The Korean American community vehemently condemned Donald Trump Jr. For this reason, they deem his latest social media outburst as not only irresponsible but dangerous. The controversy stems from a photograph of a man with a rifle on a rooftop, which Trump Jr shared on his social media account with the caption, “Make Rooftop Koreans Great Again!” This post describes how the Korean American community responded to the 1992 L.A. race riots. These riots were just a focal point in a much larger period of extreme violence and racial/civil discord.
It was during these riots that members of the Korean American community decided enough was enough. They took up arms and set up on roofs to protect their stores from widespread looting, left high and dry by law enforcement. In order to protect themselves from rampant looting, they had to shoot looters. Innocent but empowered, this retrieval act sparked the creation of the “Rooftop Koreans” mythology, representing their fight to be shielded and secure in chaotic moments. The riots erupted following the police beating of black motorist Rodney King, which ignited widespread protests and violence throughout Los Angeles.
Hyungwon Kang, a photojournalist who documented the events for the Los Angeles Times, captured a poignant image of the situation during that period. He said that he was especially distressed about Trump Jr’s unauthorized use of his photo. Kang stated, “You’re using the photo out of context. Please take it down,” adding that he is now consulting a lawyer regarding the unauthorized use of his work.
The Korean American Federation of Los Angeles wrote a statement on Facebook condemning Trump Jr’s actions. And they didn’t mince words about the dangerous consequences of his tweet. This is particularly alarming because he is the eldest son of the former president and a popular ultra-nationalistic influencer with estimated 15 million followers. And in doing so, they asked him not to more broadly capitalize on the trauma deeply embedded in the Korean community from the riots.
As the eldest son of the current president as well as a successful influencer with an estimated 15 million followers, his gambits pose the most serious consequences in these climactic times. Korea has suffered enough trauma, and we urge the exploitation of their organic trauma for any use be ceased immediately. The statement read.
In light of today’s protests against aggressive enforcement by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Kang said the following. He added that this reality cannot be equated with the horrific reality that Korean Americans experienced during the riots. He pointed out that “the current situation of people expressing a widespread disagreement about an excessive and aggressive enforcement” is not similar to what occurred in 1992.
The outcome of this reaction against Trump Jr’s post illustrates the incredibly raw nerve that is race relations in America. It illustrates how the weight of that history continues to affect communities today.