Why Are People Targeting Asian Americans With Hate?

It is senseless racism

A five-year-old girl and her father were attacked

Another case of racism just happened in Portland, Oregon. A man of Japanese heritage and his five-year-old daughter were visiting from California. They were taking a bike ride on a tandem bicycle in Portland. It was an innocent activity that was hurting no one.

A man came up to them and started to attack the father by hitting him on the head multiple times. He then hit the girl on the head also. She had a helmet on and was able to escape serious injury.

A witness to the attack who came to their aid stated: “It’s just unfortunate someone would do that. This was a bias crime, for sure. He was yelling that ‘You don’t belong in my country, you’ve taken my stuff.’ It was obvious he was angry with them because of what they looked like.”

The 34-year-old assailant was arrested but released. He failed to show up for his court hearing but called to plead not guilty. He was given another court date for which he again failed to appear. He was caught and arrested later.

Hate crimes in Oregon are called “bias crimes,” and the man is being charged on several counts. Court documents indicate that the suspect is homeless and had no previous criminal record.

The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) is a civil and human rights organization which was established in the United States in 1929 to fight against discrimination and racism. They put out a release about the incident.

The Portland JACL Chapter President, Jeff Matsumoto, made the following statement:

“We are grateful for the swift intervention of the people in the vicinity of the attack who represent the true hearts of Portland residents. Like the vast majority of Portland residents, we are appalled at the racist attack that occurred as yet another example of anti-Asian bias and hatred which we call upon all our fellow citizens to condemn and intervene when they see it happening.”

Hate crimes and racism against Americans of Asian descent have escalated in the United States dramatically since the COVID pandemic after Trump and others continually blamed China for COVID. There is no excuse for the racism. There is no reason for it to continue.

BLACK LIVES MATTER, and ALL LIVES MATTER. Racism should not be allowed to exist although it will be difficult to ever be completely free of it because of the nature of man.

The racism and hate that exists in the United States are alarming. There is no excuse for the hate crimes and violence to continue. There should be more love and acceptance in a diverse country.

Thank you for reading.

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