Warning: This article contains explicit language and derogatory terms that some readers may find offensive or distressing. The content is included for contextual and informational purposes only. Reader discretion is advised.
On Feb. 3, 2023, an Asian man was waiting at a train station. Suddenly, and without provocation, another man approached the Asian victim and began yelling. The victim did his best to defuse the situation, but the suspect became belligerent and eventually spat at the Asian man. The suspect continued to yell at the Asian man, calling him a “chink,” telling him to “go back to China,” “all Chinese are shit,” and that “the US should go to war with China.” The suspect continued, remarking, “I will kill you,” and “I’m gonna shoot you; I have a gun.”
This story is one of the 80 reported anti-Asian hate crimes that occurred in LA County during 2023 according to its latest annual report from Dec. 11, 2024. This is a 31% increase from 2022, and nearly the highest number of anti-Asian hate crimes ever recorded in a year. 2021 had 81 reported hate crimes with many of these perpetrators blaming Asians for the COVID-19 pandemic.
The LA County Human Relations Commission (LAHRC) reported ethnic data on 51 anti-Asian hate crimes—with Chinese (37%), Korean (24%), Asian Indian (12%) and Japanese (8%) as the most affected groups. Other victims included Cambodian, Filipino, Pakistani, South Asian and Vietnamese individuals. The most common offenses were simple assaults, which are attempts to harm another person, but no physical harm was done. There were also multiple incidents of vandalism, intimidation and aggravated assault. 75% of the total cases were classified as violent.
The LAHRC acknowledges that there is likely a significant under-reporting of anti-Asian hate crimes due to linguistic and cultural barriers, immigration status, unfamiliarity with the criminal justice system and other obstacles commonly seen in minority communities. The US Justice Department has reported that more than half of all hate crimes are not reported to law enforcement. LA County suspects that this could be an underestimation.
More optimistically, the rise in reported anti-Asian hate crimes can also signify that the LA community is becoming less tolerant of harassment and violence against Asians, a trend that will hopefully continue to rise. The increasing refusal to normalize hate against various communities can be an important first step in reducing hate crimes in LA County.
While Asian harassment has recently seen an unprecedented increase, this trend is also reflected in other communities. LA County saw a record number of reported hate crimes in 2023 with 1,350 reported incidents, a 45% increase from the 930 incidents reported in 2022. Nearly half of the 2023 hate crimes were motivated by race, ethnicity or national origin. Attacks against religious groups and the LGBTQ+ community also saw a significant rise in 2023. Detailed statistics about these hate crimes in LA County can be found on their 2023 Hate Crime Report.
Unfortunately, UCLA is not exempt from such incidents. Late last year, a UCLA student was attacked on Weyburn Avenue by multiple suspects who yelled homophobic slurs at the victim and attempted to throw wads of paper at the victim. This incident is still under investigation and is being categorized as a potential hate crime.
Hate crimes have a lasting and detrimental impact on victims, and this pain is also reflected on their communities. In a press release addressing their annual hate crime report, LA County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger remarked, “They are an attack on the very fabric of who we are, and the shared values that unite us.” The reports are “more than just data,” and they serve as a reminder for the residents of LA County to continue taking pride in the county’s inclusivity, diversity and shared responsibility to keep those around us safe.
Visual Credit: Kareem Hayes
