Anti-Asian hate crimes here spiked in 2021, up 567%. This surge of attacks hurts the victims; it hurts their families.
Decades ago, my 爺爺 (YeYe)—my grandfather—was attacked and beaten from behind in a mugging.
(My YeYe and two of my cousins in Toronto, mid 1960s).
He died before I was born. My dad, my 爸爸 (BaBa), a stoic US Army veteran, didn’t share many stories about his father—but I could feel that he missed him. My YeYe was a strong man: he could hammer a nail into the wall with one stroke, well into his 70s. But YeYe never fully recovered. These violent attacks against our families stay with us long after the visible wounds are no longer visible.
Anti-Asian attacks started well before YeYe’s beating. Look at the abuse Asians suffered in 1877. It started when we first arrived. And it’s going on today.
Anti-Asian verbal and physical attacks have jumped nationwide. Every time I hear the stories—every time I read the spiking numbers—I have to steady myself, I have to hold back the emotions. Whose grandfather is in the news today?
The Community Will Speak Out
This weekend we will memorialize the anniversary of the too-soon death of elder and grandfather Vicha Ratanapakdee. He died from his injuries after he was knocked to the pavement a short walk from his home. It was caught on video.
An Asian Justice Rally to remember the passing of Grandpa Vicha, and to remember the countless other victims who have lost their lives to anti-Asian hate crimes, happens on Sunday.
So, join me on Sunday, January 22, 2022, at 11 am at Terra Vista and Encanto Ave., in the Anza Vista neighborhood. We will walk in Grandpa Vicha’s last footsteps.
When I am at the rally Sunday, I will be Taking a Stand Against Hate. And I will feel less alone doing it, together with my extended San Francisco family.
But not just us. This movement is nationwide:
San Francisco
Atlanta
Chicago
Los Angeles
New York
Philadelphia
#AsianJusticeRally. It’s a national concern.
Last year there was no justice. No justice for the family of Grandpa Vicha.
And no justice for Rong Xin Liao jump kicked off his walker.
Why the Latest Anti-Asian Violence?
These attacks against Asian Americans may seem isolated, but they aren’t. They are part of a trend of anti-Asian sentiment. Before unprovoked physical attacks, there is hate speech. Anti-Asian rhetoric gives way to anti-Asian violence.
Our own Board of Education normalized it. Asians have been “othered” again and again. Asians have been falsely blamed again and again. It’s happened at meetings again and again. Commissioner Alison Collins called us “house n*****rs.” She called us “white supremacists.” She called us “racists.” She called us “segregationists.”
Board President Gabriela López applauded her. And the other five Commissioners remained silent. No wonder there is an uptick in anti-Asian violence. The bullying is real. It’s here still in San Francisco. 1877, 2021.
I have spent way too much time documenting the Board’s anti-Asian misdeeds.
This is soon the Year of the Tiger. This rally shouldn’t need to happen. This Recall shouldn’t need to happen.