STATEMENT: Pi Delta Psi Fraternity Condemns Anti-Asian Hate Crimes, Calls for Action to Protect Elders and Seek Justice
New York, NY – This Lunar New Year, a time of celebration and family, the Brothers of Pi Delta Psi Fraternity, Incorporated are deeply concerned about the recent surge in brutal attacks against Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) seniors in our community, and call on elected officials and media to do more to protect our community and bring justice for the victims.
Recently, an 84-year-old Thai American man, Vicha Ratanapakdee, was killed in an unprovoked attack in San Francisco; a 64-year-old Vietnamese American woman was assaulted in broad daylight in San Jose and robbed of $1,000 in cash she had taken out for the upcoming Lunar New Year celebration; and in New York, Noel Quintana, 61, a Filipino American, was slashed in the face with a box cutter while riding the subway.
The deaths have sparked international outrage, mostly on social media, including hashtags #JusticeForVicha and #AsiansAreHumans. Despite this, many have not heard about the news about this anti-Asian violence because the mainstream media does not spotlight our stories. Hate crimes against Asian Americans are on the rise in the U.S, with NYPD data showing that there has been a 1,900 percent increase in anti-Asian hate crimes in New York City in the past year — there were 20 incidents in the first half of 2020 alone, compared to 1 in the whole of 2019.
In solidarity with the AAPI community, Pi Delta Psi Fraternity strongly denounces racist and xenophobic anti-Asian rhetoric, race hatred, and violence, and calls upon our community, elected officials, government agencies, the US Department of Justice, and the national media to do more to make sure that justice is served and that our elders are protected. Pi Delta Psi also calls for increased investment in community safety infrastructure, cross-cultural education, and addressing systemic racism and poverty.
Any individual who has been a victim of a hate crime or has witnessed a hate crime should report these incidents to www.stopaapihate.org. Visit https://www.napaba.org/page/HateCrimeResources for more resources and information on preventing hate crimes.
ABOUT PI DELTA PSI FRATERNITY, INC.
Founded in 1994, Pi Delta Psi Fraternity, Inc. and its over 3500 members seek to bring about Asian-American unity by breaking down cultural barriers amongst Asian communities through upholding and instilling four pillars: academic achievement, cultural awareness, righteousness, friendship, and loyalty. Pi Delta Psi’s mission statement also advocates an increase in education and awareness of Asian cultures as a means of overcoming racism.