"We hope and strongly urge our governor to work with us"
Over 800 hate incidents were reported by Asian Americans in California during the Coronavirus pandemic.
The data, collected by Stop Asian American Pacific Islander Hate, was presented by the group in a virtual news conference.
Stop AAPI Hate is calling on Gov. Gavin Newsom to fund measures to protect Asian Americans.
“We believe the governor must include Asian American community representatives on the soon to be established COVID-19 task force to help ensure that the state takes real action to stem racial discrimination,” explained Manjusha Kulkarni, Executive Director of Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council.
“We hope and strongly urge our governor to work with us,” said Assemblymember David Chiu, who is also chair of the Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus.
Many of the incidents occurred in Torrance, where over one third are Asian. A Japanese cookware shop in the area even received a bomb threat in a letter.
Last month Lena Hernandez was caught harassing an Asian woman who was exercising in a park in Torrance. “Get the fuck out of the state,” Hernandez said. “Go back to whatever fucking Asian country you belong in.”
Hernandez was also caught on camera in another incident involving an Asian American man who visited the park with his children on the same day.
Democratic Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi, who represents Torrance, said the city prosecutor will announce if Hernandez will be charged by the end of the week. The prosecutor is reportedly questioning when free speech can become a crime.
City officials have heard “loud and clear that this is a top priority for the large Asian American community and the city of Torrance,” Muratsuchi said.
In related news, 31% of Asian Americans were subjected to Coronavirus racism amid the pandemic.