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Misty
Veteran Poster
Username: Misty
Post Number: 887
Registered: 02-2006
Rating: 
Votes: 2 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, April 15, 2007 - 11:06 am: | 
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Latasha Harlins
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Latasha Harlins (1976-1991) was a 15-year old African American girl shot and killed on March 16, 1991, by Soon Ja Du, a Korean American grocery store owner. The South Los Angeles store, Empire Liquor, was normally staffed by Du's husband and son. However, on the morning of the shooting, Du was working behind the counter because her son had received death threats from local gang members whom he was testifying against in court and her husband was out resting in the family's van. Harlins' death came just 13 days after the videotaped beating of Rodney King by Los Angeles Police Department officers.
In a video captured by the security camera in the store, Latasha Harlins was seen putting a $1.79 bottle of orange juice into her backpack. Du observed this action by Harlins, but did not notice that Harlins had then approached the store's counter with money in her hand.[1] Empire Liquor had frequent problems with shoplifting and burglary, as did most grocery markets in the area. Du confronted Harlins by grabbing Harlins' sweater. Harlins responded by punching Du two times, the second blow knocking Du to the ground. Du then threw a stool and immediately reached under the counter to retrieve a gun. As Harlins turned around and began to leave the store, Du fired and shot Harlins in the back of the head and immediately fainted.[2][3]
Du's husband, Billy Heung Ki Du, heard the shot and rushed into the store to dial 9-1-1. However, it was too late; Harlins was dead.
Du would be convicted of voluntary manslaughter and given a sentence of 5 years' probation, 400 hours of community service, and a $500 fine by Judge Joyce Karlin after the jury in her trial had recommended a 16-year jail sentence.
The incident and sentencing by the court exacerbated already existing tensions between African American residents and Korean American merchants in South Central Los Angeles. Those tensions would prove to be one of the catalysts of the 1992 Los Angeles riots, and indeed the Harlins incident specifically would result in a wave of crimes committed by African Americans against Korean Americans prior to and during those riots. During the course of the riots, Empire Liquor Market was burnt to the ground, along with many other Korean American-owned businesses.
[edit] Facts and trivia
Du's lead attorney during her trial was Charles Lloyd, an African American.
During ensuing years, rapper Tupac Shakur referenced Harlins and her killing in several of his songs.
The incident is believed to be what fuelled the highly controversial song by Ice Cube, 'Black Korea'
[edit] Notes
^ "Slain Girl Was Not Stealing Juice, Police Say Shooting", Los Angeles Times, March 19, 1991
^ "A Senseless and Tragic Killing New tension for Korean-American and African-American communities", Los Angeles Times |
Renata
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Renata
Post Number: 2016
Registered: 08-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, April 15, 2007 - 11:20 am: |
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And I'm willing to bet money that black Los Angelenos will STILL go to an Asian owned store before a black owned one.
They should have left Empire Liquor alone, and burnt the owner's HOUSE down instead. |
Schakspir
Veteran Poster
Username: Schakspir
Post Number: 971
Registered: 12-2005
Rating: 
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, April 15, 2007 - 12:07 pm: |
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Article: and indeed the Harlins incident specifically would result in a wave of crimes committed by African Americans against Korean Americans prior to and during those riots. During the course of the riots, Empire Liquor Market was burnt to the ground, along with many other Korean American-owned businesses.
Me: Retribution isn't necessarily a crime. Maybe in whitey's eyes, yes, but who really cares what he thinks? |
Mzuri
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Mzuri
Post Number: 4516
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: 
Votes: 3 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, April 15, 2007 - 12:54 pm: |
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Misty - I'm curious to know why you would post about an event that happened years ago as if it's a current news event. Is this news to you? Or is your purpose to give the rest of us a history lesson?
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Misty
Veteran Poster
Username: Misty
Post Number: 888
Registered: 02-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, April 15, 2007 - 04:56 pm: |
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i was just now hearing about it on another messageboard and thought i'd post it. |
Mzuri
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Mzuri
Post Number: 4523
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, April 15, 2007 - 05:31 pm: |
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Oh. I had a deja vu moment when I read your subject line. I come here for the latest news before I even check Drudge lately  |
Fortified
Regular Poster
Username: Fortified
Post Number: 475
Registered: 04-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 16, 2007 - 02:09 pm: |
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Good, I'm glad they burnt down that store! |
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