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OAKLAND: Police are intensifying their patrols and volunteers are increasing their presence in the streets after several violent attacks on older Asians stoked fear in Chinatowns of the San Francisco Bay Area and tempered the atmosphere of celebration that led to the Lunar New Year.
City officials have also visited the Chinatowns of San Francisco and Oakland this week to address residents’ safety concerns and condemn the violence.
They vowed to combat an issue that has lain dormant since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, but sparked new outrage after two unprovoked attacks were captured on video within days and spread widely online.
In one, a young man pushed Vicha Ratanapakdee to the ground on January 28 while walking in the morning in the Anza Vista neighborhood of San Francisco.
The 84-year-old Thai head hit the pavement and he died two days later in hospital. Prosecutors charged a 19-year-old with murder and elder abuse.
On January 31, a security camera captured a man in a hoodie striking a 91-year-old Asian man in Oakland’s Chinatown, causing him to fall flat on the pavement, narrowly missing a bike rack. .
Police arrested the suspect and said he had assaulted a couple on the same block earlier that day and another on February 1.
In just the past two weeks, authorities logged 18 crimes against Asian Americans in Oakland’s Chinatown, said Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O’Malley.
Community advocates said the attacks have left many older Asians fearful to go shopping for the start of the Lunar New Year on Friday, the most important holiday in several East Asian countries that marks the beginning of the Chinese lunar calendar.
Shops and restaurants are usually very crowded in Chinatowns this time of year, but the pandemic and safety concerns have clouded the festive mood.
“There is a lot of sadness and anger in the community,” said Alvina Wong, director of the Asia Pacific Environmental Network.
“People are nervous and tense and don’t know when the next thing is going to happen. They see what is happening in other cities and it does not stop. “
The recent attacks represent the latest increase in verbal and physical attacks against Asian-Americans since the coronavirus, which emerged in China, reached the United States. Stop AAPI Hate, launched by two advocacy groups to encourage Asian Americans to report such incidents, has documented more than 3,000 attacks to date.
O’Malley said older Asians are targeted because of the stereotype that they don’t report crimes due to language barriers.
His office is investigating whether the attacks were racially motivated and has launched a special response unit focused on crimes against Asian Americans, especially older Asians.
He said his team will focus on outreach and encourage victims to report crimes.
“For many of the older people, it is not in their nature or culture to call the police. Some of them come from countries where everything possible is done to avoid the police, ”said the prosecutor.
“So the more they meet with us and understand our culture, the more people will open up to us about what has been happening to them.”
New Oakland Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong visited Chinatown twice in his first week to build trust with business owners and residents and to let them know about the increased police presence there.
“We want them to feel that they are not alone,” he said.
Meanwhile, the attacks have prompted volunteers to offer to escort older residents to their cars or houses after shopping.
Jacob Azevedo said more than 200 people signed up after he posted on social media the idea of a buddy guard system for residents who feel unsafe walking alone in Oakland’s Chinatown.
They also donated thousands of dollars to help him purchase a personal alarm device that will be distributed to older Asians in the community.
“The only way that we can help people and prevent this from happening is if everyone intervenes,” he said.
Azevedo said he intends to keep the program going “as long as older people don’t feel safe and take advantage of a vulnerable group like that.”
