Hass crime examination

Weeks after he had been hit with a vehicle when anti-Asian slope was shouted at him, Aki Mahara still collapsed from his injuries and used a wheelchair to move.

During the examinations of hate crime last month, no suspects in Montebello were mentioned last month, which was called up in Los Angeles and for justice on Thursday.

Maehara, a 71-year-old Vietnam War veteran and professor, who teaches about breed on the East Los Angeles College, said his case was a memory that the anti-Asian feeling never disappears.

“Racial violence and fascist violence are part of American identity, part of American culture,” said Mahara.

According to the latest report on hate crimes in La County, the number of victims of anti-Asian crimes in 2023 reached 80-a increase in 31% compared to the previous year Second highest level that has ever been recorded.

“Unfortunately, I think people think that pandemic because pandemic has passed has this time of increased hatred,” said Robin Toma, Managing Director of the district Commission for human relationships. “I am here to say that this doesn't seem to be the case.”

Hass crime examination

Montebello's police say that Maehara's case has been examined without still identifying suspects.

Sgt. Craig Adams said in his 18 years with the department that he could not remember that someone was attacked because of their breed in Montebello.

“We definitely take it seriously,” said Adams. “It is probably our No. 1 priority at the moment. We only have six detectives with other cases, but we try to throw everything we can.”

The professor suspects that he knows him personally. Mahara said he told the police because he was wearing a helmet at night, who covered his face and thus his race.

Adams said the police “still work at this angle” and tried to find out whether the attacker could have connections to Mahara.

Remember the attack

In LA, the civil rights leaders gathered in the Chinese American Museum and gathered a blue banner with “Stop Anti-Asian violence” when Maehara told the attack on April 29 when he ran his electric bike through Montebello after a night lesson.

Mahara said it was after 10 p.m. when a car approached and prompted him to turn his bike towards the curb. Then he heard someone screaming “F — CH-K” before the car hit him and he was flying in the air before he landed on his face.

“When I lay down with my head and pain in my face, I heard someone screaming: 'Go back to” CH-Kamland “! When I heard your vehicle went east,” said Mahara.

After running on the floor for about half an hour, he made it home and drove a trip with the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Long Beach.

Mahara said that he had suffered a concussion and injuries to the neck, chest, ribs, hips and elbows. On Thursday, his face was still injured and swollen by a broken check. He said he would need tooth transplants.

The massacre from 1871

The organizers said the decision to gather for Maehara in the Chinese American Museum in LA was intended.

The museum is located near the Chinese massacre of 1871, in which at least 18 people or about 10% of the Chinese population of LA were murdered by a mob.

Maehara's case shows that “anti-Asian hatred is not just a thing of the past,” said Connie Chung Joe, Managing Director of the Asian Americans, who is driving justice in Southern California.

Joe said more money has to be invested in the training of the police and the public to recognize anti-Asian hatred, but such resources are reduced under President Donald Trump.

She found that the U.S. Ministry of Justice recently ended several years of granting anti-Asian hate prevention.

“This is a reality check,” said Joe. “The public no longer takes the anti-Asian hatred seriously.”

Some spoke at the rally in his first term against the anti-Asian mood, with the president called the Coronavirus as “kung flu”.

David Monkawa by The Save Our Seniors Network said that Trump promotes an enemy climate again during his second term.

“The White House has become No. 1 of the perpetrators of hate, the perpetrator of discrimination and illegal deportations and disappearance,” said Monkawa. “So when we talk about getting rid of hate crimes, we have to start with it.”

Back to teach

Days after he was hit by a car, Maehara was taught again at the East La College. He said he was determined that everyone who attacked him did not prevent his students from ending their course on the history of racism in the colonial and the US story.

“They don't just attack me,” said Maehara. “They attack my students. They try to prevent my students from completing my class and I will not allow it.”

Mahara said he was grateful for the support he has received since the attack from all over the world. He said Gofundme campaign To other victims of racist violence.

“I ask people to build and form a choir of voices and efforts to pursue justice and environmental responsibility in order to bring everyone to a better morning,” said Mahara.