latasha harlins' death footage

But she realized that to tell Harlins story, she needed to break free of everything Ive been taught about documentary work. She insisted that Latasha was attempting to steal a $1.79 bottle of orange juice. The property later became a market under different ownership. This documentary focuses on how she experienced the society and what dreams and hopes she developed rather than focusing on her death. A video of the incident was given to a local TV station and ignited international outrage. Du hurled a stool at the schoolgirl and when Latasha went to pick up the drink and tried to leave the shopkeeper reached under his counter and pulled out a gun. Longtime African American residents in the area at first welcomed the Koreans but eventually grew angry with them because they refused to hire black employees and often treated their customers poorly. Du was tried and convicted of voluntary manslaughter in Harlins' death and sentenced to time served, five years of probation, 400 hours of community service, a $500 restitution, and funeral expenses. MARTINEZ: That's Christina Rogers and Vester Acoff remembering their sister Latasha Harlins. So for me, its always about creating a secret language for other Black girls, so that they know they are seen, they know that their existence is important, they know that there are other people believing in them, supporting them, rooting for them. He fired at Latasha as she walked away from him from about three feet away from her. When interesting scenes happened in front of them, we felt Latashas spirit with us, she says. And a little girl didn't have enough money. Du reached under the counter, retrieved a revolver, and fired at Harlins from behind at a distance of about three feet (one meter). Im hoping that people really begin to engage with new ways of discussing Black trauma. The short documentary film A Love Song for Latasha (2019) gives some biographical background on the life of Latasha Harlins, drawing on memories from her cousin and her best friend. Rodney was awarded $3.8million in damages from the City of Los Angeles and was found dead in 2012 from accidental drowning. CHRISTINA ROGERS: Latasha was so popular. The jury found Du guilty of voluntary manslaughter, an offense that carries a maximum prison sentence of 16 years. How come she can she just die for one bottle of juice?" She edited the footage herself every night after she shot, to make sure the puzzle pieces she was gathering fit together. Black customers were continuously frustrated by what they saw as rudeness and price-gouging on that part of Korean store clerks, as well as store owners refusal to hire any black employees. But what is justice today is justice always. Latasha Harlins was killed just a few years after her mother was shot dead in a South-Central L.A. nightclub. And I want people to know that Latasha was an honor roll student. One of the businesses targeted was Du's store, Empire Liquor, which was burned to the ground and has never re-opened. BUY THE MOVIE: Latasha Harlins became a victim of these racial tensions on the morning of Saturday, March 16, 1991. Contact Us | Just get on with what you want to do and make the pictures you want to make. Surveillance footage showed the girl was shot in the back of the head. But inclusion and agency means that we as Black folks, folks of color, queer folks, trans folks, are the ones who have power, that are making decisions. dr hsu goals plastic surgery; lorraine moore yukon dead Meron Menghistab on shooting "A Day in the Life of Trevor Noah" for Vice.com, and his strategy for staying busy. Outrage ensued after Du testified in court that she acted in self-defense, and the jury convicted her of voluntary manslaughter, which could have carried a sentence of 16 years. For example, a police officer in Columbus, Ohio, recently killed 16-year-old MaKhia Bryant, and Ive seen people online blaming Bryant for her own death. [32], In 1984, seven years before Harlins was shot, an editorial was posted in a black community newspaper urging a boycott of Korean stores, saying that any black person who went to their stores was a 'traitor'. Karlin added, "this is not a time for revenge and no matter what sentence this court imposes Mrs. Du will be punished every day for the rest of her life." Joyce Karlin, the judge on the trial disagreed and overruled the jury's decision. That is, until April of 1992, when the verdict came down for Rodney Kings assaulters. The judge sentenced Du to 10 years in state prison but the sentence was suspended and the defendant was instead placed on five years' probation with 400 hours of community service, a $500 restitution, and funeral expenses. Advertise | Officer Ralph Spinello told the jury that when he entered the store, Du was sitting in a chair behind a counter and her husband started slapping her at first not so hard, gradually to very hard slaps until I had to stop him . Riots. Left Ken Browar and Deborah Ory; Right John Paul Caponigro, Sundance Institutes New Frontier Lab Programs. From 1986 to 1990, 83 lawsuits against the LAPD for excessive force resulted in a settlement of at least $15,000. Du's husband, Billy Heung Ki Du, heard the gunshot and rushed into the store. Her dad worked in a steel foundary while he mum waited tables to try to make ends meet and provide for Latasha and her younger sister, Christina. Soon Ja Du's store, Empire Liquor, was located at the intersection of West 91st Street and South Figueroa Street, Vermont Vista, Los Angeles,[10] and was normally staffed by Du's husband and son. According to a young witness named Ismail Ali, who was in the store with his older sister at the time, the middle-aged Soon Ja Du saw the girl and immediately yelled, You bitch, you are trying to steal my orange juice.. Everyone knew about the disrespect shown to black customers by the Korean owners, and they tried to avoid it as much as possible. Beverly White and Heather Navarro, Family Gathers on 25 Year Anniversary of Latasha Harlins Death, NBC Los Angeles, March 16, 2016; Brenda Stevenson, The Contested Murder of Latasha Harlins; Justice, Gender, and the Origins of the LA Riots, Los Angeles Review of Books, July 23, 2017; Andrea Ford, Settlement Awarded to Harlins Siblings but Not Father, Los Angeles Times, July 29, 1992. We did our best to pay just about everyone who was a part of the crew, and some people did it out of love, Allison says. During the riots, 63 people were killed with 2,383 hurt and more than 12,000 arrested. Want morePDN? Sophia Nahli Allison at the Oscars last Sunday. After six days of violence, the California National Guard, military and other law enforcement agencies were called in, while the city was placed under curfew. ROGERS: Walk me through the day Latasha died. So often we hear from elders, adults, or community activists, and Im always really curious as to how our children process this moment. African American History: Research Guides & Websites, Global African History: Research Guides & Websites, African American Scientists and Technicians of the Manhattan Project, Envoys, Diplomatic Ministers, & Ambassadors, Foundation, Organization, and Corporate Supporters. Kirk McKoy/Los Angeles Times/Getty ImagesProtesters leave a message that says LOOK WHAT YOU CREATE on day two of the L.A. Family members said they hope Latasha's legacy evolves to be about love and justice. And I want Black girls to see themselves and understand how beautiful and special and just deeply full of grace they are, and how they can be imperfect, unapologetic, and dont have to shift or mold themselves for anyone. Slate is published by The Slate Group, a Graham Holdings Company. All rights reserved. WebLatasha Harlins was killed just a few years after her mother was shot dead in a South-Central L.A. nightclub. In cross-examining Combs and her brother, Lloyd pointed out discrepancies among statements they gave to police the day of the shooting, to the grand jury that indicted Du, and to the jury Monday. Harlins then struck Du with her fist twice, knocking Du to the ground. Riots. When I would watch Moesha or Sister, Sister, it meant so much for me to see my existence reflected. When you go someplace else, youre always expecting things to be better, said her grandmother, Ruth Harlins. WebLatasha Harlins. I wanted it to feel intimate and personal and not invasive at all.. [6], In early 2021, a mural celebrating Latasha Harlins was unveiled in front of Algin Sutton Recreation Center. Harlens was a student at Westchester High School in Los Angeles, California. This may have been the last known photo taken of Latasha Harlins. Footage showed him being brutally beaten. The childrens maternal grandmother, Ruth Harlins, then raised Latasha and her siblings. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. I should say between diversity and agency. But her testimony was contradicted by the statements of the two witnesses present at the time, as well as the store's security camera video, which showed Du shooting Harlins in the back of the head as she turned away from Du and attempted to leave the store. Because we're going to need it," Denise Harlins, her aunt said. Latasha Harlins voice isnt heard in the film. Du, however, grabbed the girl by the sweater, and the two began to fight. Allison, who had only shot documentaries and had no experience directing actors, would first tell the girls what she wanted to show, then simply follow them and observe. "[7] The day of the shooting is depicted in animation, intercut with VHS tape static, to heighten the sense of memory despite the lack of any home movies of Harlins. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. The film captures the essence and showcases the fullness of Harlins, something that reports on her death always failed to do. OBard reads a poem that Latasha Harlins wrote, and cries. WebLATASHA HARLINS CCTV FOOTAGE. Sixteen-year-old Bryant was shot and killed by a police officer in Columbus, It was March 1991 when Harlins had put a bottle of orange juice in her backpack in a store owned by a Korea-born shopkeeper at 92nd and Figueroa Streets. Harlins turned to walk away when Du took out a gun and fired. A Love Song for Latasha was nominated for an Oscar. Kirk McKoy/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images. More , December 10, 2019 And I wish she still had her life and was here. Latasha Harlins was a 15-year-old African-American girl who was fatally shot by Soon Ja Du, a 51-year-old Korean-born female convenience store owner. And it still hurts," Ruth Harlins, her grandmother, said. The hardest part about losing Latasha was not having that older protective sister that I had. The area was recovering from the recent Watts Riots and Koreans began buying businesses because they were inexpensive and there wasnt much competition. By this time, a city-wide curfew had been enforced. Latasha Harlins. Set up your online access now. Latasha Harlins (January 1, 1976 March 16, 1991) was an African-American girl who was fatally shot at age 15 by Soon Ja Du (Korean: ), a 49-year-old Korean-American convenience store owner. And something that was really important to me is, what does it mean to speak to people like her cousin, Shinese Harlins, and her best friends, like Tybie OBard, who were the same age as Latasha? [31] Korean immigrants bought their storefronts in black neighborhoods, specifically South Los Angeles, because the real estate was significantly cheaper than other neighborhoods. Du concluded Harlins was attempting to steal, and did not see the money Harlins held in her hand. The reaction to Harlins killing was quick and bitter. WebAllison chose not to include the footage of Harlinss death taken by the stores camera, which was shown on national news and was later used in the trial of the woman who shot her. Sixteen-year-old Bryant was shot and killed by a police officer in Columbus, Ohio, on April 20, 2021. Harlins, after telling Du she intended to pay for the juice, hit the grocer twice in the face as Du held onto her clothing, the witness said. 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