Has there been an uptick in attacks on Asians in your area since the pandemic?
Recent attacks on Asian Americans (particularly seniors) have made the news in the Bay Area. Some analyses are framing these attacks as being due to COVID, because the Chinese and more broadly Asians in general are being blamed for COVID. I remember earlier in the pandemic hearing about an increase in anti-Asian rhetoric and hate crimes due to the pandemic. I’m not sure if that explains what’s been happening in the Bay Area recently (many of the perps seem to be young black men, which may be its own complicated issue of racial tensions, especially in cities like Oakland). But my question is is this happening outside of the Bay Area too? Have you noticed pandemic-related hatred directed at Asians within the past year?
I also know we have several Bay Area jellies, so I’m interested to hear your take too.
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Not that I’ve heard of. (East coast.)
No violence that I know of where I live, but early in the pandemic there were some idiots who would not eat at Chinese restaurants. I think they were few and far between.
I say this because I belong to a restaurant review facebook group for the local area and people post when they eat places and how the food was and also ask for recommendations. One person posted about a local Chinese take-out and a person commented about not giving the Chinese their money.
One thing to consider, I do think on social media there were some bots and trolls, but this guy seemed like a real resident here. A few people seemed to be ok with his statement, a lot of people were offended by what he said and told him so.
I’m in Florida.
No. I’m in the southeast.
In our town (southern CT) there was an avoidance of patronizing some Asian owned businesses, and some verbal abuse, in the early months. It dies out, then there was an uptick over the holidays.
Bay Area. Recent vandalism in Japantown. I don’t know what might be “normal,” but this wasn’t.
I will be buying Chinese food this week after reading this thread. Japanese next week.
A bit in the lower mainland not so much here in the interior ,most isn’t reported which is sad that these people just take it.
What I have seen on the news is truly disgusting a big young guy sucker punched a Chinese lady half his size.
We just don’t experience that kind of crap here….that I know of.
The local paper has only ever reported one random incident of harassment due to ethnicity, ever. It was of a Muslim woman. It was, like, a week after trump got elected.
Western NY. I haven’t heard anything like that. But I’m a white guy and might not notice.
There is an Asian American musician I support on Patreon. He just published a long essay on the hate crimes being perpetrated on Asians, and the silence from most media surrounding it. I am aware of it from coverage in the San Francisco Chronicle.
No. Not in my area anyway. Central Texas.
East Bay Jelly here. I haven’t heard of anything personally, but then again I haven’t asked and nobody has volunteered the information. But I don’t live in one of the big cities. The town I ls spend most of my time in has a “downtown” that is only about 6 square blocks, and every time I go I see someone I know. There are a few Asians, but most of the Asian community lives in the more urban areas. (That said, my neighbor two doors down is 1st generation Chinese immigrant)
@Caravanfan Now I’m trying to guess which Bay Area city you’re describing. I’ve been to them all. :)
I’m glad to hear this is not happening everywhere. But I’m ashamed of my region right now.
My Korean daughter in law says yes.
Just brought home Beef Szechuan, Pork Lo Mein, Chicken Curry, Pork Fried Rice, White Rice, Wonton Soup and Egg Rolls. So excited. Lol. I bought enough for leftovers so I don’t need to cook much over the weekend.
What does your dinner have to do with attacks on Asians @JLeslie?
@Dutchess_III Up above I wrote I would be giving Asian restaurants my money this weekend, because some people were boycotting Asian restaurants because of hate and discrimination.
Back to the OP, I was not aware of this when the Q was first posted; I have noticed more reports about this in the past few weeks.
I guess it’s another sign of the same xenophobia that lies behind white supremacy, Islamophobia and immigration intolerance.
I wish I knew who was doing the attacks. It sounds gang related, but I don’t know if it is.
@Strauss I have been hearing of more of them too. Not in my county but in NYC and environs. Doubt it has much to do with gangs as it is young men attacking elderly Asians. Part of the toxic white supremacist stew I would assume.
I’m sure this recent shooting spree in Atlanta, even if it turns out that it’s not racially motivated, is sending ripples of angst through the Asian-American community.
I think it is racially motivated.
The guy who was arrested for the 8 murders said it was sexually motivated. He said he was a sex addict and those places were a temptation to him, so he was trying to eliminate them.
@chyna I wonder if there are harsh hate crime laws and punishment in Georgia?
This reminds me of Republicans initially trying to say Charleston was a mass shooting against Christians, because it happened in a church, to which I immediately asked, “was it a black church?” When I first heard about it. Now, they are trying to say this was not a hate crime against Asians. Sure right. While there has been a rash of Asian hate crimes. Going to be hard to convince me it was not racially motivated. Even if it is killing women as a group that is a hate crime in my opinion.
@Strauss I hope we get to know what was on this guys computer and the groups he follows. My husband just said to me, “see this is why I do not wear my Mexico shirts anymore.” He stopped wearing them when Trump became president, and I told him he was being a little paranoid, but look at what has been happening. Something has got to give. I wonder how bad it is going to get.
The racists scum suckers need to be rounded up and deported, or jailed in masse. Desperate situations call for desperate solutions. And I have no problem going Draconian on these scum. It needs to stop.
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