@I_am_a_cat_]

That man screaming "ITS NOT RIGHT WHAT YA'll ARE DOIN" made me tear up man. The emotion in his voice... Bless that man. These Koreans protecting themselves makes me SO DAMN PROUD to be an American. Things may be fked here, but in an emergency, we stand up.

[@ezrhino100]

This actually a prime example of how self defense actually works in groups. The government was not expecting this and the media tried to make Koreans look racist. Most groups do not organize like this and are infiltrated by informants.

[@jameslguarisco]

The media makes everything look racist especially now

[@reginaldhicks5766]

Unfortunately, this whole video is bullshit. That whole area around Olympic and Western was burned to the ground. This jerk who made this video left out a whole lot of details.

[@changedman715]

They didn't try to make them look racist, there had been race related issues in the past between the Korean store owners and the surrounding Black residents. Regardless of that, during the actual riots most the store owners where clearly the ones playing defense with their businesses on the line.

[@ao1778]

@Pat Luxor tell that to the Weavers.

[@connorc6293]

@Pat Luxor I just looked that shit up wtf was that devil bullshit get out of here with that

[@cjyea2534]

Nothing warms my heart like a story or immigrants that stood for whats theirs. Rock the fuck on guys

[@jakeflint4018]

I found out my neighbor who was a ww2 veteran ran over the lady across the streets dog , so I leveraged this information against him & once a week 4 five years I got hand stuff & light kissing from him until he passed

[@floppagaming2213]

@@jakeflint4018 nigga what the fuck

[@jeffl1484]

Right on.

[@RAAM855]

Funny how those Koreans are now probably bigger 2nd Amendment defenders than most natural born Americans

[@Diamondsmuggler]

@@amateurtouring tf you talking about?

[@MrFlintlock7]

"It's all fun and games, until the roof starts speaking Korean!"

[@langbo9999]

Not funny to be a criminal when you fight a real full blood Soldier.

[@kevinkocher9347]

Kenneth K. Lee is the man in the red shirt sadly passed away recently

[@TheKing-uu7jn]

God bless his soul

[@yak9989]

RIP

[@miniaturefarmer464]

As far I have read, he is alive and well and still a conservative 9th circuit federal judge.

[@kevinkocher9347]

@@miniaturefarmer464 Could I have read the wrong article? Because this picture featured with his name right above the title i searched for who his is and up popped the article in the LA times

[@richardhead3211]

the man was a stud the polo and the smile.

[@theilluminati7287]

This is without a doubt the best case for gun ownership you can possibly make

[@bawsak101]

Naw because the democrats what the rioters to succeed

[@joemontano71]

One notch below our biggest threat - government tyranny.

[@jarrah580]

@@joemontano71 owning a gun isn't going to do a goddamn thing against government tyranny these days bud

[@joemontano71]

@@jarrah580 Telephone tough-guy.

[@amiropajero8799]

@@joemontano71 im pro gun but honestly owning guns wont do anything against the government and its 800 billion dollars of yearly military spending

[@channingtaintum]

Many of the male Korean immigrants in LA were trained via compulsary military service in Korea. They did not fuck around, and it makes me absolutely burst with American patriotism. I fucking love the rooftop Koreans using their God-given right to defend what they earned.

[@TheOscarsolis89]

Nothing but facts brother 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@bradcampbell7253]

This we will defend!

[@CARBONHAWK1]

Y’all love black people getting smoked, not surprised

[@hicknopunk]

Heck yeah!

[@dabda8510]

Some 300,000 South Koreans rotated through the Vietnam war. Say one was in Vietnam in 1970 at the age of 20, he'd be about 45 in 1992.

[@inoroth2001]

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.

[@MoragaSpain]

Jan 6th when people overtook our U.S. Capitol and the police and guards at the Capitol. I love the USA and I love our law enforcement officers.

[@jaysonb.6669]

@@MoragaSpain MSM lies. It was a false flag operation. The only insurrectionists' were FBI plants & informants provoking the masses. DC Mayor & Gov. purposefully understaffed police security too.

[@jonaswatson533]

Koreans taught native blacks some serious lessons.

[@washmycup]

No. Blacks taught the Koreans the lessons. They lost 400M in property damages because they decided to kill an innocent black child lol

[@Fa-pt7yv]

@@washmycup womp womp

[@abceckswhyzee7169]

womp womp....@@Fa-pt7yv

[@k1ny4n19]

What is that supposed to mean

[@Crazson34]

@@k1ny4n19 It means they found the right one's and the blacks didn't want that smoke.

[@alexanderslee]

This video overlooked a key event that was the reason why Koreatown was the prime target of black looters. The trial of liquor store owner Soon Ja Du for shooting Latasha Harlins. The incident happened 13 days after the Rodney King beating. Tensions between Koreans and Blacks were already strained because Blacks thought that Koreans were profiting off their alcohol vice while Koreans feared for their lives frequently getting robbed at gunpoint. Koreans were armed not just because of past military experience, but because they had to defend themselves before the LA Riots even occurred.

[@williamedwards1480]

Yeah the death of Latasha Harlin, over a bottle of orange juice was the prime reason African Americans targeted Korea town. This video doesn't explain that. In fact it states the death of Rodney king was the prime reason behind the 92 riots but doesn't explain why African Americans targeted Korea town, and that was because of the death of 15yr old Latasha Harlin shot by Korean liquor store owner, Soon Ja Du.

[@justenouff4360]

@@williamedwards1480 damn, what a shame Latasha valued that orange juice more than his life.

[@Siviks309]

@@justenouff4360 her*

[@justenouff4360]

@@Siviks309 ah I'm sorry, a shame *she valued that orange juice more than her life.

[@williamedwards1480]

@@justenouff4360 Cool, bro 👌

[@InfinityR319]

You know you're about to have a bad time when: The snow starts speaking Finnish The bushes starts speaking Vietnamese And the rooftop starts speaking Korean.

[@justsomeguywithasurprisede4059]

When the mountains start speaking Filipino When the skies start speaking American When the caves start speaking Japanese So on so fourth

[@kleptothemaniac_]

@@justsomeguywithasurprisede4059 When the chlorine gas starts speaking Russian

[@DrCruel]

@@kleptothemaniac_ About the same time the Javelins start speaking Ukrainian.

[@LilfletchJDub]

When the oil fields start speaking American English 😂

[@HiddenAgendas]

Or black people just roaming around thinking they are entitled to everything for free.

[@666devilknight]

These people are real Americans. I’m proud to call them my countymen.

[@Sira_Kackavalj]

These guys were more American than whatever trash "modern" "progressive" America has now

[@stevekillgore9272]

Born and raised in Los Angeles county, my wife and I were newly married and living in Woodland Hills. I commuted past LAX to the Hawthorne airport and my wife worked for Crusader insurance. We had gone to the Dodgers game with my parents and drove back home on the freeway through the spreading chaos and fires seen in that stock montage you included ( at 4:05) ... the roof Koreans were the bright spot of the whole week, 2A forever ! My wife's company worked hard to help business owners recover as best possible.

[@johnnyappleseed6655]

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.

[@jp-ty1vd]

I wonder how many were former ROK soldiers?

[@mirkat2008]

@@jp-ty1vd all of them, probably some KPA too

[@rmac3217]

Then he saw his son listening to K-Pop, then that became the most surreal moment of his life.

[@Curtoonstv]

@@rmac3217😂😂 he’s tryna roast

[@KingCrabSuited]

​@@jp-ty1vdthey were all South Korean immigrants. North Koreans are trapped and not allowed to exit their country.

[@whiplash8277]

These brave people are more "American" than a lot of our native born. Kudos to them showing the truth of American spirit.

[@phonkphonk]

Facts.

[@josephmunoz9171]

The thing is they don’t know the reason the riots happened. Sadly they don’t know the treatment of US systems upon blacks, brown, yellow, and many other underserved groups for many years. You forget that literally 20 years before these riots you had state governments literally justifying violence, discrimination, and poverty against certain groups through their policy. You had cops syndicates that targeted certain groups on purpose. Many stories of white mob groups fighting segregation, civil rights, and equity against other groups. Politicians calling black women “welfare queens”. Cutting back social programs that mostly poorer people relied on. De-unionizing the labor section, segregating housing and so much more. All of these were the reasons these riots happened and why they exploded so big. The history matters. While these “roof top Koreans” were looking out for their businesses, many probably don’t know the violent US histories and how that literally caused these riots. We can either focus on the responses to a problem caused by a problem, or fix the problem at its roots to prevent there being another “riot”.

[@Xj6245]

This is why Koreans come to America, for freedom! Like having pepper spray is a crime on majority of Asian countries

[@thatdarnmage1515]

I came to the comments hoping someone felt the same way about these brave ass Koreans as me lol. Pretty sad when foreigners defend and uphold what our country was founded on more so than those that are born in said country..

[@MMABeijing]

they are koreans. Born and raised and trained in Korea. Koreans are territorial, they just won't let you just come and destroy their shit. It might be good to have people like that in the USA, it is actually 100% good, but they are not american.

[@JETZcorp]

These absolute Chads showed the rest of the world what real Americans look like. Unfathomably based.

[@phillipdavidhaskett7513]

WTF does that even mean? Stringing words together doesn't make a witty comment.

[@NuanceOverDogma]

@@phillipdavidhaskett7513 it means you are an out of touch clown.

[@cupsoup7244]

Please get off the internet

[@JETZcorp]

@@phillipdavidhaskett7513 Translation for Old People: These cool and masculine men demonstrated the attitude and actions befitting the cultural expectations of United States citizens. They are the opposite of woke victims, and hold strong principles.

[@whalobster7180]

​@@JETZcorp im goving you mayor +2's for those chad responses, stay based

[@ChrisVillagomez]

7:20 The long shot of the Korean man on the rooftop down to the American store sign and the Mexican flag fills me with such pride. This is what America really is, looking past all kinds of differences to help each other

[@nursestoyland]

Indeed

[@ToffeeNB]

except for black people, right?

[@ChrisVillagomez]

@@ToffeeNB Mate fuck off. Everyone is equal in my eyes, no matter what we look like or where we live. Some of us are just jerks

[@ChrisVillagomez]

@ToffeeNB Everyone is equal in my eyes, no matter what you look like or where you're from. Some of us are just jerkoffs like you. Shove off with your ragebait

[@ninjireal]

⁠@@ToffeeNBBlack people not raised into a primal ideology of fearmongering injected by the government to kill poor people.

[@CatsMeowPaw]

Koreans were targeted by the rioting mobs because Koreans had made successes of their lives, built thriving small businesses, and looked different to the rioting mob. Nothing but full respect to the Roof Koreans who bravely fought back and protected their families and businesses.

[@obunga4233]

They were also targeted because how Latasha H. was shot and killed by a Korean store owner. I'm not calling myself an expert because i wasn't born by the time the riots even broke out and how i'm just now learning about this. But most of the 1992 riots was gang mentality and it seems like a plausible justification that rioters and looters would target koreatown because of this.

[@joker1087]

@@obunga4233 people talk about that but also forget the amount of korena store owners killed and beaten prior to that. one store owner was executed a week earlier . violence begets violence. it’s sad

[@obunga4233]

@@joker1087 True, I cant disagree with that last statement

[@sillasaram9121]

@@obunga4233 They were targeted because media covered up the fact that 85% of Koreans murdered were by blacks. When they don't show how Koreans were being murdered, DemoKKKrat media was out to start a race war by highlighting Harlan story over and over.

[@tahirhubbard7633]

That's not true, the Koreans weren't targeted because they were Korean that's a B's other store owners of different race was targeted also black and white and Mexican. In riot the rioters see a lot of stores as fair game

[@jiwonbaik5596]

They were not North Koreans. They immigrated from South Korea, where they had military training. Military training is mandatory for all South Korean men.

[@greathelmm]

IKR? What the hell is he talking about them being N.Koreans lol

[@JIEON.C]

@@nato2227not really. It’s just the fact that there is barely no korean American who’s from north korea.

[@basillimee]

Wellllll North Koreans have mandatory military training for men and women too

[@walnzell9328]

There are North Korean defectors who've fled the country and who have since settled down and had families. But I highly doubt there were any Koreans from the north involved in this. Maybe one, at most.

[@jsl5570]

5:50 mark. If you listen to the narration, he said some had escaped North Korea into South Korea before coming to the US.

[@Truckngirl]

I was there. I went to work every day, dispatching taxis county wide. When you look at the fact that only .0006% of the population of LA County died is a freaking miracle. It was all about free stuff. Rodney King was the George Floyd of the 90s.

[@7evYT]

Amen. And they are still actively trying to create the next one.

[@ginathacker6207]

Keep in mind that for businesses and residences, insurance doesn’t cover war, riots and civil unrest. These people lost a lot. Rodney King was a bum. These Koreans are my heroes.

[@How23497]

This is what the 2nd amendment was meant to enforce. The people’s right to defend themselves and their property when the police are not there during critical times (which they usually aren’t)

[@meligoth]

The LAPD did pretty much the same thing as the Uvalde cops. Set up a perimeter around South Central to prevent the riots to spread to the suburbs. They let the city burn which was expected, that's why their inactions were not gone after. You should have seen the Rampart police station, they literally made a fortress

[@zimman56]

I favor gun control but I agree with your assessment. Ppl should definitely have the right to defend themselves, this was not lost on the Koreans that day, but I feel it HAS been lost on today's Americans...the right to defend your life is invaluable but to take another's on a whim, is not a right, nor a privilege, it SHOULD be an exception, but this country has gone mad...

[@fakiirification]

your right, they literally formed a well regulated militia with a command center and everything.

[@MintyLime703]

It's there to defend ourselves against the state as well, if necessary. So long as the 2nd Amendment stands they can't do absolutely whatever they want. It's a constant thorn in their side. They cannot stand the idea of individuals being able to defend themselves. They'll never have true absolute power so long as the private sector is armed. They're already far more powerful than they were ever intended to be but the 2A helps to keep it contained.

[@5446isnotmynumber]

Its to fight against tyranny

[@theusher2893]

"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.

[@brrt3678]

riots is not defense of the state? 🤔 Pretty sure is a fucking mob with guns, in small groups, with no coordination and most likely to be shot by anyone whipping out a gun...since again no one could coordinate or communicate. Well Regulated....seems to be the problem that was missing.

[@jairogiraud770]

Bro they even had a radio broadcast that helped them rally at needed points. if thats not organized i dont know what is

[@calicoesblue4703]

🤡🤡🤡

[@patrickmajor5471]

@@calicoesblue4703 the lay down and comply type

[@patrickmajor5471]

@@jairogiraud770 yes brother, clearly they were prepared and were not gonna allow their business to burn to ashes

[@z_editz1323]

That korean with the sniper had me 💀💀💀💀

[@douglasduda9826]

Its a hunting rifle, "SNIPING" also comes from hunting too...hunting Snipes a bird... Dude is defending his business with his deer rifle.

[@331SVTCobra]

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)".

[@zoogie980]

As a non-Korean American this story always fills me with a sense of national pride, the Korean community will always be a welcomed part of America's identity.

[@Synoopy2]

I guess some are welcomed and some are not.

[@zoogie980]

@@Synoopy2 yes

[@SamuelLanghorn]

are you native American? from which people?

[@shakiragoofygal]

​@@zoogie980who exactly? 🤨

[@VladV-kx6ky]

Your the cause of this , just treat people like human beings and non of this happens

[@Kaiserland111]

There's nothing more American than defending your property from those who would unlawfully take it. I'm proud of the Roof Koreans for defending their property, as well as for their great contributions to this country. Glad to have many Korean-American friends!

[@RADIOACTIVEBUNY]

Too bad we don't consider our morals and the general health of our nation to be our property. Now everyone thinks as long as they've got THEIR lifted pickup, everything's peachy. We kinda got had on the EXTREME focus on material wealth as a sign of prosperity. Obviously property rights is a foundational part of any functioning civilization, but we forgot everything else. If we hadn't, these riots wouldn't have even happened. And I don't mean that King would have been treated more fairly. In fact, he was treated just fine. A good beating for causing all that goddamn trouble is a small price to pay and frankly more humane than 20 years in jail.

[@amounmry]

I agree with defending ones land... but America is literally unlawfully taken land 😂

[@zachweichel6930]

@@RADIOACTIVEBUNY had me in the first half, really lost me in the second

[@isawit9722]

I was there visiting a friend during these riots, the whole apartment complex I was staying at went out to the street with bats, swords, crow bars, one guy had a bow and arrow...it got nasty,was a war zone, everyone got hurt.... I saw the Korean guys on the buildings down the street...the mob moved towards us....it was bloody... you have no idea how bad it was...

[@garychldress74]

Well let them own businesses in your communities.

[@JustwingitRC]

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...

[@OhHenry2024]

OMG…..why had I never heard of this. I lived in east Hollywood during the Rodney King riots! Kudos to the roof top Koreans! My friend in WA state did the same with the other merchants in downtown Renton. They were on the roof tops armed as well, when the George Floyd rioters tried to come through. The rioters were told you have a right to peacefully protest, but you don’t have a right to vandalize, destroy & burn our businesses. They rioters saw the roof tops with armed men, left & never came back. I now fully support legal guns of all kinds! We can’t count on the government to have our backs, they want to disarm the population. The autonomous taken over by leftest radicals zone is Seattle was the perfect example of anti gun liberals. Yes, I also lived near Seattle during George Floyd riots as well.

[@shahpoetix]

My father worked on Beverly and Normandie during the riots. He told me about the Koreans that helped him and his store. They helped him leave the area when it started to get really bad with an armed escort. People don’t really understand the level of lawlessness there was. I’m glad my father made it out safe and big respect to those Koreans that helped my Dad.

[@play4keeps77]

Glad they helped ur dad imagine ur dad met a different woman after those riots and u were never born. Lmao

[@Chuked]

@@play4keeps77 its called a butterfly effect and its a horrific concept

[@exo-zaddy4886]

and people wanna ban our second amendment smh.

[@shahpoetix]

@@play4keeps77 imagine I caught you in a parallel universe and snapped all your fingers off so you couldn’t type in this universe lol

[@Paul_DSZ]

@@play4keeps77 a lot people were injured, died, or lost businesses. I only hear stories from my family but May 2020 looting was pretty wild in lawlessness too, not near the riots but how spread out the chaos was, they just consciously did it in nicer areas (there was some people just protesting)

[@slowoldguy4119]

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

[@joshuawilliams194]

Brought tears to my eyes and I wasn't even there. Wish more people In America would stand up for whats right!

[@redraiderrider3289]

@@joshuawilliams194 one day, we will. We will have no choice.

[@glennwatson3313]

Well done.

[@FM-ig3th]

대한민국!

[@k.lisaswensen9877]

Wow. Respect. Vote to protect our A2 right. It's under attack.

[@LakerChava63]

I'd break bread with my fellow Korean-Americans ANYDAY. - SIgned, A Texan

[@nidantwofifteen8390]

I was part of the National Guard deployment A co. 1/149 AR. my squad was deployed to one of the shops. there was a burned down building in the corner of the parking lot and a Walgreens at the end of the row of shops. I walked into the store owned by a Korean gentleman. He and a group of his friends were sitting on the floor playing a game and using ammo to bet with. He asked me the caliber of my side arm and I told him .45 ACP. he gave me a baggie full of ammo for me and my squad. To this day I do not remember what corner that was on but the local shop owners were good with us and we did our best to maintain order for them and the residents of the area. I do wish I had taken pictures but at the time the job was not about sight seeing.

[@LAHFaust]

A very important lesson to be learned from the Roof Koreans: when you NEED the cops, they aren't coming in time.

[@JRyan-lu5im]

Say it again for the police in Vegas, Texas, and Florida.

[@rkgaustin9043]

When seconds count the police are minutes away.

[@abodalashkar5686]

The true lesson is to keep guns

[@DBD253]

Welcome to calling the police when you're Black

[@bartdevisser795]

also, don't give up your guns 💪

[@patton303]

I was a broke ass 22 year old musician who had just moved to LA when this happened. I was living in my van and ran out of money for gas so I was stuck parked on a side street in Culver City. Not too much happened in my immediate area but I did see an elderly Latina grandma chase a bunch of kids out of her yard with a shotgun and she fired it in the air. It was a couple of scary nights though. I went on to be a touring drummer but I’ll never forget those days thinking, “Why tf did I leave Colorado”? Lol.

[@startingtech3900]

you took a chance i applaud you

[@Don-qb1vi]

that's fcking nuts dude.

[@davidrosenzweig1380]

for a second i was damn is this one of the dudes from sublime

[@cheezyridr]

@@Don-qb1vi that's rock and roll

[@ThePunitiveDamages]

and to think now you're a broke ass 52 year old with some good memories.

[@daveneilan167]

This is the best reporting I have seen in a helluva long time! My hat is off to all Korean- Americans. When the riots start again and we know they will....call out the Korean- American militia!

[@rubenlanda9887]

I'm PROUD of being Korean......and I'm not even Korean!

[@n1zm0]

The bulk of these men weren't specifically just North Korean refugees that escaped to South Korea then immigrated to the US. They were also normal South Koreans as well, South Korea has had mandatory conscription since the armistice of the Korean War, they all more or less served their time in the ROKAF in some form or another and had military training. It showed in the sense of not specifically firearms training but how quickly they mobilized and organized their defences together so efficiently as a group.

[@negativeionz]

Yeah, for sure it was more native-born South Koreans than North.

[@trespire]

This is why more nations should adopt conscript military service for young adults, like in Swizerland, Italy, Finland. It builds ones character and unifies the nation. Regards from Israel.

[@Louzahsol]

@@trespire is that why Israel tries to divide every other country?

[@davidha8874]

Better is a well organized volunteer civilian militia. The govt army is well known to create suicidal conditions amongst its solders and starts needless foreign wars.

[@batmanv.hendustan7506]

@@trespire Our youth [South Koreans] loathe the conscription and they will try to find any means to escape it. In my class there are only a few who find it a necessity and duty.

[@hardcarry]

My father and uncles, most of whom were ROK vets, all took up arms to defend their stores. I was in high school. Your typical rebellious teen. With a growing sense of dread, wonder, and excitement, I learned what real responsibility and earned respect was all about.

[@markraymond7235]

Did they save their stores? How many people did they shoot?

[@Jason-sh1xu]

@@markraymond7235 Only one or two stores actually shot at anyone

[@Don-qb1vi]

that's badass man. what a place to grow up. I watched this safe and sound in Canada thanking God we didn't have slavery here.

[@BringerOfD]

The man taught you why you call him daddy, and it ain't just cause he's your father lol. Respect to your family.

[@Downbad1k]

Respect

[@dbkfrogkaty1]

I remember when this was going on. I heard about it on the news here in Texas. They showed some of the Koreans on the roof's of buildings, and a few patrolling the storefronts but that was about it. I never got a lot of details as to what was really going on. A few details came out later that Korean businesses were being targeted by the looters. The point that they stood their ground armed, and successfully defended their businesses was not published or mentioned.

[@douglasduda9826]

They were starting the Guns are bad narrative back then...it has not changed.

[@Ret_Army_Combat_Vet]

I remember this, I remembered the man yelling "it's not right, It's not right" is yelling about the riots, the kids burning and looting the stores. He was shouting at the crowd to stop them. My cousins in LA were helping their Koreans friends and their family out of the area and stay with them for a while. One of my cousin even stay to help. After this riot several of my cousins and family in tow move to Texas.

[@gwydionrusso3206]

The fact that a radio station was more effective than police is kind of scary

[@garlottos]

Bottom-Up will always be more effective than Top-Down

[@ShitBagSPC]

Power to the people

[@BillyTheKidder]

They fixed that now..

[@EliteSniperTV]

The police are not there to protect you

[@nicerecruit4216]

did we watch the same video, or did you forget that their was riots and fires everywhere

[@srirachasponsorship6265]

"That's not right. That's not right what you're doing. I came from the ghetto too." That man screaming was heartbreaking man

[@Rol0123]

Yup just how BLM would attack mom and pops stores, looting them.

[@NotJarrod]

That's the kind of emotion in the voice that makes anybody with even a shred of empathy really feel the pain too.

[@RojaJaneman]

Right?

[@ll2323]

I hate the the officers who were acquitted didn’t get the wrath of the community, just their own community.

[@ll2323]

@@frek175 that’s literally what I said with less words.

[@stateofconflictboardgamebe3014]

So many people need to be made aware of this. I was a kid when this happened and we had our own crazy stuff happen in Youngstown Ohio, We had our own riots which nobody talked about. Anyway I'm kind of proud of the Koreans who took up arms to defend themselves. Very American!

[@hildahilpert5018]

I saw this on TV.Here in San Antonio there were no riots. Whether that is because the population is mainly white and Hispanic don't know.

[@boomer-x-trooper82]

Those roof top Americans did the most American thing ive ever witnessed. Protected their lives and property with the 2A.

[@Doomguy9OOO]

They are more american than most americans i see that let rioters walk all over them, the only other one that is on their level is kyle rittenhouse, nobody else did sh!t

[@streetpilot4098]

No one exercises their rights more than those who have fled from hardship to get here. They’ve fought and died to get here, and they’ll do the same to keep the rights and livelihood they came here for.

[@chainherup6154]

Yet we want to close our borders

[@Se7Tripz]

Annnnnnnd i was right lol typical trash. On March 16th 1991, 15 year old Latasha Harlins walked into Empire Liquor in LA just before 10 a.m. With money in hand, she put a $1.79 bottle of orange juice in her back pack. The store owner, Soon Ja Du, saw this and accused the little girl of stealing. When Latasha walked up to the counter to pay for the orange juice, Soon snatched Latasha up by her sweater and began pulling at Latasha's backpack. Latasha, again.. 15.. struck Soon two times causing Soon to let Latasha go. Soon then angrily thre a stool at Latasha.. who is, again.. 15. Latasha picked up the bottle of juice that had dropped on the floor durring the scuffle and handed it to Soon, who snatched it from Latasha. Latasha turned and walked away. She got about three feet before Soon blew Latasha's brains out with a revolver.. over $1.75 orange juice.. that Latasha intended to purchase. At trial, Soon said she feared for her life. Soon said it was self defense to shoot a 15 year old child in the back of the head when she is walking away from you. The jury found Soon guilty of voluntary manslaughter, an offense that carries a maximum prison sentence of 16 years. However, the trial judge, Joyce Karlin, sentenced Soon to five years of probation, 10 years of suspended prison, 400 hours of community service, and a $500 fine. A state appeals court later unanimously upheld Judge Karlin's sentencing decision, 3-0, on April 21, 1992, about a week before the LA riots. In July 1992, the Harlins family was awarded $300,000 in settlement.. after lawyer fees.. burial costs... Soon Ja Du MURDERED a 15 year old CHILD and never lost a DAY of freedom. Moreover, the way the Asian community had been treating the black community in Los Angeles before this specific incident was deplorable at best. So, with ALL disrespect, FUCK "saigu".. FUCK April 29th.. FUCK this bullshit ass narrative that they push.. Korean store were targeted because of what the fuck they did. Period. Tell the whole fuckin story if you gon tell it.

[@duggancruz]

Great comment😉

[@apapz3245]

Faxcts

[@devonforsure260]

Facts. If you want to try it be prepared to get tried 🙏

[@Seanmatthewanderson]

This is why the 2nd amendment exists. Everyone has a right to keep themselves and their property safe

[@MenCanNotBeWomen]

In new zealand, that is not the law. i know 1st hand, 1 can not protect your property. even armed or unarmed. you can get jailed for 2 or 3 years for defending or stopping someone damaging your property...

[@PROVOCATEURSK]

Even the religious that will go to heaven, the best place ever? What is their motive to avoid it?

[@averagejoe9186]

Which is exactly why the DNC wants to disarm every law-abiding American gun owner and just leave the illegal ones on the market to the hands of drug cartels and other criminals. The 1992 riot and subsequent smaller ones since prove that 2nd amendment is necessary, it has its downsides but no legislation or legal right is pitch perfect. Let's go Brandon.

[@mikesmith-wk7vy]

yea but we saw with the modern BLM and Antifa riots they dont care people got arrested by the hundreds for trying to stop the rioters no 2a when leftist have power . Rittenhouse ,that couple in their yard, the guy in the white truck , the air force officer all arrested and heavily charged just for trying to survive . not to mention the right wing counter protesters clearly on camera being the victim of the attacks all arrested for defending themselves AFTER blm attacked them

[@BacklTrack]

@@MenCanNotBeWomen Shoot, shovel, shut up :)

[@09rja]

When people ask why anyone needs "assault weapons".....I always bring this up. It's burned into my memory (no pun intended).

[@EQOAnostalgia]

It's actually to fight against tyranny... as per our constitution.

[@keylime6]

As a Japanese Canadian, this makes me proud to be Korean lol

[@dopamine811]

lol

[@blitzworldace]

I a korean person... U japanese... we ar not same... I don't like ur countries past actions and now u joke about being korean

[@FAQBrooks]

The scene where the elderly man is screaming “it’s not right!” Is tough to watch! You can hear how much he is hurting

[@augustopinochet3830]

yeah rodney shouldn't have led them on a high speed chase. Then after said chase acted uncooperative the whole fucking time. lmao if he would have crashed he would have gotten smoked by a pissed off husband and father. would have been a better outcome

[@boundO_o]

@@augustopinochet3830 lmao stfu yes even if he did all that the cops were still wrong to beat him two wrongs dont make a right but with that being said looting was wrong and most looters didn't give a single fuck about rodney they just wanted free shit

[@jamvan2k]

@@augustopinochet3830 this wasn’t about Rodney King, this was brewing for years due to the unjust treatment of black people in Los Angeles by the police department. The officers being acquitted only caused the eruption that had been waiting to explode. Might want to learn about the history of the LA police department before making such ignorant comments.

[@Arcademan09]

@@jamvan2k isn't he yelling the rioters and looters? What happened to Rodney and the verdicts IS AND WAS a complete shitshow and people were justified to be angry but how does that justify random local business being destroyed? What if your brother or grandparent got beat up and later your family business burned down? Would you still shrug your arms and side with the rioters? I'd be fucking furious, my family in Mexico have their own shops they own and I'd be there defending them if shit ever went down, especially when you consider some of those stores also double as their homes

[@jdestrada6281]

@@jamvan2k he was screaming at the people looting and destroying property

[@user-cx7wf4xv6x]

5:51 Actually, that part isn't true. Most Korean Americans in LA were South Koreans, and North Korean defectors were very few. But South Korea has conscription, and those men had to serve for three years when they were young (it's shortened now). Quite a few of them were Vietnam War veterans. Obviously, they all knew how to use guns, and they were very organized when operating in units

[@user-hb8dk2nk8j]

Your a South Korean that's why you saying this

[@user-cx7wf4xv6x]

@@user-hb8dk2nk8j No it's not. It's an objective and verifiable fact that most Koreans in LA, especially those on the rooftops were South Koreans. There are very few North Koreans living in the US because they can't freely emigrate or even travel unlike South Koreans

[@gandalfgreyhame3425]

@@user-cx7wf4xv6x You must be of Korean ethnicity. If you look more closely into the history of the country of your heritage, and read about what happened with the partition of Korea into North and South, followed by the Korean War, you will understand that many modern day South Koreans actually originated from the northern part of Korea, and either fled to the South after 1945 when the Soviet Army had invaded North Korea in the latter days of WWII, resulting in the partition of Korea into a North Korea controlled by the Communists, and a South Korea occupied by the US Army, or, they fled to the South during the chaos of the war, before the war ended in a ceasefire and the DMZ was established. The Korean war was a back and forth affair, like the tide sweeping in and out, with the North Korean army first invading South Korea, taking Seoul, and pushing the remnants of the South Korean army and US forces all the way down to the southern tip of Busan, before reinforcements from the US and United Nations arrived to push the North Koreans back up north again, taking Pyongyang and crossing the Yalu River. At that point, China sent a huge PLA force of over 100,000 soldiers sweeping in from the mountains to surprise the US/ UN forces on Thanksgiving Day 1950 and drove the US/UN and South Korean Army forces back down South again. A large number of North Koreans who had now seen what Kim Il-Sung's Communism was like decided then to flee south with the retreating US/UN forces. The rest of the war went back and forth around the 38th Parallel, and the border was finally fixed at the Ceasefire lines in 1952 which became the DMZ. During that time, many Korean families were torn apart, as some were able to flee from the north to the south, and others either were not able to do so, or chose to stay in the north. So, yeah, I caught that line about Koreans fleeing from the North also, and thought about it, and yes, it's actually true. A lot of South Koreans are from families that were originally from the North, and had fled during that chaotic time period. Fleeing from the North, to the South, of course, became much, much harder once the Kim regime had established its control over North Korea after the war and hardened the DMZ into a heavily mined and guarded and very difficult to cross barrier.

[@traveling-salesman1330]

​@@user-hb8dk2nk8j during the Vietnam war South Korea was also involved in special forces sector. The North Vietnamese and the Vietcong called them tigers for how ruthless they were. Also the majority of South Korean men served for three years in the South Korean for a minimum of three years. He's not saying this just because he's Korean he's saying this because it's factual.

[@ratnavalii]

​@@user-hb8dk2nk8jhei malik, speak after serving military

[@chemicalspore]

As a Korean, I approve this video.

[@tonylam9548]

I am not Korean and I too approve.

[@richardbird9326]

I was there, and needed gas. I saw a station up ahead pulled in and the Korean owners were on the roof along with some armed guards at both entrances. They filled the tank and said good luck and no charge !!

[@Gamer.Instinct]

“It’s not right. It’s not right what y’all doing. I came from the ghetto too” I’d be lying if I said this didn’t bring a tear to my eye :/ hit me hard in the feels bro

[@niggasinanutshell6590]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/oaaVga2BjKuDrMk It’s finally here

[@FirstOfTheMagi]

For real. Was a powerful condemnation

[@Shahmane666]

I got goosebumps when I saw that part. Just those few lines were powerful and moving because of the emotion in that man’s voice and face

[@HorrorUberAlles]

Yet his words, as heartfelt as they were, fell on deaf ears.

[@mokomothman5713]

@@HorrorUberAlles crab bucket in full effect

[@luizdiaz5196]

I applaud the korean community for banding together and protecting their businesses.

[@kandysell]

maybe the south korean government forcing every male to go to the military after high school sort of paid off

[@Timothee_Chalamet_CMBYN]

Todays Koreans wanna be weak af and kiss ass and not call out blk ppl for anything

[@redrustyhill2]

Too bad they gave up their arms and let gangs take over

[@lovelylipbonesouwwwwwwwolv2198]

@@redrustyhill2 Wait, they did??

[@Codename_Horizon]

@@lovelylipbonesouwwwwwwwolv2198don’t just listen to strangers on the internet, do some googling.

[@Rider-lo9vt]

We gotta remember most of them Korean dudes served three years in the military, and some even fought with the U.S. Army against them communist forces in Vietnam

[@jhavajoe3792]

The Korean Tigers were the most feared by the Vietcong.

[@littleripper312]

That guy who yelled "It's not right, I came from the ghetto too" that hit hard. Why does it take being the same ethnicity for people to band together? Why didn't shop owners in general band together like this?

[@jonboi1127]

Bonds are stronger when there are more. Being a shop owner is a bond. Being korean is a bond. etc

[@roymondce]

Unfortunately the African American community don't care about each other, you don't see any other ethnicity destroying their own community like the African American community does. This might seem racist but it's fact. Jews didn't do this to themselves when they were poor in the start of the 20th century. Italians didn't sell drugs to their own community, Mexican / Latin urban communities defend their community. It's only the African communities that do this kind of stuff, it's unfortunately ingrained in their culture to hate the system due to generations of wrong doing. Now that they have the opportunity to assimilate into a free western society they can't because their culture says not to trust the system.

[@YourKingJDG]

Caught in the crossfire, probably didn’t know he owned it. Mob gets anyone in their wayz

[@shaunsteele8244]

because the "brak peeple" think everyone in the world owes them something

[@brianlam5847]

@@shaunsteele8244 That doesn't apply to every black person, and they had less of a chance than anyone else. It's right to protest for the chance to be on the same playing field, but never right to form an emotional mob. Mobs don't think, people think. When people get into a mob, they only see anonymity and the worst a chance to vandalize.

[@MrUndeadEd]

I was living in LA when this went down, these guys are true Americans. When I would tell me friends on the East Coast about this they thought I was lying

[@ldorman]

No, they not Americans - this brainwashed patrioty is a real problem - like standing every morning in front of a flag and swearing alliance to it. There was a nation in Europe back between 1939 and 1945 what used to do that, and nowadays you only find this happening in North Korea and China. This people were immigrants defending their new homes because unlike the rich, fat west, they know what it means losing what you worked hard for and they just decided, not again, not today.

[@whyjnot420]

Watched this stuff from the east coast live...... there really was a clusterfuck going on with news coming in. It really wasn't until well after it was all over that we started to get a proper idea of what happened. And yeah, taking up arms to defend your family, friends and possessions.... I wouldn't presume to say that only Americans do this (we saw good people in South Africa defending their communities from rioting scum in a very similar manner not long ago), but that said this still sounds damned American to me. Interesting side note: a few months back after asking my mother if she remembered the roof Koreans and finding out she did not. I started to ask everyone I knew irl, both thoese who were old enough to see it go down and people too young to have done so..... and almost nobody remembered the roof Koreans.

[@bigman72511]

They were not true Americans most of them were here illegally and were a bunch of cowards and liars. When the uprising started they placed "Black-owned" in their business windows which is the reason why the true resident of the community lashed out for being condescending and thoughtless, not to mention the countless years of blatant racism they cast out towards the community. Those Koreans didn't even live in the neighborhood most lived 45 minutes to an hour away from either the valley, Eagle Rock, or Korea town. They didn't care about the people of the community. The only thing they cared about was money. If you were black and going into one of their businesses the first thing you heard was "Hurry up and buy". They were very rude and sneaky. One time my grandmother took her car to a Korean mechanic to get a CPU replaced, the mechanic instead of replacing it with a new he tried to slide in an old one that was laying in the shop trying to pawn it off as a new one. I told him to get a new one or im going to report you. He had the nerve to get upset because he got caught. While ranting his exact words were " Go away, get out my shop, I hate you monkeys" that's a day in the life of your "True Americans"

[@whitedom2041]

alot of those "true americans" couldnt speak a lick of engish but okay

[@chrissant6277]

@@whitedom2041 Doesn't matter. They defended their property. Every citizen here, english speaker or not, is an American.

[@jyc313]

ROKMC. You don't mess with those dudes. My friend trained w/ them in Korea during the various US/Korea Military exercises. He said those were some badasse dudes. BTW that shot of the older guy crouched w/ a remington, wearing a white visor is a damn vibe and a half.

[@Paiadakine]

LA PD Leaving the community to fend for themselves. Thats a prime reason to have the means to protect yourself.

[@scout3058]

I was among the 1100 Marines deployed to LA. It was my last official deployment, as I EASd on 23 May 1992. I waved, pumped my fist, pounded my heart, and shouted encouragement and support to every armed Korean I saw. Those folks were grade A badasses. Anyone who knows anything about ROK Marines knows that they are not to be fucked with. I'm still shocked that there weren't stacks of looter bodies in front of every structure in Koreatown.

[@tomnguyen8546]

Amazing story and the pride hits me for sure. In one of the videos where they interviewed David, he said the Koreans would try to shoot around the rioters/looters to scare them off. He specifically said they didn't want to hit them (unless they had to) so they were missing on purpose. Thanks for your service

[@scout3058]

@@tomnguyen8546 No thanks necessary. I enjoyed my job.

[@tomnguyen8546]

@@scout3058 I have 10 years left and it's been the best decision I've ever made

[@justsomedudeyouknow8372]

The reason there wasnt stacks of looter bodies is because those koreans had honor and understood that the looters were americans too. I wish i could say the same for many of americans that are native born who just want an excuse to kill.

[@scout3058]

@@tomnguyen8546 Good on you, brother! Stay frosty!

[@JR-zm7qt]

I was 14 when it all went down, had some “Roof Top Koreans” next door to my apartment and just down the street, Mexican market owners were on roof tops too. They had AKs, Uzis, and other long rifles. At night time it was hard to sleep, a lot of the smoke from surrounding burning buildings would somehow enter our home. It was surreal.

[@chiefvyhu_ru4487]

Crazy you was there lol but the Mexicans was riot with the blks ppl lol they was the only ones in China Town rioting lol it’s okay those there know it wasn’t over Rodney King.

[@URangryX]

I'm sorry that you went through all that as a child. I hope you are doing well now. God Bless You. :)

[@albertchavez2693]

@@URangryX Thats is very nice of you to say to the young fella :)

[@slipperylatex872]

@@albertchavez2693 the young fella is 44 years old

[@woozyval]

@@slipperylatex872 LMAO

[@aw4955]

God bless Mr. Joo and Mr. Park. God bless Radio Korea. We need you back. We must defend this country.

[@chrisnewport7826]

Koreans, My kind of people once they know you.

[@AntonioMartinez-pw9wz]

I’m Mexican-American. I was a teen when this went down, living in the San Fernando Valley. When I saw that these Korean business owners were defending their businesses, I thought it was one of the greatest thing I’d ever seen. I’ve heard some criticize them, and I’ve always been like “Wth would you do, NOT defend your property against criminals?” Good for them. 👏🏻 👏🏻

[@zzoti]

Same! I thought they were so brave and frankly they just looked so cool! DAEBAK! 😎

[@ni9274]

In other country police would have stopped the riot.

[@DroneStrike1776]

As an Asian dude from the other side of the coast, I was proud that these Koreans bear arms to protect theirs. I was 10, a week from my 11th birthday and this was all over the news. My dad was glued to the TV. We experienced hate crime from them in the 80s and wasn't surprised what was going on in LA. They broke our window twice and smoke bomb our house. Parents thought the house was on fire, rushing us out. I was just a toddler then. They would sit on their porch laughing at us panicking. Then they would assault us when we called them out. Even striking the children. They had no mercy, no moral values.

[@wytche3546]

Borrrrrrrinnnnnng

[@hangten1904]

There were Roof Top Mexicans with Roof Top Koreans at 9:17

[@shadowwolf2524]

I did my Basic training and AIT at Ft Sill, OK in 1982. We had a prior South Korean ROCK soldier in our Platoon. He never said a word - and read his bible every evening. Our Drill Sgts gave him nothing but respect, and let us know how badass this man was. I'll never forget the time we were taking a break after a real hard day of training. Our DS walked over to us and said to the Korean-"Our basic training is like being in the Boy Scouts to you isn't it ?". He just looked up and with a big smile nodded "Yes". He was , without a doubt,one of the best soldiers I've served with.

[@nathanhunter8740]

They're called ROK Marines, for REPUBLIC OF KOREA. They were good but mostly just highly motivated. (I worked with them several times in various countries, they were good for watching your backs. USMC 1973 -1978

[@A1techplus]

@@nathanhunter8740 There is ROK Army also. Most people Join the ROK Army as mandatory service. ROK Marines tier-wise is in between the US Marines and US Navy Seals, Much of Korean military training is handed down from US military, however, because Korean culture is socially bureaucratic to begin with, most civilians are pretty disciplined, but the discipline in Korean military is more hardcore compared to the US. I'm a korean but also a US army vet as well. Thank you guys for your service. Many of the ROK marine veterans mentioned may well have served in vietnam (especially the older ones). You can also look up ROK Marines in Vietnam War on youtube, they were one of the most feared groups by the Viet commies with the highest sniper KED out of all nations that served in Vietnam.

[@Tomyironmane]

@@nathanhunter8740 The ROKMC were dedicated, motivated, and tough. Maybe a little lacking on advanced skills, but they learned fast and could run a machine gun like no one's business. Absolutely the best guys to have at your backs. USMC 2007 - 2011

[@hi_lol1912]

Eeeeeeee

[@carguy1979]

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.

[@976rick1]

I lived it, in 92 i was living in Montebello greenwood/Washington to be exact. I could smell the smoke from L.A. all the way to where i was. It was a scary moment.

[@madmaxit2]

I was living in L.A. at that time. The cops left and everyone/businesses in certain pockets were 100% on their own. These Koreans did what they had to do not only for their business, but more importantly..for their lives! It was a war zone! After it was over what did Mayor Bradley and the cops that left these men on their own do? They went back and arrested the Koreans and confiscated their weapons! When the SHTF you’re on your own and need a community of like minded people. Remember that when some people talk about a certain kind of “Control”

[@firebeardlongfellow5295]

After I saw the vid of the one poor random trucker dude get pulled out of his truck and beaten to death in the middle of the intersection I knew it was a warzone. 2nd amendment isn't just for use against a tyrannical government, but for a lack of government at all. Roof Koreans are the best example of using your rights as an American. Right to liberty, life, and happiness. We will defend it rightfully with force.

[@Stephen85]

And heaven forbid you call out or even recognize the race of the vast majority of the people who acted like animals...

[@Big-BossX]

@@Stephen85 it doesnt have anything to do with the race. Theres opportunist animals everywhere

[@remotecontroll1]

Fuck the government.

[@Terron35]

@@firebeardlongfellow5295 Reginald Denny thankfully survived his attack. He had a fractured skull and was left with impaired speech and difficulty walking but he survived somehow. When I saw the footage I thought he died too but some good samaritans got him to the hospital in time

[@franzatsea]

I’m not Korean, I’m an Okie but I was there in Long beach on a rooftop. I was with my employer with guns protecting his businesses. It was total chaos. At one point I counted 17 buildings burning around us. I’ll never forget the stupidity I witnessed. That experience changed my life.

[@cwr8618]

Would love to hear more.

[@buxadonoff]

whats an okie?

[@marvindebot3264]

@@buxadonoff A person from Oklahoma. I'm an Aussie and I know that.

[@cwr8618]

@@marvindebot3264 i've never heard the term

[@franzatsea]

An Okie is a person from Oklahoma

[@sarahblack4864]

Good for the Koreans for defending themselves and livelihoods. They stood up for themselves.

[@juanzulu1318]

When an immigrant with a weapon is not a threat to society but rather the opposite: a protector of society.

[@seungjin4life711]

Mad respect to David Joo, Richard Park, and all rooftop koreans for being brave and fighting for their safety and livelyhood.

[@user-cx7wf4xv6x]

His name is David Joo, but I agree.

[@seungjin4life711]

@@user-cx7wf4xv6x done editing it. Thanks for the correction. 😄😄

[@eblman5218]

Agreed. People like this make me glad to be in America. Most of the rest of the world is not even allowed to protect themselves....

[@banderas2000]

mad respect to them all. those rooftop koreans are badass and took action when needed WITH HONOR

[@Joskemom]

I remember seeing the photo in the La Times of those Koreans atop that store that was mentioned in this video. It is a time honored tradition, 'looters will be shot'.

[@jun8569]

There weren’t that many North Koreans that made their way to USA as migrants. Most of those roof Koreans were from South Korea, but nearly everyone had done their military service, and a lot of them had served in Vietnam and some in Korean War. They were extremely well organised.

[@stevencoardvenice]

I agree. That reference to north Koreans was way off. These were all south Koreans

[@user-pt9fz3dx4v]

How ppl think they are North Korean?

[@Jelk243i]

Agreed. All of them are South Koreans

[@JFKennedy63]

Koreans were the best trained troops in nam. Absolute hero.

[@alihuey9786]

racist police

[@androidemulator6952]

After all these years of reading / hearing references to "Rooftop Koreans" i have stumbled of the inspiring story. Thank you. ;)

[@chopkong]

My parents were Asian immigrants, who's business was looted back in 1981. It was devastating. I was 16 at the time. I remember my father, brother and I spent the next couple of nights at our business with shot guns and pistols to protect our livelihood. That business is all we had. We learned a lesson at that time; the police arrive after the crime.

[@thecursed01]

"when every second counts, police is minutes away"

[@ErickKhan]

People think LA today is "bad" lol. Early 90s Los Angeles was a whole different animal

[@christopherwharton6022]

It’s getting right back to where it was with all of the soft on crime policies.

[@justinissocool1]

Now it’s kinda just a zombie town run down by drugs and homelessness. Back then it was a fuckin war zone

[@crookedjack5499]

@@firebird4491 This just isn't true. People use this argument for the war on drugs which is completely different. Being tougher on violent criminals charged with murder, rape or robbery and not releasing them out into the population a few days later after their arrest does stop them from committing more crimes. As things are right now people are being caught and released just to continue what they were originally arrested for

[@raviatm]

yeah man. especially all of the insane bank robberies

[@laflame5798]

woah found my fav youtuber in the comments😂. 4/20 blaze it

[@pkz420]

"Rooftop Koreans" is my favorite story of immigrants dealing with adversity. It shows what can happen when a community comes together and works toward a common cause, instead of turning on each other like a bunch of bucket-lobsters.

[@Tommy-Lo]

Also a good example of how standing up for yourself will gain you more respect than cowering in the long run.

[@michaelmckay]

They are American as fuck!

[@iHaveTheDocuments]

The Chad diversity VS the virgin evil diversity

[@90whatever]

​@@Tommy-Lo Except after the riots the city had some if them arrested and weapons confiscated.

[@Tommy-Lo]

@@90whatever Yep. Which is disgraceful and adds to the list of government and police failure. Still, better to be arrested than deceased.

[@InspireWire]

Your editing is top notch plus epic tunes!

[@rickt.8866]

I was stationed just north of LA during this time. It was NAWC Point Mugu, CA (1991-1994). It was crazy! I went through this, the OJ chase, Malibu fires, mudslides, and LA earthquake. It was an interesting Navy tour to say the least.

[@mdiesel23]

This only shows one side of it, the glory. The roof top korean were demonized by the media and politicans. Many were arrested and tried in court. Really messed up if you ask me. But it should show the negative repercussions that came with it as well.

[@odin1185]

The riots were planned and set to happen just like the blm terrorist riots we have. The government hates nothing more then citizens defending themselves.

[@WC3fanatic997]

I fully agree here, the entire world needs to be shown just how little the Government gives a fuck about any of us, that they would try and drag people through the wringer for picking up the slack when they were abandoned. God, that makes me absolutely *_Livid._*

[@mdiesel23]

@@odin1185 our society is ass backwards. The parallel to the LA riot and the Rittenhouse case is similar. Not to mention how in Texas school shooting the cops just stood there for 40 mins. They even arrested a mom that tried to go in I believe.

[@bluemoondiadochi]

yes he should have shown that too! that was the most disgusting part, and the part which most clearly showed the true colors of USA system.

[@americafirst3738]

@@mdiesel23 just broke today, that the police and us marshals stopped the funeral home worker from going after this guy before he even got into the school.... Smfh... The whole situation in Uvalde smells like the swamp sacrificed these children to push their political great reset agenda

[@evilutionltd]

Attacks a police car. Police arrest him. People: Leave him alone. Things haven't changed I see.

[@foxtrotwhiskey874]

Black Excellence !

[@silly1885]

@@foxtrotwhiskey874 cringe

[@nicksam305]

Aah yes a certain element of the society sure likes to ac a foo then cry when punished

[@matt4380]

*cops beat the shit out of person* *cops investigate themselves and find they did nothing wrong* *People get angry* Things havent changed.

[@vincentrose9890]

Lmaoooooo

[@ivanshounen]

Bro, this should def have korean subtitles! great stuff!

[@GhostHost04]

This video came up as I was high out of my mind and that intro had mr fucking hooooked and got me so informed like ahhhh I love this shit!!