Summary
Highlights
One year after the Atlanta spa shooting, Asian Americans continue to experience widespread fear and pain due to a surge in hate crimes. Incidents like a woman being beaten 125 times in New York highlight the ongoing violence. Nationally, assaults against Asians increased by 260% between 2020 and 2021, with the NYPD alone reporting a 360% increase in incidents.
Countless stories across the nation recount verbal and physical assaults against Asians since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Examples include a woman fatally stabbed in her apartment, a man knocked to the ground and injured, and the senseless death of 84-year-old Thai immigrant Vicha Ratanapakdee. Many elders have been violently attacked.
69-year-old Ein Le recounts being brutally beaten with a bat, reliving the trauma. 85-year-old Rong Sheen Lee suffered severe injuries, including brain bleeding, after being kicked out of his walker. These incidents are part of an alarming surge, with San Francisco police reporting a 567% increase in hate crimes against Asians.
Community leaders, like Jung, attribute the normalized hate to stereotypes peddled by the previous presidential administration, particularly the use of terms like 'China virus.' This rhetoric opened 'Pandora's Box,' making it seem acceptable to mock and attack Asians. Many victims are afraid to speak out, leading to significant underreporting, especially among those who do not speak English.
Jung's nonprofit, Stop AAPI Hate, has tracked over 10,000 hate incidents in 18 months, highlighting the scale of the problem. Celebrities are demanding action and pushing for change. Despite the challenges, victims who find the courage to speak out hope to turn their pain into purpose, aiming for concrete changes to end the invisibility and break down the walls of racism faced by Asian Americans.