China News Service, May 24th. For more than a year, cases of discrimination and hatred against Asian groups have occurred frequently in the United States.
Recently, the "New York Times" published a statement that in order to protect themselves, some Asian Americans had to change their lifestyles, travel with pepper spray, alarms and stun guns, and spontaneously organize private patrols.
But is this series of defenses really effective?
Under the cloud of racial discrimination, where will Asian Americans go?
The picture shows a screenshot of the New York Times report.
According to the report, in the spring of 2020, Annie Chen, who works in the human resources department, read a report saying that just a few blocks away from Midtown Manhattan, where she lives, an Asian woman The woman was punched in the face by a stranger and verbally abused.
Five days later, 25-year-old Anne Chen bought pepper spray for the first time.
The public's perception of Asians suddenly changed, which shocked her.
She said that she just wanted to protect herself.
"I think if others have any anger or frustration—and you walk around and look like Asians—they might take you out."
According to data from the non-profit organization "Stop Hatred of Asian-Pacific Americans", in the past year, more than 6,600 anti-Asian hatred incidents have been recorded across the United States.
Data from the Center for the Study of Hatred and Extremism show that compared with other major cities, New York has the largest increase in anti-Asian hate crimes.
In response to this situation, local organizers set up patrols, implemented a volunteer partnership system and other initiatives.
Many Asian Americans have also changed their daily routines, avoiding subway rides, staying vigilant in public, and staying at home as much as possible.
Data map: On April 25, local time, members of the "Public Safety Patrol" spontaneously established by the Asian community in Flushing, New York, United States, and some people conducted defensive training at the community center to improve security capabilities.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Liao Pan
But as more and more New Yorkers get vaccinated, the city is undoubtedly releasing restrictions.
In response to continuous attacks, many Asians are now increasingly arming themselves with personal defense items.
"Everyone is discussing whether to buy pepper spray or stun gun, which is better? Which is safer and which one can you actually use? This is the topic we are talking about now," Anne Chen said.
"I think this illustrates the urgency that people feel," Kenji Jones said.
Several New Yorkers, including him and medical student Michelle Tran, raised funds to distribute personal defense equipment in Chinatown and Flushing, Queens.
On March 31st, 23-year-old Jones sent out a donation appeal on social media.
He said he raised more than $18,000 in three days.
In April, he distributed nearly 3,000 cans of pepper spray and more than 1,000 personal alarms.
In another gifting event, he distributed related items in less than 20 minutes; last weekend, in an event in Chinatown, thousands of sets of equipment were distributed, including self-defense key chains, whistles and more pepper spray.
According to the report, in New York State, it is legal for adults who have not committed a felony or personal assault to carry pocket-sized pepper spray, as long as it meets the regulations of the State Department of Health.
Sales are limited to authorized dealers, and customers can only buy two cans at a time.
In the month after the Atlanta Spa shooting, the sales of pepper spray in Esco's pharmacy in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood increased eightfold.
In that shooting incident, a gunman killed 8 people, 6 of whom were Asian or Asian American women.
Danny Dang, the owner of Esco Pharmacy, said that 90% of spray buyers are Asian.
For 36-year-old reporter Arthur Bramhandtam, pepper spray has also become another thing on his checklist when he leaves the apartment.
"You have to bring your keys, your wallet, your iPhone-I have to bring pepper spray now, this is a habit," he said.
Tan Yuyan and Annie Chen both believe that pepper spray is a last resort. However, they are also worried that the spray cannot be used effectively. Therefore, other precautions have been taken to minimize the possibility of using spray.
Hyesu Lee, a 42-year-old illustrator living in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn, also said that even if she started carrying pepper spray recently, she still plans to enroll in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu courses.
Since English is her second language, she feels more dangerous, worrying that her accent might make herself a target.
Data map: On April 4, local time, an anti-hate Asian parade was held in New York. After tens of thousands of people gathered at Foley Square in Manhattan holding slogans, they marched across the Brooklyn Bridge to Cadman Square in Brooklyn.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Liao Pan
Two non-profit organizations, the Asian American Alliance and the Anti-Violence Education Center, have joined forces to provide self-defense training courses.
Joo Han, vice chairman of the Asian-American Alliance, emphasized the need for more grassroots community projects, adding that she has noticed that more and more Asians are buying guns.
"When people feel they have no choice, they think they must use extreme means to protect themselves," Han Zhu said.
Li Hye-soo also doubted that she might never be accepted by the United States, and considered leaving the city where she has lived for more than ten years and returning to South Korea.
she says.
"I don't want to believe that this kind of thing will happen to myself-but it is possible."
Faced with these difficulties, many Asians feel exhausted physically and mentally after experiencing an already stressful year.
“I don’t know what they saw when they were looking at us, and let them attack us like this,” said Florence Doo (sound), a resident at the Western District Hospital of Mount Sinai, despite taking precautionary safety measures. She said that she had been cross-examined twice in public and was regarded as a "scapegoat" for the new crown virus.
Regarding the deeper issue of racism, pharmacist Danny Deng gave this answer: "Is pepper spray really the solution? I don't know."