Here's Where You Can Report COVID19-Related Hate Incidents

And Other Things to Know From Angry Asian America.



Stop AAPI Hate
If you have witnessed or experienced coronavirus-related micro-aggressions, bullying, harassment, hate speech, or violence, use this form to report it. In the two weeks since its launch, Stop AAPI Hate has received more than 650 reports. Some emerging trends: Women are three times more likely to report harassment than men; 61% of respondents are non-Chinese; verbal harassment/name calling is the most commonly reported type of discrimination, making up 2/3 of all reports; Asian Americans are more likely to face coronavirus discrimination in public and at businesses, especially grocery stores, pharmacies and big box retail stores.

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FBI Warns of Potential Surge in Hate Crimes Against Asian Americans
Federal law enforcement is warning of an increase in hate crimes against Asian Americans as the coronavirus crisis continues to grow, according to a new FBI analysis. "The FBI makes this assessment based on the assumption that a portion of the US public will associate COVID-19 with China and Asian American populations," according to the intelligence report, which was compiled by the FBI’s Houston office and distributed to local law enforcement agencies across the country.

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Reward Offered for Information on Naperville Battery
Police in Naperville, Illinois are trying to identify two women involved in the battery of a jogger last Saturday, March 21. What this article doesn't say, I'm told, was that the victim was an older Asian man and they yelled "Go back to China" while attacking him. Somebody, please catch these racists.

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I Will Make You Mine
Pre-order the indie film I Will Make You Mine. Written and directed by Lynn Chen, the film re-visits the characters from Surrogate Valentine and Daylight Savings, following three women who wrestle with life's difficulties while confronting their past relationships with the same man. Available on May 26.

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Isa Briones - "Blue Skies"
No spoilers, but here's Isa Briones performing a cover of "Blue Skies," as heard in the Star Trek: Picard finale.

This Christmas, Take a Ride On The Most Racist Bus in Illinois!

"You won't feel like you're in China when you're on our buses."



A transportation company that services the Champaign-Urbana area in Illinois is under fire for a racist, anti-Chinese message included in a promotional email sent out to its mailing list over the weekend.

Suburban Express sends controversial Christmas email

Suburban Express sent an email touting the perks of its Christmas break bus services for University of Illinois students. Among other self-identified selling points, the Surburban Express Experience includes riding with "Passengers like you. You won't feel like you're in China when you're on our buses."

This, of course, refers to the University's large population of international students.

Charges upgraded in kidnapping of missing Chinese student

Brendt Christensen could face the death penalty for killing Yingying Zhang.



The man charged in the disappearance of a Chinese scholar at the University of Illinois could be eligible for the death penalty after new charges were filed, accusing him of kidnapping and killing her.

Illinois man could face death penalty in missing Chinese student case

According to an updated indictment released this week, 28-year-old Brendt Christensen has been charged with kidnapping resulting in the death of Yingying Zhang. Christensen was initially charged with kidnapping Zhang, but the new charges claim he kidnapped and "intentionally killed" her.

Suspect arrested in kidnapping of Chinese student

Yingying Zhang, who disappeared from the University of Illinois on June 9, is believed to be dead.



A suspect has been arrested in the kidnapping of visiting Chinese scholar Yingying Zhang, who has been missing from the University of Illinois since June 9. She is believed by authorities to be dead.

Man charged with kidnapping U. of I. student, who authorities believe is dead

27-year-old Brendt Christensen was arrested late Friday as a suspect in Zhang's kidnapping.

According to the FBI press release, "while Christensen was under law enforcement surveillance, agents overheard him explaining that he kidnapped Zhang. Based on this, and other facts uncovered during the investigation of this matter, law enforcement agents believe that Ms. Zhang is no longer alive."

Illinois Senator mocks Tammy Duckworth's family heritage

"I'd forgotten that your parents came all the way from Thailand to serve George Washington."



Rep. Tammy Duckworth is a congresswoman, war veteran, and candidate for the U.S. Senate in Illinois. She is a dedicated public servant and trailblazer by all accounts. So, of course, as an Asian American woman, she would be attacked by an entitled white politician trying to cast doubt on her military and ethnic heritage.

Sen. Mark Kirk questions opponent's American heritage in Illinois debate

Duckworth is seeking to unseat Republican Senator Mark Kirk. On Thursday night during the Illinois senate debate, Duckworth mentioned her family's history of military service.

"My family has served this nation in uniform, going back to the Revolution," Duckworth said. "I'm a Daughter of the American Revolution. I've bled for this nation. But I still want to be there in the Senate when the drums of war sound. Because people are quick to sound the drums of war, and I want to be there to say this is what it costs, this is what you're asking us to do... Families like mine are the ones that bleed first."

Kirk responded with a snarky dig at Duckworth's heritage: "I'd forgotten that your parents came all the way from Thailand to serve George Washington." The implication: how could a woman who looks like you have any sort of connection to something so purely American as the Revolutionary War?

Well, allow Tammy to explain.

Tammy Duckworth announces bid for U.S. Senate

Congresswoman will challenge incumbent GOP Senator Mark Kirk.



In a YouTube video posted Monday morning, Illinois Democratic Rep. Tammy Duckworth officially announced that she is running for the United States Senate against incumbent GOP Senator Mark Kirk.

Tammy Duckworth launches Illinois Senate bid

"I'm running for the United States Senate in 2016 because it's time for Washington to be held accountable and put Illinois' families and communities first," Duckworth says in the two-minute video, which highlights her humble upbringing and her personal background as a wife, a mother and a combat veteran.

"If you elect me as Illinois' senator I will fight my heart out to represent you with honor and integrity."

Here's the announcement:

Restaurant robber thwarted by knife-wielding sushi chef

"Don't make me use this."



A warning to would-be thieves: do not try to mess with the folks at Kamakura Japanese Restaurant in Champaign, Illinois. You will face the sharp justice of a knife-wielding sushi chef and his badass staff. Last week, they thwarted an armed assailant who stupidly tried to rob the place. He is now in jail.

Knife-wielding sushi chef foils restaurant robbery

On Tuesday, when a wannabe robber entered the restaurant and pulled a revolver (it turned out to be a pellet gun) on the hostess, chef Tetsuji Miwa grabbed the first weapon within reach -- his sushi knife. The robber got spooked and made a run for it, but two other workers jumped in and tackled him before police arrived.

Do not mess with the crew at Kamakura. They do not play.

Doctoral student charged in fatal stabbing of ex-girlfriend

University of Illinois math student Yongfei Ci is accused of killing Mengchen Huang in her apartment.

Damn. Some frightening news out of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where a man was arrested for fatally stabbing a student in her apartment: Stabbing victim identified as U. of I. student from China.

29-year-old Yongfei Ci, a mathematics doctoral student from China, was arrested Friday in connection with the stabbing death of his ex-girlfriend Mengchen Huang, a graduate student in the School of Art and Design.

According to authorities, Ci forced his way into Huang's apartment and held her and her roommate against their will, binding both women with duct tape. While the roommate was tied up and locked in the bathroom, Ci stabbed Huang in the throat at least three times and slit her throat before fleeing.

The roommate was able to free herself and call 911. Police tracked Ci to a nearby motel where he ultimately surrendered without incident.

Teen killed by lightning strike

Damn. Some tragic news out of Illinois, where a teenager was killed last week after being struck by lightning: Jennie Dizon, Downers Grove Teen, Killed By Lightning Days Before High School Graduation .

Just three days before her high school graduation, 17-year-old Jennie Dizon was at a park in Downers Grove writing in her notebook when a powerful thunderstorm rolled into the area and she was struck by lightning.

She was found unconscious and pronounced dead at the scene:

Manslaughter plea agreement in beach beating death

This case bums me out. This week in Illinois, a young man reached a manslaughter plea agreement in the 2011 death of a 17-year-old Chicago boy: Plea reached in LaPorte County fatal fight.

20-year-old James Malacek pled guilty to involuntary manslaughter, battery and aggravated battery, and agreed to serve 145 days in prison for the fatal punch that killed Kevin Kennelly. The rest of the four year sentence would be served on electronic monitoring.

According to police, Malacek punched Kennelly, who may have been trying to break up a fight at a 4th of July beach party. The altercation was apparently set off by racial insults -- Malacek and his sister are Korean adoptees:

The Second Most Racist Lundromat in America?

Following up on the post from a couple of weeks back on the most racist laundromat in America -- U-Washee in Richmond, Indiana -- here's a photo of what might be the second most racist laundromat, spotted and snapped outside Washee Washee in Caseyville, Illinois. Don't you just want to go in there and take a look around?

No idea if it has all the same fun, racist caricature signs adorning the inside... but do note the use of extreme ching chong font out front. They just couldn't resist. I guess the implication is that Asians -- or at least, the obvious suggestion of Asian-ness -- will be extra effective in getting your clothes clean... even if you are just doing the coin-op laundry yourself.

(Thanks, Mike.)