L.A. Riots: LAPD Tried to Displace its Racism Problem And 'Put it On a Korean Merchant,' Says Former Times Reporter John Lee

By Dennis Romero Thu., Apr. 26 2012 at 2:46 PM

Michael Clifford

John Lee, skating.

The riots that were sparked on April 29, 1992 put L.A.'s burgeoning Korean American population in the spotlight.

It seems that for every generation, a group of immigrants gets picked for no-holds-barred hatred, and Koreans in 1992 were it. John Lee covered the community and the riots for the Los Angeles Times back then, and he argues that the LAPD, under fire for the Rodney King beating, wanted the focus to be on his people.

Shortly after the uprisings, Lee, a longtime friend of this reporter, left the paper, bitter about his experience. He looks back:

Some have forgotten that another spark for the riots was the shooting of 15-year-old Latasha Harlins less than two weeks after the police beating of King.

A South L.A. store owner, Soon Ja Du, pulled the trigger. It was March 16, 1991.

Lee covered the aftermath of the shooting and the ensuing manslaughter prosecution of Du, who claimed self defense. The story line often cited was that Harlins was shot over a $1.79 bottle of orange juice she had stuffed in her backpack.

He interviewed Latasha's aunt, Denise Harlins, who raised her. "She dealt with me as human being and not as a Korean L.A. Times reporter," Lee says.

Latasha Harlins quickly became the Trayvon Martin of her day. Orange juice was her Skittles.

Latasha

Harlins, it turned out, intended to pay for the juice, and died with $2 in her hand after scuffling with Du and being shot in the back of the head as she attempted to leave the store.

The Korean's family gave security video to the LAPD, hoping it would vindicate Du. But the department instead released it to the media. Lee thinks that the LAPD was trying to deflect attention away from another video -- that of King being pummeled by four cops.

There was already bad blood in the black community: African Americans felt they were treated badly by a wave of Korean merchants that had come into South L.A. to open liquor stores, markets, clothing boutiques and wig shops. Lee was assigned to cover the Harlins story with African American colleague Andrea Ford:

I had had that conversation with Andrea, about how Korean merchants treated black customers. We were aware of the climate. There were a lot of incidents of disputes.

He thinks the LAPD capitalized on this:

Tags:

92, John Lee, Korean Americans, Koreans, LAPD, Latasha Harlans, Los Angeles Times, media, New York Times, riot stories, riots, Rodney King, Soon Ja Du

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helpfulheroine

Just another disgusting example of the media trying to create trouble. Even this article made Lee seem like an outsider. The article also failed to discuss, amongst other things, that the Koreans bought guns because the police completely ignored them and would only help white neighborhoods. Sometimes people have to protect themselves. The 20th anniversary coverage on the Riots has been horrifically irresponsible, lacking and racist.

Dennis Romero

helpfull:

I don't know about your analysis that cops were only helping white neighborhoods. I was there. The LAPD was spread thin and often was held back. Koreans were helping themselves, for sure.

But think of if this way: With less than 10,000 cops to New York's more than 30,000, where one of the most under-policed cities per capita in the nation. On a "normal" night the department is spread thin. Now imagine South L.A. is ablaze, Koreatown is being looted and even parts of Hollywood and the Westside are going up in smoke. It wasn't an issue of only helping white neighborhoods.

Not sure what's racist about this.

itissaid

It was racist because the Korean American merchants for the most part were neglected while white areas like Beverly Hills were heavily protected. Even the LA Times wrote about this.

itissaid

To be honest, I felt it was a good article, but reporters need to be open-minded to different views. It's about objectivity, so there was no need to dismiss your comments without further research.

helpfulheroine

wow - i just realized that dennis is the author of this article. no wonder he got defensive - he writes articles without knowing the facts. this is what has become of a once respected profession - no research, "facts" based on opinion, and incorrect grammar.

helpfulheroine

thank you. and dennis, i was in the white neighborhoods and the korean neighborhoods, so i can say from first hand experience that not only during the riots, but all the time, the police will guard the rich and the white over the poor and the ethnic. it's just a fact. that's why everyone tries to gain wealth.