Anti-Asian prejudice lingers in New York after two years

Around two and a half years into the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States has experienced a spike in infections and fatalities, as well as an outbreak of prejudice and hate crimes against minority groups, notably the Asian-American population.

Following the apparent random yet violent murder of a young Korean-American woman in a Chinatown apartment here in February, mourners gathered around a tree outside the residential building where Christina Yuna Lee was stabbed to death, placing flowers, candles, photos, and cardboard signs condemning anti-Asian hatred.

While the shock of Lee’s death had yet to wear off, mourners were upset that the improvised monument for Lee had been damaged on many occasions.

Just three days after Lee’s death, the temporary monument was damaged in the middle of the night, and it was attacked again in broad daylight.

“So five times in a month, and it just keeps getting worse. It’s heartbreaking “Lee’s previous landlord, Brian Chin, said to Xinhua.

A guy kicked at the flowers, candles, and placards in the early hours of March 2, according to video recordings from a surveillance camera given by Chin, while another person ripped down a cardboard sign approximately a week later.

Every attack on the memorial is anti-Asian, according to Chin, whose family immigrated to the United States from China over 60 years ago.

“They’re doing it out of hatred. They had seen her image. They notice the flowers and candles, and “Chin elaborated.

Lee’s sad death came after a man pushed Asian American Michelle Alyssa Go over subway lines at Times Square station on Jan. 15 and the killing of Yaopan Ma in a racially motivated attack in East Harlem in January.

“Her (Lee’s) killing is part of an alarming pattern of unregulated, cruel violence against women, mostly women of Asian ancestry and women of colour, that can no longer go unpunished,” one of Lee’s family wrote in a Gofundme.com appeal.

Chin, a middle-aged guy, has experienced unparalleled depression as a result of the ongoing anti-Asian hate crimes.

“I think everyone is terrified right now that they will be attacked on the subways, on the streets, and then the guy will be out on the same day,” he added.

According to Chin, this surge of anti-Asian animosity began with highly fiery words claiming COVID-19 as the so-called “Chinese disease” or “Wuhan fever.”

Kathleen Flynn-hui, whose husband is originally from Hong Kong, claims that anti-Asian prejudice impacts her family on a daily basis.

“We’ve always felt it, but not as intensely as today,” Flynn-hui said, adding that she “had to deal with discrimination against my husband since he was Asian the entire time.”

According to Chin, the situation is deteriorating as a result of politics, the influence of new legislation, and the new Manhattan District Attorney’s liberal position on crime.

“The officers are doing their job, but they arrest them and let them go the next day because of the laws,” Chin explained.

Chin added that far tougher legislation are required right now to safeguard the Asian population, and he urged lawmakers, the city council, and the mayor to take stronger and more enforceable measures.

The Committee of 100, a non-profit leadership organisation of prominent Chinese Americans, recently called on US elected officials, law enforcement, and responsible media to immediately address racism, discrimination, and violence against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders with actionable and concrete results.