Anti Asian Hate attacks

By Charlotte Farrell

Until recently, there haven’t been many headlines about anti Asian hate or attacks. However, hate towards Asian Americans has been spiraling in the United States recently. The most likely reason is that people think that because the coronavirus originated in China, Asian people are at fault for it. In the beginnings of the pandemic, the coronavirus was allegedly called the “China virus” or the “Kung flu virus” by President Donald Trump, a racist phrasing against Asian people. 

“I think that the recent hate crimes against AAPI are despicable, and wrong. It's really horrifying and sad that in the world we live in, people are murdered and beaten for the way that they look. It's an unfortunate reality, but we as a society have to counter this needless hate, and stand up against these hate crimes against Asians.” says 8th grader Maisie Morrison.

Attacks of Asian Americans have risen in the past weeks, killings, shootings and assaults. The Atlanta spas shooting killed 8 people, 6 of them Asian. An old Asian man was riding the subway when he was called a racial slur and punched in the face. More attacks followed: An Asian woman was thrown on the ground, a second was hit in the face with a pipe, a third was punched twice for attending a Asian support rally. Specifically in Sunset Park, or Chinatown, where there is a larger population of Asian people, and there are more attacks there, as well. 

“Asian hate has made me very upset, but especially since my dad’s side of the family is Asian, it’s hard to see what has been happening to the community, and I worry about my family.” says 8th grader Delaney Maniago.

These sorts of attacks have left a mark of fear and vulnerability in the eyes of Asian people, making many of them fear for their safety when they go to the grocery store or go on the subway. While police are focusing on investigating suspects and victims to see if these crimes were anti Asian hate crimes, they struggle doing so. 

The US government justice system was never good at uncovering hate crimes, and while they are more and more attacks are being committed. This is especially hard because anti Asian hate is not very familiar, or very recent until now. One time dates back all the way to when President Franklin Roosevelt ordered that all Japanese people live in internment camps during WWII, due to fear and hate, similar to now. There was also the Chinese massacre of 1871,  the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882 by President Chester A. Arthur, the Rock Springs massacre of 1885, the murder of Vincent Chin in 1882 and 9/11 inspired hate against  people of South Asian descent (2001). All of which are deeply disturbing but very scattered and unconstant. 

Though identifying if something is a hate crime or not, (ex. having the attacker harm someone just because the attacker may be a lunatic or sadist) recognition needs to be happening in showing that these constant crimes against Asian Americans are indeed hate crimes, and they need to be stopped. 

Some ways that leaders are already making a stand is how rallies are being assembled, speaking out and writing about it. However, other ways by political leaders such as Mayor Bill de Blasio is to increase more policing, or in his words: “It sickens me, and it angers me, and we will deal with it aggressively,...I want everyone, in every way you can, to help support our Asian-American neighbors, speak up for them, help report anything you see.” 

More policing could, damagingly, make people more scared, particularly for black or latino communities who have been harmed by the police before. However, one thing that was mentioned is reporting attacks, which is always a good way to  bring more awareness about these attacks. During the pandemic and before, there have still been attacks on all different sorts of people, particularly towards one's race or how they look. As citizens, we should feel safe to go outside, walk amongst our peers, and not be afraid of getting hurt.