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Washington, D.C. — Today, OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates solemnly remembers the death of Vincent Chin. In 1982, Chin, a Chinese American, was brutally attacked and later died at the hands of two white autoworkers in Detroit, amid a climate of rising anti-Japanese sentiment driven by tensions in the American auto industry.
During the attack, the assailants reportedly hurled racial slurs, including “nip” and “chink,” revealing the deep racial hostility behind their actions. Though Chin was not Japanese, the attackers’ indifference to his actual ethnicity underscored the broad and indiscriminate nature of anti-Asian racism.
Despite the brutality of the attack, the perpetrators were fined only $3,000 and sentenced to three years of probation, serving no jail time. This injustice became a turning point, rallying the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community and fueling a national civil rights movement that continues to resonate today.
“More than four decades later, Asian Americans continue to face discrimination, violence, and scapegoating,” said Thu Nguyen, Executive Director of OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates. “The ongoing surge of anti-Asian hate, sparked by the pandemic and fueled by xenophobic rhetoric and policies from national leaders, echoes the same racism and scapegoating that led to Vincent Chin’s death. His story remains a stark reminder of the consequences of unchecked hate and a call to action to confront racism in all its forms.”
As we remember Vincent Chin, OCA reaffirms its commitment to combating discrimination and violence against our communities. We call on all communities to join us in the ongoing fight for justice, equity, and civil rights.
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