OCA Supports the Coronavirus and Child Care Relief Act

Washington, DC - Today, OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates reflects on the murder of Vincent Chin. On this day in 1982, Vincent Chin was brutally beaten during his bachelor party in Detroit, MI. Four days later, he passed away due to his injuries. The two men that beat Chin were auto industry workers, and they targeted Chin under the mistaken assumption that he was Japanese. When this case was taken to court, the two perpetrators of the crime (originally charged with second-degree murder) were charged with manslaughter, paid fines, and served probation with no jail time.

Anti-Asian hate crimes rapidly rose in number during the first half of 2020 due to COVID-19 and the false assumption that the disease disproportionately affects and spreads via Asians and Asian Americans. From the start of the COVID-19 outbreak until mid-June, over 2,000 cases have been reported to A3PCON, Chinese for Affirmative Action, Asian Americans Advancing Justice, OCA, and South Asian Americans Leading Together collectively. Knowing that hate incidents are often underreported, the total number of cases could be much higher.

“We remember the murder of Vincent Chin as one of the catalyst moments that galvanized Asian American activism in the United States. Despite this incident occurring over almost four decades ago, Chin’s murder reminds us that our fight for justice and equity is far from over” states Sharon M. Wong, National President of OCA. “In 1982, OCA fought for justice for Vincent Chin and his family. While we know ultimately he did not get justice from the system, we will continue the fight until the day hate crimes and discrimination are no more.”

If you, your family, friends, or community members have been the victim of a hate crime or incident, please use our hate crimes reporting tool at aapihatecrimes.org.

OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates is a national civil rights organization dedicated to improving the social, political, and economic well-being of Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs). 

###