Let’s Talk: Hate Crimes Against Asians

By Gena Sysavath
Web Content Contributor

I generally do not like talking about anything serious because it dampens the mood. However, I believe there should be more awareness on this topic.

I do not want to disregard racism towards any other races, there is racism everywhere and it just should not be the case. America is a melting pot; the United States has many cultures and traditions running through its vein, it would be nice if everyone accepted that.

Sadly, that is not the case.

I notice, especially since the COVID-19 outbreak, that there is blatant racism being spread to the Asian community. After Donald Trump labeled the pandemic being caused by the “Chinese-virus,” there’s been a rise of assault and racism towards Asian Americans.

Yet, I have not seen many news outlets or articles about hate crimes. Honestly, I think I would not really know anything about it if I wasn’t an Asian American. I really only know about the crimes because many Asian-based media will report the hate.

There have always been racist stereotypes towards Asians; I mean every Asian obviously has “chinky eyes” and is named “ling-ling.”Asians have to be very smart and know martial arts. Right? No.

It is not funny. It’s racist stereotypes like this that causes harm to a very large and vast community. There are several different cultures in Asia and to generalize and make fun of any culture is awful.

Several groups of people have immigrated to the United States in hopes of gaining a good life for themselves in the country that claims to be the “land of the free.” People leave their home country with less than a dime and without knowing any English. Everyone just wants to live and be happy.

I’m going to share actual events and doings that have been done towards Asian Americans and I want to know how any of this seems funny because it’s not. It’s scary.

Knife Attack

This attack happened very early on during the beginning quarantine. A Burmese family in Midland, Texas was shopping at Sam’s Club and was attacked because a man thought they were “Chinese and infecting people with the coronavirus.”

The victims were a father and his two young sons, ages 2 and 6. They all got their faces slashed by a racist man. Imagine the fear and trauma this family went through because one man decided that it was his duty to be uneducated.

Report: Sam’s Club stabbing suspect thought family was ‘Chinese infecting people with coronavirus’

Trapped and Mocked

This made me sick to my stomach. This elderly man was mocked while he was getting robbed and assaulted. He is clearly upset and afraid, but all he gets was a group of people hassling him. It’s disgusting how this group thought it was hilarious to harass an elderly man.

All he wanted to do was collect recycled goods, he was not in any shape or form trying to harm anyone around him. Yet, he had to fear for his life, only because he was Asian.

New York Post Article Here

Vicha Ratanapakdee

Ratanapakdee, an 84-year-old man was pushed to his death. He was slammed to the ground by Antoine Watson, a teenager who is now pleading not guilty to elderly abuse and murder.

This man suffered several injuries before his death because of one push. The attack was unprovoked.

Watson’s only defense is that he had not meant to kill Ratanapakdee, yet he still thought it was okay to push the elderly. A family lost an important member of their life and they deserve justice.

Yahoo Post Here

News articles that highlight the abuse:

The Washington Post

The Cut