By: Amarilis Rivas
Since the beginning of the pandemic hate and crimes against Asian Americans have vastly increased. There have been many assaults in various Chinatown neighborhoods across the country. Most recently there have been many assaults towards elderly Asian Americans. On January 28th, an 84 year old Asian American man, named Vicha Ratanapakdee was shoved towards the ground while he was taking a walk in San Francisco, two days later he passed away. Antoine Watson, the man who assaulted Ratanapakdee, is now facing charges of murder and elder abuse. In Seattle an Asian American woman was walking in the street when a man assaulted her and then yelled “Asians need to be put in their place”. Another incident occurred in Seattle, were an Asian American couple was at an ATM when a man came up and threatened them with an airsoft pistol and yelled at them “go back to your country”. On February 13th, in Silicon Valley, a woman named Karen Inman spit on a Asian American man and told him “go back to where you came from” while the man ate lunch with his friend. Due to Inman’s heinous and racist actions, she is now being charged with hate crime and battery. In Inman’s mugshot she appears to be smiling, showing no remorse for her disgraceful and xenophobic actions. Connie Chung Joe, the CEO of Asian Americans Advancing Justice, said that many other assaults and incidents against Asian Americans are not being reported, due to fear of the victims. In Los Angeles, police reports show that hate crimes against Asian Americans had a 114% increase, and in New York City there was a 1,900% increase.
During the beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic, former President Donald Trump constantly referred to COVID-19 as the “Chinese virus”. Trumps xenophobic remarks is what is believed to have caused a rise in hate and crime towards Asian Americans. Trump states that the term he used is “not racist at all” because the virus “comes from China, that's why”. Trump's choice of words was misleading because the virus does not come from China, the virus was only discovered in China. Associating COVID-19 with Asians is unethical and racist, it has caused assaults and attacks towards Asians and even caused the death of an elderly man. On February 16th, 2021 in Atlanta Georgia at three Asian Spa massage parlors, a gunman walked in and shot and killed 8 people, 6 of which were Asian American women. The suspect is now in custody and the motive for the shooting is believed to be racially motivated. So far the police have only released the names of 4 of the victims, Xiaojie Tan, Delaina Ashley Yaun Gonzalez, Paul Andre Michaels, and Elcias Hernandez - Ortiz who is currently in the hospital fighting for his life. Asians have been persecuted since the 1800’s when they first immigrated to the United States and have been persecuted ever since. It's important that during these times we stick together and unite to protect the Asian American community and help put a stop towards the violence and xenophobia against them. Racism is a big issue in our country, we must stick together and unite in order to bring an end to it.
Here is what we can do to help put a stop on the xenophobic attacks against Asian Americans :
Educating yourself and others. It's important that we learn the history of Asian Americans in the United States and their important role in the development of the United States. It also important to correct people when they use the term “chinese virus” and inform them that the proper term to use is “COVID-19” or “Coronavirus”.
Help Raise Awareness. Its important to raise awareness and to inform our friends and family members about the recent rise in xenophobic attacks towards Asian Americans.
If possible, become a foot patrol volunteer. It's important to protect elderly Asian Americans when they are out in the streets or in public places in order to make sure that they are not assaulted.
Here are some links in where you can educate yourself and others:
National Geographic's “America's long history of scapegoating its Asian citizens”
Asian American communities stand up amid string of violent attacks | Nightline
Young, Proud, and Sung-jee by Joyce Y. Lee - issuu ( a children's book if you would like to educate your children or younger family members )
If you would like to donate, here are some sites to where you can:
Sources :
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