Asian Hate Crimes
Lilia Shahal '23 OP-ED Editor
ATLANTA, Georgia, March 16, 2021 — 8 people, six of them being of Asian descent, were killed at three Atlanta-area spas and massage parlors. 21-year-old gunman Robert Aaron Long was charged with eight counts of murder; however, the Atlanta Police Department claimed that the bout of fatal shootings was not a hate crime nor racially motivated. Contrarily, Asian Americans and their fellow allies disagree, citing that the violence was deliberately aimed toward Asian American women. The names of these women were: Daoyou Feng, Xiaojie Tan, Delaina Hyun Jung Grant, Suncha Kim, Soon Chung Park and Yong A. Yue. Xiaojie Tan would have been turning 50, and was deprived of the chance to celebrate an age landmark merely because of a man that was fueling his sex addiction and was having a “bad day.” All loved ones of the victims were left to grieve for their losses; losses who were all mothers, daughters, sisters and aunts.
These tragic shootings ensued after the culmination of various Asian-targeted hate crimes. One of the actions that Asian Americans wish to see in response is proper data collection of reported hate crimes. In an effort to show the distinct pattern connecting these acts of violence, an advocacy group called “Stop AAPI Hate” made it possible for individuals nationwide to report Asian hate crimes — anywhere from verbal harassment to being coughed or spat on. It received more than 3,800 reports of hate crimes this past year, including a 61-year-old Filipino-American who was slashed in the face with a box cutter while on a New York subway train. An 84-year-old Thai immigrant died after being pummeled to the ground during a usually peaceful morning walk. An 89-year-old Chinese woman was physically assaulted and set on fire. This chain of events conspicuously reveals the horrifying reality of xenophobia and racist bigotry in America. The rise in Asian hate crimes is not totally unexpected. In fact, the Federal Bureau of Investigation had cautioned at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic that it anticipated an increase in hate crimes against citizens of Asian descent. This warning is, in part, due to the racist terms that have been tossed around such as “Kung Flu” or “China virus,” scapegoating Asians as the cause of the pandemic. In particular, Asian women have faced scrutinization during this difficult year. However, this rise in crimes against Asian women has a long history in America. The Page Act of 1875, for instance, historically hypersexualized and undermined Asian women by systemically prohibiting them from immigrating to the United States — a decision made on the presumption that they were prostitutes. During wartimes, American soldiers took advantage of several camptowns that had Asian sex workers. Therefore, this correlation between the male gaze and the bodies of Asian women has always been present in society. The Atlanta shootings are a tangible and morbid demonstration of this concept — the manifestation of Long’s proclaimed sex addiction through killing Asian women depicts the dehumanization of the victims and their bodies. Stop AAPI Hate recognizes that 68 percent of the reports came from women. Aside from the rally, Trish Nhan, a senior at Howard and a member of Howard’s Asian Student Association, personally acknowledges this misogyny. “[Robert Long] says it's a sexual problem, but it’s been an issue for a long time — people fetishizing Asian women,” Nhan shared. “Maybe it is mental illness, maybe it is other things, but ultimately it comes down to how they were brought up or what they have learned in their past. If they choose not to open up their minds to learn new things then obviously they are going to resort to [violence].” The Atlanta shootings have shook the Asian community with many parents reluctant to send their kids to school and workers weary of public transportation. The likelihood of loved ones getting hurt becomes even more palpable when the danger hits close to home, such as the burglaries that took place in Columbia, Maryland. In February, six Howard County restaurants were broken into, with four of them being Asian-owned. These restaurants included Urban Hot Pot, Kung Fu Tea, Bonchon and East Moon Asian Bistro. Furthermore, these series of robberies occurred during the beginning of Lunar New Year, a time of family gathering and celebrating the new year as well as honoring family ancestors. To begin the Chinese New Year with such a hate-based chain of events makes the situation even more disheartening. Individuals all over the nation have gathered together to stand in solidarity and condemn the violence against Asian Americans. Locally, hundreds gathered in Columbia Lakefront to rally as well as honor the victims that passed in Atlanta. Americans of all ages, backgrounds and stories held posters reading “End Racism” and “Hate is a vicious virus.” The energy that radiated from the crowd was one of passion, anger and grief as everyone listened to the string of speakers ranging from Jean Xu, Founding President of Chinese American Parent Association of Howard County, to local Howard County high schoolers. With allies from Jewish, Black and Muslim communities, the event was inspiring and called for change. Michael Zhao, a senior at Atholton High School and speaker at the rally, powerfully asserted, “I want all students in Howard County, including the 15,000 students of Asian heritage, to take action. Our society is broken and the responsibility of fixing it cannot be pinned solely on the adults who see the issues. So don’t just ask for change. Be that change.” In current times where youth can invoke so much change in society, this message is especially important since young voices ultimately shape what the future will look like. Kai-Lin Yu, a junior at Atholton High School and president of Atholton’s Asian Student Union, shares that, “the thing about [attending Asian Student Union regardless of race] is you are opening up doors to people and embracing different cultures.” Therefore, small things like supporting classmates and friends that are a part of the Asian community make a lasting impact in showing solidarity. The past year has been a challenging year for the Asian community, yet individuals are still finding ways to make their voice heard and advocate for change. Their hard work and determination has clearly been heard worldwide and manages to spread everyday — all in an effort to educate others about their struggles, history and false prejudices. |
COLUMBIA, MARYLAND MARCH 24, 2021 — Howard County residents gather at Columbia Lakefront to rally against racism towards Asian Americans and honor the lives lost at Atlanta shootings. BRIAN KRISTA/BALTIMORE SUN
|