Invoked During Every Racial Conflict Riot
Conservatives Praise Vigilante Spirit
But for the Korean American Community in LA, It Remains a Trauma
As large-scale protests continue to spread across the United States in opposition to President Donald Trump's crackdown and forced deportation of undocumented immigrants, the American conservative camp is once again highlighting the Rooftop Korean meme?an internet trend. Rooftop Koreans refers to Korean Americans who, during the 1992 Los Angeles (LA) riots, armed themselves and stood on the rooftops of their homes to protect their communities.
US Conservatives Applaud Rooftop Koreans Who Defended Their Property Against Rioters
Donald Trump Junior, the eldest son of President Trump, recently posted a photo from the LA riots 33 years ago on his X account, along with the caption "Make Rooftop Koreans Great Again," as protests against the Trump administration's crackdown on undocumented immigrants continued for several days in major cities including Los Angeles.
The LA riots, which broke out across the LA area from April 29 to May 4, 1992, were triggered when white police officers, who had been accused of excessive force against a Black man, were acquitted in court. In response, African Americans in LA rose up in protest. As chaos in the city intensified and the protests escalated into riots, Korean Americans operating restaurants, laundromats, and other businesses were forced to take up arms to defend their lives and property.
There have been previous instances in which photos and posts about Rooftop Koreans quickly spread across social media within conservative circles. In 2014, following the 'Ferguson riots' in Ferguson, Missouri, the previously forgotten LA riots once again drew online attention. The Ferguson riots also began as protests by African Americans in response to excessive force by police, making them similar in many ways to the LA riots.
That same August, a post appeared on Reddit, the largest online community in the US, saying, "Let's hire Rooftop Koreans to solve the Ferguson situation." The post quickly received thousands of upvotes and comments, sparking widespread reaction.
In 2020, during the so-called 'BLM (Black Lives Matter)' protests, which erupted in response to the excessive use of force by white police officers against George Floyd, memories of Rooftop Koreans resurfaced. Among conservative netizens, Rooftop Koreans were reimagined as a symbol of the American vigilante spirit?citizens maintaining order through armed self-defense. Performances imitating Rooftop Koreans also gained popularity, with photos of people standing guard on rooftops with firearms flooding social media.
Korean Americans Say, "Do Not Use Us"
However, the Korean American community in the US does not welcome the recurring use of Rooftop Korean imagery on social media whenever riots occur. The Korean American Federation of Los Angeles recently responded to Trump Junior's post by calling it "reckless" and strongly urged that "the past trauma of Korean Americans must never be exploited for any purpose."
The Korean American community has made efforts to reconcile with African Americans since the LA riots, establishing charitable organizations and working to assist Black residents in impoverished neighborhoods. This is because they recognize that the underlying causes of the LA riots were not only the violence of the rioters, but also deeply rooted issues of racial conflict and poverty. Every year on April 29, they hold gatherings to remember the wounds and lessons of the riots and to heal from the trauma.
On the 8th (local time), protesters waving the Mexican flag in Los Angeles (LA), California. Photo by AFP Yonhap News
Mark Gonzalez, a member of the California State Assembly, commented, "Saigu (the LA riots that began on April 29, 1992) exposed the racial, class, and socioeconomic inequalities in LA," and added, "The Korean American community has been influenced to put 'equity' at the forefront of all discussions."
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