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Violence against Asian Americans
There have been some cases of violence against Asian Americans recently. Some have been given notable media coverage, while others have not.
The reasons for these differences are addressed by some websites below.
But the ugliness--and indeed gruesome nature--of these incidents share much in common.
* The first is about the case of Annie Le which has garnered significant news coverage recently. Le was a Yale University graduate student who was murdered and stuffed into the wall of a university research building. The police have arrested a suspect named Raymond Clark for the murder.
The website Racialicious talks about the media coverage of the Le's murder. It asks whether the significant media coverage was due to the fact that Annie Le fit the profile of the Attractive Middle Class White Woman that the media focuses on when covering missing persons cases.
* Another case is that of Felicia Lee, who was found murdered in her California home on Sept. 11th. Police have arrested her boyfriend Brian Randone for the killing.
The blogger Disgrasian analyzes why there was significantly less media coverage of Lee's murder compared to that of Annie Le.
* Finally, there has been the case of Asian American students being attacked in Philadelphia. Asian immigrant students at various Philadelphia high school have been subject to various forms of racial harassment from other students including physical beatings, verbal abuse, and a "massive" subway rumble.
These Asian American students have responded with petitions and even staging student walkouts from the schools to protest the administrators' inability or unwillingness to deal with these situations.
The schools have responded to a degree by holding meetings with students, their attackers, and parents, as well as deploying an "elite squad of seven rapid-response school police officers."
Whether this will end the violence remains to be seen.
As one student put it, “They don’t even know you.... They just hit because you’re Asian.”
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"There have been reports that robbers and thieves have focused on Asian Businesses in many areas, including New Jersey, Virginia, and Georgia. Is this a result of the result or racism and stereotyping or all these factors?"
I wouldn't be surprised if anti-Asian racism is involved. The fact that the specifically targeted Asians is probably significant.
There have been reports that robbers and thieves have focused on Asian Businesses in many areas, including New Jersey, Virginia, and Georgia. Is this a result of the result or racism and stereotyping or all these factors?
South Asian Businesses being targeted in Georgia, - http://www.macon.com/778/story/844319.html
Richmond, VA - http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/local/article/ASIA15_20090915-004...
(from Angry Asian Man)
9.21.2009
robbers targeting asian families in new jersey
An alert to Asian American families in the Tri-State area... Police have been alerting community members of recent burglaries targeting Asian households, perpetrated by an organized group of burglars using popular internet search databases to retrieve information about their victims. Here's a letter from the Parsippany-Troy Hills police department, sent to a local Chinese church last month:
The Parsippany Police Department wants you to be aware of recent burglaries occurring in town whereupon Asian victims have been targeted by an organized group of burglars.
It is believed that the burglars use popular internet search databases such as "Zaba," "Anywho" and "AT&T" to retrieve the addresses and phone numbers of Asian Americans with common last names.
Once the suspect has the victim's name and address, they phone the home to see if anyone is there. If there is no answer, the burglars start traveling to the victim's home. Once they arrive, they phone again. If there is still no answer, they knock at the door. If there is no answer at the door, they break in. Once inside the home, the burglars usually target the master bedroom in order to steal jewelry.
These suspects are believed to travel in rented vehicles commonly used by limosuine companies such as Lincoln Towncars. The drivers are usally dressed in suits and the burglars are in the backseat so that they appear to be passengers.
The Parsippany Police Department is urging you to safely store your valuables in a safe deposit box or someplace not easily accessed. Valuables should not be located in bedrooms! Also, be aware of hang up calls coming from Queens, NY or those that display on the Caller ID as "Private." If possible, write down the number of the incoming call. Also, please make every attempt to remove your information from availabity on public search engines. Finally, please be aware of suspicious vehicles in your area. If a vehicle, particularly livery cabs, seem to be traveling slowly through the neighborhood or loitering in the area, do not hesitate to phone the Parsippany Police Department or your town's police department by dialing "9-1-1." Try to give as much information as possible including the vehicle's description, a license plate number, and a description of the occupants, if possible. Do not approach suspect vehicles yourself!
The Parsippany Police Department also conducts free home security surveys for residents of the township. A member of the Crime Prevention Unit will conduct an assessment of your home or business and make proper recommendations to increase security.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me at 973-263-4383.
Thank you.
FOR CHIEF MICHAEL PECKERMAN.
Very truly yours,
Sgt. Yvonne Christiano
Community Relations Unit