4 days ago
'Rooftop Korean' issues chilling threat about LA's future 30 years after Rodney King riots
One of the 'rooftop Koreans' who took to LA's rooftops in 1992 during the Rodney King riots to defend their businesses is furious that history is repeating itself in modern day California.
Tony Moon, one of the so-called 'Rooftop Koreans' who armed themselves in the race riots over three decades ago, has been sounding off on social media, lambasting Governor Gavin Newsom and the Democrats for their response.
In one response to Newsom, he fumed: 'Shut up and sit down. This is the last f*** up that'll seal you (sic) political career as a "has been"'.
Moon is a vocal Second Amendment activist and critic of the Democrats.
Since Friday's unrest exploded, he shared grave predictions for the city's future.
Over 30 years after the 'rooftop Koreans' made headlines with their armed resistance to the 1992 Rodney King Riots, one of the members slammed California Governor Gavin Newsom over his handling of riots gripping Los Angeles this week
'This is how these ICE protests must end: strong police, kettling, arrests, ID'ing, then deport or criminal prosecution.'
The famous images of the 'rooftop Koreans' re-emerged this week amid the riots in Los Angeles, over 30 years since they captured national attention and became a symbol of civilian action against destructive riots.
When violent protests erupted following the police beating of King and subsequent acquittal of the officers involved, the overwhelmed LAPD set up defensive perimeters around certain parts of the city, but left much of Koreatown without direct protection.
Business owners in the community rallied each other to protect their businesses and homes from looters.
They used blanks and warning shots to scatter mobs, and no members were ever charged with shooting or harming protesters.
In a recent interview, Moon, who was 19 at the time, reflected on the chaos.
'You had two different generations, the older generation - my dad and friends in his 40s. They had military training.
'Then you had the younger guys like myself. I was 19 when I was out there. There was no coordination. The only way to recognize who was who... was by how you looked and how you dressed as well.
This week, in light of the modern day unrest, their faces have appeared again online.
Donald Trump Jr. came under fire for posting a meme calling for America to 'Make Rooftop Koreans Great Again!'
Many saw it as an attempt to incite violence.
Other conservatives, including influencer Tiffany Fong, have also shared posts referencing the Rooftop Koreans and their brave efforts.
Moon's criticism of Newsom comes amid mounting scrutiny on the California Governor over his handling of the ongoing riots.
As Los Angeles leaders struggle to contain the protests, Trump threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act to bring peace back to the streets.
The president defended his own decision to sent U.S. Marines as well as California National Guard to Los Angeles, and brushed off Newsom's claim that the deployment inflamed the situation.
And he would not rule out use of an authority to deploy military forces under his control to put down disturbances if he sees fit.
'If there's an insurrection, I would certainly invoke it. We'll see. But I can tell you, last night was terrible. The night before that was terrible,' Trump said.
'If we didn't send in the national guard quickly, right now, Los Angeles would be burning to the ground,' Trump told reporters in an impromptu Oval Office meeting with members of his team.
The president also offered a warning, amid complaints from Trump critics that he is using the California standoff to flex authority in Democratic-run states.
'I can inform the rest of the country, when they do it, if they do it, they will be met with equal or greater force than we met here,' Trump said.
'This is the first perhaps of many or perhaps if we didn't attack this one very strongly, you would have them all over the country,' Trump said.
He spoke as he is deploying another 2,000 National Guard troops, along with 700 Marines, to LA.
He railed against people seen on video battling police during street protests that kicked off in opposition to ICE raids to pick up illegal immigrants.
He repeatedly referred to 'bad, sick people' and 'agitators' he said were paid.
'There are certainly areas of Los Angeles you could have called It an insurrection,' Trump said.
