Riveting Twitter Thread on the Infamous ‘Roof Koreans’ of the LA Riots Highlights Importance of the Second Amendment
April 28, 2019 280 Comments
During the 1992 Rodney King riots in Los Angeles, armed Korean store owners stationed themselves on top of their shops to protect their property from looters and became known as the “Roof Koreans.”
A riveting Twitter thread celebrated these brave heroes as the anniversary of the riots approaches.
From April 29 to May 4 in 1992, rioters burned and looted everything in sight to protest the acquittal of four Los Angeles Police Department officers for excessive force in the beating of King. The riots left over $1 million in property damage. Reginald Denny, a white truck driver who stopped at a traffic light in the middle of the riots, was also pulled from his truck and beat nearly to death by a mob of rioters. His skull was fractured in 91 places.
By the end of the rioting, 53 people were killed, including 35 from gunfire.
Sam-flammatory Rhetoric@AsianJ86Little early but fuck it, we’re close enough.
Thread: Roof Korean Week is here again. After the savage beating of Rodney King at the hands of police officers and their subsequent acquittal, rioters took to the streets in what is known as the “LA Riots.”
Sam-flammatory Rhetoric@AsianJ86Korean citizens and their businesses/homes were intentionally targeted by the rioters. Sure they had nothing to do with King or the police officers who beat him, but “their prices are too high, their attitude is wrong, they have no respect for the community.”
The poster began by describing how Korean citizens were initially being targeted by the rioters.
“Koreans were savagely attacked, while their businesses and homes were looted and burned. They did what good citizens do, they called the police and they waited for help. Unfortunately, police were stretched thin and were also being targeted for violence,” they wrote.
Sam-flammatory Rhetoric@AsianJ86Koreans were savagely attacked, while their businesses and homes were looted and burned.
They did what good citizens do, they called the police and they waited for help. Unfortunately, police were stretched thin and were also being targeted for violence.
Sam-flammatory Rhetoric@AsianJ86So, what do good American citizens do when the police can’t or won’t help them and hordes of armed looters are descending upon them? They become peak American citizens by exercising their God given and constitutionally protected rights.
“So, what do good American citizens do when the police can’t or won’t help them and hordes of armed looters are descending upon them? They become peak American citizens by exercising their God given and constitutionally protected rights,” the thread continued. “Unfortunately for the rioters, most of these fine Americans were legal immigrants from Korea. As such, many of them had fulfilled Korea’s mandatory service obligations prior to earning American citizenship and took to the 2nd amendment like beef to bulgogi.”
Sam-flammatory Rhetoric@AsianJ86Unfortunately for the rioters, most of these fine Americans were legal immigrants from Korea. As such, many of them had fulfilled Korea’s mandatory service obligations prior to earning American citizenship and took to the 2nd amendment like beef to bulgogi.
Sam-flammatory Rhetoric@AsianJ86Outraged at the attack against their prosperous, law abiding community and abandoned by law enforcement (bUt ThE pOlIcE pRoTeCt YoU), they gathered their arms and ammunition. Many were carried to the rooftops by bald eagles (or so the legend goes) and Roof Koreans were born. pic.twitter.com/jDl6Oxsdkf
The thread joked, “many were carried to the rooftops by bald eagles (or so the legend goes) and Roof Koreans were born.”
Sam-flammatory Rhetoric@AsianJ86From the rooftops, these legends protected each other’s property, homes, and lives. But even among a group of legends, bigger-than-fiction heroes can emerge. Enter this handsome devil, David Joo. If you know of Roof Korea, you know David Joo by sight of not by name.
Sam-flammatory Rhetoric@AsianJ86On the second day of the riots, April 30, 1992, David, a humble gun shop owner and his friend Richard Park, a purveyor of fine jewelry who owned a store in the same plaza, came under attack. Not being bloodthirsty savages, they called he police. pic.twitter.com/3WsY8vAstb
Two particular members of the Roof Koreans, David Joo and Richard Park, stood out from the rest.
“David, Richard, and their fellow citizens had to do some on-the-spot soul searching. Yeah they could run for their lives. But what’s life worth if you abandon everything you’ve spent your life toiling for, the existence you’ve sweated and labored for, in the face of danger?” the thread asked.
Sam-flammatory Rhetoric@AsianJ86Four of LA’s finest showed between the waves of attacks. They encouraged the Koreans to flee for their lives and I SHIT YOU NOT promptly FLED as soon as the rioters attacked again and started taking pot shots. YOUR SAFETY IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY, DO NOT RELY ON POLICE.
Sam-flammatory Rhetoric@AsianJ86David, Richard, and their fellow citizens had to do some on-the-spot soul searching. Yeah they could run for their lives. But what’s life worth if you abandon everything you’ve spent your life toiling for, the existence you’ve sweated and labored for, in the face of danger?
Sam-flammatory Rhetoric@AsianJ86There’s an ancient Korean saying. “Fuck around, find out.” And brotha, let me tell you, rioters found out real quick. David and Richard drew a line in the streets of Los Angeles, got their Leonidas on, and made their stand.
Sam-flammatory Rhetoric@AsianJ86Car loads of armed rioters and gang members made several assaults on the Roof Koreans in an effort to kill them or drive them out of the city but were unable to intimidate or defeat these law abiding civil right exercising champions of the American Dream. pic.twitter.com/LbWuoaT1Vg
“Over 5 days, more than 1000 buildings in the LA area were destroyed, and over a billion dollars worth of damage done. But guess which communities endured the storm with minimal damage and injury? That’s right. The store David and Richard fought from still stands today,” he continued.
Sam-flammatory Rhetoric@AsianJ86Over 5 days, more than 1000 buildings in the LA area were destroyed, and over a billion dollars worth of damage done. But guess which communities endured the storm with minimal damage and injury? That’s right. The store David and Richard fought from still stands today.
Sam-flammatory Rhetoric@AsianJ86Brave Americans refused to surrender their lives and livelihoods to an outraged and murderous horde. They defended themselves exercising the very right a new outrage mob is trying to intimidate, lie, and bully you into surrendering for some illusion of safety. pic.twitter.com/GiR7WwP6dP
Sam-flammatory Rhetoric@AsianJ86They lie to you claiming there’s no need for high capacity magazines or semiautomatic rifles. They want you to rely on the same people who fled, abandoning American citizens to their own defenses as soon as the shit hit the fan.
Sam-flammatory Rhetoric@AsianJ86They stand on the graves of murder victims like a pulpit and they try to blame you and me for the actions of others and use that to try and guilt you into surrendering your constitutionally protected rights. Don’t give them an inch, and don’t let them fool you.
Sam-flammatory Rhetoric@AsianJ86When a mob comes for me and the police run away to save themselves or don’t even show up at all, and I’m looking out at a sea of murderous intent, I have a God given right to protect my life, my familys lives, and our home with whatever weapon I believe best serves that purpose.
Sam-flammatory Rhetoric@AsianJ86So do you.
Don’t let those people cheat, trick, or scare you into surrendering your right to effectively protect yourself, your loved ones, your home, your business, your way of life.
Sam-flammatory Rhetoric@AsianJ86So do you.
Don’t let those people cheat, trick, or scare you into surrendering your right to effectively protect yourself, your loved ones, your home, your business, your way of life.
Sam-flammatory Rhetoric@AsianJ86We aren’t responsible for mass shootings, murder, or suicides. Neither are our weapons. You are your own best defense. Don’t let weak cowards scare you into giving up the best tools for that responsibility.
And if you want to deprive me of my rights, come and take them.
“We aren’t responsible for mass shootings, murder, or suicides. Neither are our weapons. You are your own best defense. Don’t let weak cowards scare you into giving up the best tools for that responsibility. And if you want to deprive me of my rights, come and take them,” the powerful and informative thread concluded.