Last updated on November 22, 2022
With the recent events concerning the violent crimes against people of Asian ethnicity, many Asians (especially of ones from East Asian descent) are afraid of the public. Such actions drastically increased in March of 2021 and ranged from assault to murder.
As a Korean-American, I feel scared and horrified for myself, other Asians, and the victims of these violent acts. I see articles depicting the events of how the elderly are being attacked by the young and old and I feel so ashamed and enraged at how people would decide to harm our elders. I hear stories of young women being kicked and punched in public places, and as a woman, I feel terrified that I might be the victim of the next story. As a Korean, I’m increasingly afraid of the public. Wavering stares no longer pass my attention, but they instead force my heart to start racing. As an American, I am ashamed of how people are acting. I believed from America’s past history, such attacks toward a specific race would no longer happen. However, I see women, men, the young, and the old, but all of the Asian descent being harassed and harmed all across the nation.
When asked about his thoughts on all of this hate, my friend, Brian Lee, emphasized his frustration. He could not understand why this hatred suddenly spiked most recently instead of the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak since many assaulters justify their actions by blaming Asians for the COVID-19 outbreak.
I decided to ask a respected adult for his view and he mentioned politics. He believed former President Trump’s failure to be re-elected led many of Trump’s MAGA followers to direct their hatred toward Asians. He also mentioned his disappointment and frustration toward the public when bystanders merely witnessed events without acting.
When a 65-year-old woman was kicked to the ground and was stomped on, bystanders watched through a window and closed the door, almost as if those bystanders wanted to be disassociated with the event. However, the public has seen their refusal to act. And instead of being disgusted by the assaulter, I am more disgusted by the bystanders who decided to just watch without helping. Personally, this illustrates what society and our concept of “inclusion” have become. The public has become people who would stare at wrongs and turn a blind eye to this racist hate for Asians.
The public has to change. We need to change.
#StopAsianHate
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