San Jose State community members expressed anger and worry over recent attacks, robberies and hate crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the Bay Area during the coronavirus pandemic.
“I’m afraid I might be the next victim in these attacks,” said Kevin Ishida, a radio, TV, video and film sophomore, in an email.
Ishida said the violence is terrifying and disheartening. He believes it’s perpetuated by people who think hate will make them feel better because “they slowed the spread of COVID-19.”
On Jan. 28, 84-year-old Vicha Ratanapakdee, who emigrated from Thailand, was assaulted while taking his morning walk in San Francisco and died two days later from his injuries.
Antoine Watson,19, has been charged with elder abuse and Ratanapakdee’s murder, according to a Thursday Time Magazine article.
This is one of several incidents reported in the Bay Area this year, including the case of a 64-year-old Vietnamese woman who was robbed of $1,000 during the Lunar New Year in San Jose on Jan. 3.
SJSU’s Chief Diversity Officer Kathleen Wong (Lau) believes the crimes are attributed to a rise in xenophobia and are detrimental to the university’s climate.
Xenophobia is the fear and hatred of strangers or foreigners, according to Merriam-Webster online dictionary.
“We know that these incidents affect our campus climate and sense of belonging,” Wong (Lau) stated in a Feb. 15 campuswide email. “Creating an environment that celebrates the richness of our racially and ethnically diverse community is one of our most important priorities.”
She said the university’s mission is to support students, faculty and staff by providing counseling and support for any of their needs.
President Joe Biden signed a Jan. 26 executive order directing the Department of Justice to combat racism and xenophobia against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in more concerted efforts.
“The Federal Government must recognize that it has played a role in furthering these xenophobic sentiments through the actions of political leaders, including references to the COVID-19 pandemic by the geographic location of its origin,” Biden stated in the memorandum.
Ishida said he’s unsure whether these executive actions will be enough to combat racism but hopes results will be seen in time.
Anti-Asian violence has been occuring nationwide since the start of the pandemic in 2020, according to Stop Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Hate, a database created in March to record spikes in violence.
Stop AAPI Hate announced in a Feb. 9 news release that 2,808 incidents of anti-Asian discrimination were reported between March and December 2020.
1,226 of these incidents took place in California, 708 in the Bay Area, 292 in San Francisco and 58 in San Jose.
Communications junior Steven Nguyen said it’s hurtful for him to see and he doesn’t understand the motives behind the attacks.
“Asians are not the cause or element of the coronavirus. We are sick of this and we want this to stop happening,” Nguyen said in a Zoom call. “Those who are doing these crimes are stupid and need a wake-up call.”
The California Asian Pacific Islander (API) Legislative Caucus condemned the violence in a Feb. 11 news conference and reintroduced a 2017 bill to establish a hate crime hotline and special response unit focused on anti-Asian crimes.
“Members of our community are being targeted, they’re being murdered,” said Evan Low, a California State assemblyman and API Legislative Caucus vice chair.
Nguyen said even with executive action being taken, he believes racism and xenophobia are not going away until the community steps up and speaks out.
“We need to take a stand and come together to stop Asian American racism,” Nguyen said. “This is just unacceptable.”
Many have come together on social media platforms to support the Asian community by sharing information and supporting local Asian businesses.
A rally was also held in Oakland on Feb. 14 to promote multicultural healing and solidarity between Black, indigenous, Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders and other people of color.
Nguyen said solidarity among SJSU students is the only way to bring light to the community.
“All this [violence] is brought by hatred and it’s messed up,” Nguyen said. “We need to apply the golden rule and treat others with respect.”
