as the riots spread, roads between koreatown and wealthy white neighborhoods were blocked off by police and official defense lines were set up around the independent cities such as beverly hills and west hollywood. a korean-american resident later told reporters: "it was containment. the police cut off traffic out of koreatown, while we were trapped on the other side without help. those roads are a gateway to a richer neighborhood. it can't be denied." koreans also said that emergency responders ignored their calls for help.