Chalmers Campbell

4/13/2022
Contemporary Social Problems

Final Paper Rough Daft

Asian Hate Crimes have consistently been a growing topic during the pandemic. The
pandemic has been attributed to a lot of cultural changes causing the general population to be in
a weird state. “As all Americans grew accustomed to a “new normal” secluded lifestyle and
mounting anxieties about the spread of COVID-19, Asian Americans have been additionally
burdened by heightened racial tension and associated racist microaggressions and verbal
attacks”, (Gover, Harper, Langton 2020). These accounts of aggression are supported by
countless Police and News Reports as well as exasperated protesters showing evidence that there
is a social issue surrounding Asians during the pandemic. “Prior to Covid-19, research has
tended not to focus on hate crimes against Chinese people who, as a group, have often been
referred to as a “model minorities” both in the United Kingdom and the United States. However,
it is clear that world events can influence views of, and attitudes toward, racial groups”, (Gray,
Hansen). However, there have been policies put into place to punish and deter attackers against
Hate crimes, but protestors have been protestors for better legislation than currently presented.
According to extensive research on the topic of Asian hate crimes globally, results show
an increase in the reports of set hate crimes in recent years. We can see very clearly that hate
crimes against Chinese people go up to almost 0.6 hate crimes per 1,000 of the Chinese
population compared with a relatively flat but slightly declining rate of victimization for all other
ethnic groups after January 2020(Grey, Hansen 2020). Grey and Hansen have used data from the
metropolitan police crime reporting information system. They used this data to compare regular
crimes and crimes against Asians during and before Covid-19. One thing from that data is clear,
the rate of violent hate crimes against Asians has risen, affecting the lives of those who identify
as Asian. Hate crimes against Asians have risen and there is numerous evidence that shows that
this has become a social problem, from crime reports to statements from key individuals in the
justice and political systems. A statement from Georgia State Representative Calvin Smyre, “I
don’t want to draw conclusions, but if six victims were Asian women, that was a target”
(Herdon, Saul 2021). This is a quote taken from Calvin Smyre in response to a brutal murder of 6
Asian women and 2 others that happened in 2021. His response and other responses from
representatives may show that there is a general social problem whether it be caused by covid-19
restrictions or not. There could be a plethora of different reasons why Asian hate crimes have
increased but we can see a clear growth in the report of hate crimes during the time of the Covid-
19 pandemic. Ren and Faegin wrote about the pandemic only bringing light to the already weak
social status Asians had in countries of European descent. “Clearly, Asian Americans wearing
face masks are viewed here as diseased and as the source of COVID-19”, “Note that these hate-
crime incidents are often not only racialized but gendered”, “Discrimination against mask-
wearing has been encountered by more people beyond Asian Americans” (Ren, Faegin 2020).
These statements from Ren and Faegin highlight their topic of it being an issue of Asians
seeming weak because of the mask. They believe that Asians in countries of European descent
have always been targets of institutionalized discrimination and that their weak social status
causes them to be targets of criminalized aggression while wearing masks. They give reason for
this statement by explaining how others besides those of Asian descent are being attacked for
wearing masks. The issue with Ren and Faegan’s points is that Asians who gave personal
accounts or those who have given crime reports have clearly stated that they have called them
racial slurs and have blamed the pandemic. Their statements acknowledge that there is a racial
issue that stems from institutionalized racism, but they attribute the reason the crimes are
happening to the fact that the victims of discrimination were wearing face masks. Ren and
Faegan do have points because they researched past legislation that brings light to what may be
another social problem dealing with the backing of institutionalized racism on individual acts of
racism. Gover, Harper, and Langton blame President Trump for his use of chose of words,
“President Donald Trump publicly used the terms “Chinese virus” or “China virus” for COVID-
19 in various tweets between March 16–18, 2020” (Gover, Harper, Langton 2020). According to
them, he caused this by his disregard for his choice of words which incited violence. Lopez and
Rosenfeld’s article focuses on the crime rates during the pandemic. Their findings suggest that
crime rates have gone down during the pandemic. Quote, “The homicide rise coincided with the
emergence of mass protests against police violence after George Floyd was murdered in
Minneapolis on May 25.” (Lopez, Rosenfeld 2020). They find that the rates of violent crimes
have risen but attribute it to the violence surrounding the protest of George Floyd. Grey and
Hansen’s research show that hate crimes have risen according to the police whether that data be
insignificant to crime reports overall, the fact is that lives have been affected by a rise in violent
hate crime against Asians. There is a social issue because key figures have been talking about the
subject. Representative Sam Park, “Regardless of the motive of the perpetrator, we very much
feel like this is an attack on our community. Condolences are good. Words of sympathy are great
— but actions are necessary” (Herndon, Saul 2021). Questions and statements have brought to
light a real social issue that representatives are asked to help solve. Personal accounts of violent
aggression towards Asians further the idea that this was an issue of already existing racial
prejudice against Asian incited by trump and the pandemic. Max Wilson, "A small Asian woman
was just minding her business, walking past a man," Wilson, 20, recalls. "All of a sudden, we
saw him turn around, and he starts punching the back of this poor Asian woman's head and
repeatedly bashing it." Wilson says he and his father "couldn't believe their eyes."
States have passed legislation to try to crack down on Asian hate crimes. Different states
have different solutions, “The NYPD created an Asian Hate Crime Task Force after an increase
in attacks on Asian Americans during the Covid-19 pandemic” (Westhoff, Alsharif 2022). The
task force included at least 25 Asian Americans with the idea of better communication with the
Asian American community. “The department recorded 524 hate crime incidents in the city last
year -- nearly double the 2020 count, according to a department report. That number is the
highest it's been in at least five years, according to the NYPD's archive” (Westhoff, Alsharif
2022). The task force was successful in the goal of protecting the Asian communities, but it
cannot prevent hate crimes from happening. Protesters have shown concern that the current
legislation isn’t enough, “Mr. Martunovich was arrested on murder charges and sent to a
psychiatric ward at Bellevue Hospital Center in Manhattan. He still has not appeared before a
judge, and it is unclear whether he is mentally competent to stand trial.” (Sgueglia, Vera,
Henderson 2021). Martunovich was arrested for killing three Asian males, the issue was that it
was unclear whether they should label the incident a hate crime. This brings light to another
issue, the under-reporting of hate crimes. Hate crimes are a tricky subject in court because it is
difficult to prove something was being done of any prejudice toward race. To combat this Gray
and Hanson proposed a model that shows statistics for hate crimes and which groups are more
likely to experience them during and before the pandemic. Using their data better legislation
could be passed and it would help the task force deter offenders from hate crimes.
Is the current legislation enough? Current legislation doesn’t seem to be enough for some
protestors, they are looking for a clearer anti-Asian hate sentiment addressing the problem. There
has been a lack of real response from the oval office, during trump’s administration, on this
particular matter causing frustration amongst some in the Asian communities. “In addition to the
lack of response from the Oval Office, neither the DOJ nor the CDC has done much to respond
to the pandemic” (Gover, Harper, Langton 2020).