Chapter 402
Translator: crow
Chapter 402
Chapter Title: LA Riots
As the Haiti crisis dragged on, on April 28, 1992, a verdict dropped in a trial that had captured the nation's attention.
It was the trial of Rodney King, which had spotlighted excessive police brutality.
In March 1991, Rodney King was pulled over for drunk driving. During his arrest, he tried to flee and resisted fiercely to the end, only to be brutally beaten by the police.
He'd resisted so violently because he'd smoked marijuana and was on parole—getting caught meant straight back to prison.
The police insisted it was a lawful response, and the jury bought it.
"Three of the four officers are acquitted. One will face a retrial."
The all-white jury's decision instantly set the Black community ablaze.
"Unbelievable verdict. They beat a man half to death, and they're innocent?!"
The Black reaction was one of shock and pure fury.
They hit the streets right away, launching protests.
"Let's show the federal government our rage."
"Smash it all!"
Fires broke out, looting rampaged, and shootouts erupted along the paths of the marching mobs.
Black rioters stopped passing cars, dragged drivers out, and unleashed merciless violence.
"The rioters have already swelled past ten thousand."
The police were helpless against the massive mobs' rampage.
"Looks like fun. Let's join in."
Hispanic and Black gangs piled on to the riots.
Seeing the terrifying momentum, the LAPD was gripped by fear.
"How should we respond to this?"
"Defend the white neighborhoods first."
LAPD Chief Gates hastily scraped together his limited forces and prioritized protecting upscale white areas like Beverly Hills.
"What about Chinatown, caught right in the middle?"
Parts of LA's Chinatown and Torrance's Chinatown bordered Compton, the infamous Black ghetto.
"Throw it to the wolves."
The LAPD's decision was ice-cold.
The U.S. left the roads to Chinatown wide open.
Sacrifice the yellow-skins to shield the whites.
For the rioters, Black-white tensions weren't the main draw anyway.
It was all about chances to loot.
As the LAPD intended, the Black mobs surged toward Chinatown.
"Whites are assholes, sure, but the Chinese are just as bad."
The Blacks swarmed straight into the Chinese neighborhoods.
Countless shops became their targets.
"These bastards have lost it."
The Chinese didn't go down without a fight as the mobs descended.
The Triads, tasked with guarding the streets, were the first to clash with the rioters.
Gunfire echoed through the streets, bats clashed.
The Triads resisted fiercely, but they couldn't hold back the endless waves of rioters.
"Loot everything."
As the Triads fell back to the core areas under numerical disadvantage, the rioters plundered the shops at will.
TV news helicopters captured the chaos live.
Naturally, the Korean government was watching too.
"Nothing's changed since the last riots. The Americans."
Korea felt no worry watching the police's feeble response.
Relatively affluent Korean-Americans lived in middle- and upper-class areas, safe from harm.
Even so, the riots' fallout couldn't be ignored.
Koreans might be fine, but not all EA citizens.
Korea was aware Japanese and Chinese (Nanjing) were exposed to the violence.
Korea decided to dispatch fifty consular staff and support personnel to assess damage and aid compatriots in the U.S.
While Korea mobilized, the biggest victims—the Republic of China—were protesting to the U.S. government.
"Treating our citizens in America like this? Is this how you treat allies?"
The U.S. and ROC traded barbs, with Chongqing even chewing out the U.S. ambassador outright.
Yet the situation didn't improve a bit.
If anything, more fuel was poured on the fire.
"Remember that Black kid who got shot stealing from a Chinese store last time? Right there."
U.S. media highlighted deep Black-Chinese tensions, trying to shift the Black-white conflict to Black-yellow.
The KCIA observed the media play and saw an opening.
"If we step in here, we could amplify the Black-white divide."
The 4th Deputy Director's suggestion drew a negative from Bae Seong-jun.
"No need to stir the pot."
Why mess with this perfect setup?
For Korea, this was like a free picnic.
The fiercer the Chinese-Black clashes, the more Korea gained.
"Think about it."
The Chinese weren't fools.
A little reflection revealed exactly who the feds had thrown to the wolves.
Once they tasted that blatant racism, how would Chinese sentiment toward America shift?
"Nanjing and North China will rage just as much as Chongqing's migrants."
Planting anti-American seeds at the Chinese grassroots? The bigger this blew up, the better for Korea.
And there was another perk to anticipate.
George Bush's approval ratings tanking.
This could shatter his image as the tough president who crushed criminals.
Following Bae Seong-jun's directive, the KCIA stayed hands-off.
They did demand protection for EA citizens from the U.S.
"Please ensure no harm to EA citizens' lives or property."
The LA riots didn't die down easily.
As Black looting dragged on, the U.S. government finally responded.
"Deploy the military."
With the Army stepping in, things started calming.
"The Army."
Even fearless rioters feared the military.
Federal troops and National Guard armored vehicles rolled into intersections, soldiers patrolled, and the mobs dispersed naturally.
Post-riot tallies pegged damages at around $800 million, with $500 million from Chinatown.
"Why did only us Asians suffer massive losses?"
Asian communities hurled that question at the U.S. government.
The feds had no easy answer.
"We'll answer for them."
Korea was ready.
"Look at the news U.S. stations aired nonstop during the riots."
Korea broadcast U.S. media's blatant Black-yellow strategy on TV, stoking yellow-skin discontent.
Asians watched Korea's riot documentary and tasted bitterness.
America wasn't a country they could trust.
By seeding distrust of the federal government among Asian-Americans, Korea bolstered its influence over them.
"Not a good picture."
The CIA and other intel agencies saw Korea's moves and realized the riots' aftermath was worse than imagined.
"At this rate, most Asian-Americans in the Union could fall under Korean sway."
True, many Asian countries were already under Korean influence, but Asian-Americans weren't.
From Vietnam War refugees to others, plenty of Asian-Americans were loyal to America over Korea.
Losing them to Korea was no small crisis.
"Any countermeasures?"
"First, punish those responsible."
At minimum, toss a sacrificial lamb to soothe Asian anger.
The White House and California governor sacked LAPD Chief Gates.
"Not enough."
Unlike before, this riot's fallout couldn't be contained by firing the police chief.
"Then who takes the blame?"
"The White House and California state government need to bow their heads and fund victim compensation."
"$800 million in damages? Not chump change."
"That's the least."
After agonizing, the U.S. government agreed to fund recovery.
But Korea outplayed them here.
While the U.S. dithered, Korea struck fast.
"Asians are one. We'll send donations for Asian victims."
Korea swiftly wired $300 million in national fundraiser cash.
Even ROC folks grumpy over Quad issues bowed to Pyongyang's aid.
"Korea's assholes in diplomacy, but they don't just talk—they act."
Clash nationally when needed, but lead with big-picture hands on pan-Asian issues.
Korea's quick aid smeared mud on the U.S. government's face as they hemmed and hawed on compensation.
"Look at Korea jumping in on a non-issue for them. The feds slower than Pyongyang? Ridiculous."
Korea's first-mover left the feds prepping $800 million only to face mockery.
"See them pretending to help just because Korea did? Can't trust whites like that."
The discontent's message was clear.
"Yellow-skins won't trust you anymore. They'll trust Korea instead."
In that climate, could Washington freely tap Asian geniuses?
No easy feat.
"The more they resent, the less you'll trust and use Asian-Americans too."
All the possibilities and growth they could've nurtured? Gone.
How devastating would that be?
Pyongyang sneered at the retreating foe.