ANTI-ASIAN HATE CRIMES
By Vincent Lyn
Amid the pandemic, Asian American people continue to experience racism, violence and harassment. The United States has witnessed a horrifying uptick in anti-Asian hate and violence. Asian people have been spat on, punched, kicked, sprayed with Lysol, called derogatory names and, in other instances, killed, including the recent mass shooting in Atlanta that left eight people dead, six of them women of Asian descent. The anti-Asian violence has been fueled by anti-Asian rhetoric surrounding COVID-19. As the hate crimes continue to rise, community organizations are working around the clock to advance the health and well-being of the Asian community. Since March 2020 the Asian Hate reporting center has tracked more than 3,800 incidents of anti-Asian hate, harassment and violence.
The rise in anti-Asian hate incidents did not come out of nowhere. There has been a long and troubling history of racism and discrimination, ask any Asian person and I’m sure most will have stories to tell you about being ridiculed for the way they look, whether it’s ones slanted eyes or small stature, those with accents who are newer immigrants. Even for those who have been in this country for generations, there’s this general assumption that we’re perpetual foreigners. The pandemic has intensified anti-Asian stigma but hate crimes are not limited to those of Asian descent and are meant to terrorize not just individuals but entire communities.
Myself, a person of mixed-asian heritage born to a Chinese father and British mother brought up in England, I was constantly bullied and called a half-caste (derogatory term used for someone of mixed ethnicities). It’s one of the main reasons why I started studying martial arts.
A recent case of an anti-Asian hate crime was brought to my attention and after looking over the case. I was not only left fuming angry but bewildered at the deplorable and reprehensible behavior of not only the NYPD, but the fabrication of twisted facts written by the NY Daily News in two separate articles dated October 11, 2020 and December 8, 2020.
Links below are for U.S territories only.
I felt it was important to write about, as peoples reputation and lives hang in the balance. Important enough because not only is it a community I care about and have a close affinity to but a family that I care about. I’m enclosing the following press release written by the Attorney Daniel Gotlin representing the family who have been vilified and unjustly charged.
Below is the link to the storefront camera footage that shot the entire incident lasting 13 minutes. What struck me at first was the 911 dispatch call made by Max Ong in fearing for his life, and that the NYPD never even showed up, speaks volumes. The entire incident is a blatant disregard and failure of the police department and judicial system to protect the Asian community.
You be the judge.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vpTmuwadFaypcLQjsZd5F4ErZsemXzDi/view?usp=sharing
Press Release:
March 16, 2021
At about 2.30am on October 10, 2020, 5 young men between 18 and 22 created so much noise in front of 115 Elizabeth Street that one of the buildings owner’s son, Max Ong, was forced to leave his apartment in order to get one of the men to stop urinating on the building. The men had been partying at a nearby building and obviously had been drinking. None of the men were Asian. When Max exited the building he was verbally assaulted with abusive and derogatory language including calling him a “Chink”. One man in particular who had been urinating on the building, refused to leave and became increasingly more abusive and physically and verbally threatening. Despite attempts by his friends who tried in vain to get him to leave, the man continued his verbal assaults.
Greatly outnumbered and fearing for his safety Max called 911 who failed to respond and his brother who also lived in the building. This angered the young men even more and Max was eventually pushed to the ground where he was punched, kicked and beaten by the group. Max’s brother came out of the building and tried to protect Max but his efforts also failed. The incident escalated and the group again attacked and beat Max after calling him “Chink”. One young man in the group ultimately received a serious injury and as a result Max was arrested that night and his brother surrendered at a later date. Despite our request both orally and in writing asking that the men who started this incident be charged with an assault as a hate crime no such action was taken by the police or District Attorney.
Instead they have been given immunity for their conduct. The entire incident is on video and available to those wishing to see for themselves what happened or for those doubting the above scenario. This incident is another example of an Asian hate crime and the failure of both police and prosecutors to protect the Asian community.
Daniel Gotlin
Attorney for Max Ong
Vincent Lyn
CEO/Founder at We Can Save Children
Director of Creative Development at African Views Organization
Economic & Social Council at United Nations
Middle East Correspondent at Wall Street News Agency
Rescue & Recovery Specialist at International Confederation of Police & Security Experts