No Life, No Liberty, and No Property: Minneapolis and Remembering the Los Angeles Riots

Earlier this week, I, like many Americans, was shocked and disgusted by the repulsive conduct of the police officers arresting George Floyd. My heart was broken for his family and the community that has suffered so much at the hands of negligent and abusive law enforcement officers. I have been angered to the core each time when law enforcement overstepped the line into abuse, privately advocating for people to donate to the George Floyd Memorial Fund, pressure their public officials, and carry out peaceful demonstrations.

Despite the legal mobilization to fight for George Lloyd, and the majority of the demonstrations being peaceful, police officers have overstepped by tear-gassing protestors, while many protests have escalated into violence. Shocked by the destruction of local businesses and the burning down of property, I responded on social media and condemned any use of violence and destruction. I argued that such violence only ends up hurting the very communities demonstrators claim they are trying to protect. I received various responses to my Instagram post, with some even saying that I should try to understand the “pent up anger that has been released.”

As a Korean American, I understand what this “pent up” anger leads to. The 1992 LA riots, which we call “Sa-I-Gu” (or 4/29), were one of many responses to the murder of Rodney King. However, Korean American, African American, and Hispanic American business owners and families were the targets of violence and vandalism for four days straight. First-generation immigrants, who wanted to build the American Dream, saw their shops go up in flames and were attacked by violent armed gangs and looters. Many business owners and employees formed militias to defend their stores. One defender, David Joo, was a gun store manager who, alongside Richard Park and others, fought off organized criminal gangs taking advantage of the chaos. These four days of violence, burning, and destruction still haunt many minorities today, especially those within the Korean American community.

(LA Riots Aftermath – 1991, Mick Taylor, Portland, USA)

Seeing the Minneapolis third police precinct being burned down, the looting of hundreds of local businesses, and the destruction of a local Target, I was horrified. The people who are trying to “protect minority businesses” are the very same ones who are hurting the communities they claim to protect. Yet, there are images of hope. We are seeing both white business owners and African American business owners working together to protect each other’s dreams and livelihoods. Public officials, like Minneapolis city council vice president, Andrea Jenkins, come out and condemn the violence. Many people are distancing themselves from those committing acts of violence and assembling peacefully to demand #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd. Even now, President Trump has sent in the National Guard to maintain peace and order, as well as demanding that the F.B.I. open a formal investigation into the officer responsible for George Floyd’s murder.

Despite all this, there are others justifying and advocating for the use of violence and destruction as the means to achieve their ends. We still see that, on this college campus and others elsewhere, students support the claim that looting some businesses is okay. According to some, in the name of “destroying white privilege,” it is okay to destroy the livelihoods of Americans who are trying to better themselves, even in the midst of this economically devastating pandemic.

I hope all Americans, especially my fellow college students, can step back and learn the lessons of history. The way forward is to build up and advocate for the communities you stand for, not burn them down.