Jared Evan
Oakland Police say they are increasing patrols in Chinatown after over 20 robberies and assaults in the neighborhood in recent days. Almost all of the attacks seem to be targeting Asian Americans, especially elderly victims.
The Cut reported As the Queens Chronicle noted back in September, NYPD data showed that there has been a 1,900 percent increase in anti-Asian hate crimes in New York City in the past year. U.N. report also found that there were more than 1,800 racist incidents against Asian Americans in the United States over an eight-week period from March to May 2020.
Some reporters indicate Asians are being targeted because of COVID’s Chinese origins, however as writer Colin Flaherty has documented, violence against Asians is common in inner cities, most frequently the assailants are African American and the motive is usually a stereotype of Asians being perceived as “weak” or easy targets for violent robberies. This is an underbelly of racism, rarely discussed in an environment where racism and social justice have become a focal rallying point across America.
Vice President Harris briefly addressed this grave issue of racism against Asians in America. She Tweeted:
“Hate crimes and violence against Asian Americans and Asian immigrants have skyrocketed during the pandemic,” Harris tweeted. “That’s why our Administration has taken actions to address these xenophobic attacks. We must continue to commit ourselves to combating racism and discrimination.”
Newsmax reported:
Videos of recent attacks on older Asian Americans in California’s Bay Area spread across social media. They included one of a 91-year-old man being pushed from behind and landing facedown on a street in the Chinatown neighborhood of Oakland, and another showing 84-year-old Vicha Ratanapakdee violently shoved to the ground in San Francisco.
Ratanapakdee later died, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
Below are several disturbing videos
WARNING: this video is hard to watch. Another shocking attack in Oakland’s Chinatown. 8th and Harrison Streets. Outside the Asian Resource Center.
20+ robbery/assault incidents in the neighborhood according to the Chinatown Chamber president. https://t.co/9bo9PzuqiL pic.twitter.com/8h6dkNA1TG
— Dion Lim (@DionLimTV) February 4, 2021
??-???? ??? ??????? ????????? & ??????: Not again!
⠀
A young woman told me her grandma was robbed while coming home from the bank February 3rd around 11am. 6th Avenue and International Boulevard in Oakland. pic.twitter.com/eqbDPL3jbx— Dion Lim (@DionLimTV) February 8, 2021
SENIOR ATTACK: I’ve been so consumed w/the robbery in bumper-to-bumper traffic (see previous Tweet) & now a breaker in Pac Heights…
I haven’t had time to share video of this 79-year old attacked at Kitterage & Turk on 2/4.
(The sound is awful.)
Call SFPD 575-4444 w/info pic.twitter.com/KVnIkbT4An
— Dion Lim (@DionLimTV) February 7, 2021
LATEST: Horrific video of fatal attack Thursday on 84-year-old Vicha Ratanapakdee. Details -> https://t.co/6Z5rqIQpcZ pic.twitter.com/PJnuuWgE3Y
— Evan Sernoffsky (@EvanSernoffsky) February 1, 2021
(2/4) watch the man in the doorway enter this Chinatown shop & rob a customer.
One of “at least 20 incidents” according to Oakland Chinatown’s Chamber president. pic.twitter.com/2LA0LosvnE
— Dion Lim (@DionLimTV) February 1, 2021
TERRIFYING: Two suspects w/semi-auto guns force a man into a home in Oakland.
Happened 1/29 at around 1:40pm. No injuries but cell phones, cash, 3 firearms taken.
Oakland Police are using this video as part of their investigation. call 510-238-3326 w/info. (1/3 pic.twitter.com/l6MzEIvVJ9
— Dion Lim (@DionLimTV) February 2, 2021
There have been at least 20 robberies & attacks in Oakland’s Chinatown in the past couple weeks according to the president of the Chinatown chamber.
Here, business owners chase after 3 suspects who stole from their store.
(1/4) pic.twitter.com/c7CntcuZ27
— Dion Lim (@DionLimTV) January 31, 2021
