[ad_1]
TORRANCE, California – It took nearly a year, a couple of hate-filled incidents on tape and several community rallies, for Filipino racist abuse victim Kayceelynn Salminao to finally see her attacker in court and get justice.
Lena Hernández, the so-called “Torrance Karen”, reached a plea deal in a Torrance court on Tuesday morning, months after she was caught on video verbally assaulting another Filipina, Sherry Bulseco, and an Asian-American family. in two separate incidents at a local park last June.
Those two incidents shed light on an October 2019 incident in which he physically attacked Salminao at a local shopping mall, after Hernández verbally harassed another person.
Despite these viral incidents, Hernández was only charged with one battery case in the Salminao incident.
Just in: Lena Hernandez “Torrance Karen” enters into an unopposed plea deal, sentenced to 47 days in prison, probation and anger management. Despite anti-Asian threats in a couple of viral videos, Hernández was only charged with assault on FilAm Kayceelyn Salminao. pic.twitter.com/BpHfDwooGA
– Steve Angeles (@StevieAngeles) October 6, 2020
An emotional Salminao read her statement and spoke about the incidents of Bulseco and the anonymous Asian family while requesting the maximum penalties.
“It was a bit stressful to finally see her again after almost a year, but I was very happy to finally be able to say my victim statement, express my point of view and tell you how it really happened and that I could speak not only for me, but for All the other victims, it was empowering. Because I not only represent myself and the victims, but I also represent the community of all Asian Americans. I am advocating for what should be done. What could be right, “he said.
“I am defending justice and what we got today was very disappointing.”
According to the guilty plea, Hernandez will receive 45 days in prison along with 3 years of probation and 52 weeks of anger management. Instead of community service, he asked for an additional 2 days in custody.
“This sends a message and the message is that our safety as Asian Americans, our safety as women of color, our safety as minorities is valued in 45 days. What kind of message does this send to other perpetrators, other people, other? violent racist ?, that you can just assault someone, that you can push them to the ground and just walk away with a 45-day sentence? “said Sandy Roxas, Salminao’s legal counsel.
“And 45 days does not mean 45 days. Generally, there is 10 percent of the time that a defendant will actually face in custody.”
“However, due to COVID due to her (Hernández’s) claims of being an older woman, it is likely that she will make a book and publish it, which is very discouraging. And we are very unhappy with what happened today and disappointed with it. system.”
With anti-Asian incidents on the rise in the United States, and with only a few prosecutions putting pressure on victims, Roxas and the community believe that more must be done to protect Asian Americans and other minorities.
“More needs to be done to hold people accountable. They can’t keep wandering the streets thinking it’s okay to yell racist slurs, accuse someone of not being in the right country,” Roxas said.
Hernández did not speak to reporters outside the courthouse and remained silent during court proceedings. As community members demonstrated outside, she walked quickly to her car as they tried to confront her.
Hernández is due to return to court on November 10 when his sentence will begin.
Torrance, California, Torrance Karen, Lena Hernandez, Kayceelynn Salminao, Sherry Bulseco, Racism, Racist Attacks, Filipino-Americans, Fil-Ams, ANC
[ad_2]
