Michigan legislator apologizes for calling Asian American opponent racial slurs

State Rep. Bettie Cook Scott referred to state Rep. Stephanie Chang as "ching-chong."



In Michigan, amid mounting backlash, a state legislator has apologized for "disparaging remarks" -- for the record, she means racial slurs -- that she made against an Asian American opponent for state Senate.

Detroit Rep. Bettie Cook Scott on Asian opponent: 'Don't vote for the ching-chong!'

During a recent Democratic primary, Michigan state Rep. Bettie Cook Scott reportedly referred to her opponent, state Rep. Stephanie Chang, as "ching chong," and called members of Chang's staff "ching chongs."

"Vote for me. Don't vote for the ching-chang!" witnesses overheard Scott telling voters during the August 7 primary election for District 1. She also reportedly called Chang's campaign volunteers "ching-chongs," saying "I called them ching-chongs. That's what they are!"

Well, that's just some good, old-fashioned racist schoolyard name-calling. But wait, there's more.

At an earlier campaign stop, Scott called one of Chang's campaign volunteers an "immigrant," saying "you don't belong here" and "I want you out of my country." Later, she was overheard telling a voter "these immigrants from China are coming over and taking our community from us." Further, she said it "disgusts" her "seeing Black people holding signs for these Asians and not supporting their own people."

When all else fails, racism and xenophobia are a tried and true political strategy.

Robber calls store clerk 'terrorist,' shoots him in the face

Police are investigating the robbery as a hate crime.



What the hell is going on, America? This shit is out of control. In Michigan, a robber called an Indian convenience store clerk a "terrorist" and accused him of being in ISIS before shooting him the face. Police say they are investigating the robbery as a hate crime.

Robber called store clerk 'terrorist' before shooting him in face, worker says

Thankfully, the victim survived and is expected to recover.

On Saturday night, an armed robber entered Bottlenecks Food and Drink Shop in Grand Rapids and demanded money from the 34-year-old store worker, who is of Indian descent. Then the robber led him to a back storage room where he put the barrel of a long gun into the worker's mouth.

Two teens plead guilty to assault on restaurant owner

16-year-old boys admit to brutally beating and robbing Yong Kim



News out of Michigan... Last week in Ann Arbor, two 16-year-old boys pleaded guilty to robbery and assault charges in the brutal assault on an elderly restaurant owner outside his business last summer.

Teens admit to severely beating Ann Arbor restaurant owner with milk crate

Antonio Young and Carmichael Chavis, who were arrested in September, admitted that they attacked 74-year-old Yong Kim, owner of Mary's Fabulous Chicken and Fish, while he was walking to his car. They punched, kicked and beat Kim with a plastic milk crate before robbing him and running away with his wallet.

Suspects arrested in home invasions targeting Asian families

Crew connected to robberies in New Jersey, Texas, Georgia, Michigan and New York



Last week Houston, four people were arrested and charged in connection with a recent series of New Jersey home invasion robberies that targeted Indian American families in Middlesex County.

4 charged in Middlesex County home invasions

Chaka Castro, 39, Juan Olaya, 34, Octavius Scott, 22, and Johnisha Williams, 19 -- all from Houston -- were charged in connection with five home invasions in which families were restrained, robbed at gunpoint and assaulted. They were arrested last week for robberies in Texas, and are believed to be involved in home invasions -- also targeting Asians -- in Georgia, Michigan and New York.

Sign up to help defend voting rights for Asian Americans

Volunteer as a poll monitor on Election Day

Do you want to help defend voting rights for Asian Americans?

The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund is looking for volunteers to help monitor upcoming midterm elections for bilingual ballots under the federal Voting Rights Act and to document instances of anti-Asian voter disenfranchisement.

Volunteers Needed On Election Day, Nov. 4, 2014

They're looking for volunteers in to work 3-hour shifts on Election Day at polls in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Nevada, Michigan, Texas, Georgia, Louisiana, Virginia, Maryland, and Washington DC. There will be a 90-minute training session for all volunteers.

Here's schedule of AALDEF's poll monitoring trainings:

Teen suspects charged as adults in attack on Ann Arbor restaurant owner

Community rallies around Yong Kim, owner and operator of Mary's Fabulous Chicken and Fish



More on this case out of Michigan... the two teenage suspects connected with the brutal beating and robbery of a 74-year-old Ann Arbor restaurant owner last week will be charged with felonies as adults.

2 teens charged as adults in beating and robbery of Ann Arbor business owner

15-year-old Antonio Dante Young and 16-year-old Charmichael Chavis were arraigned Wednesday for the attack on 74-year-old Yong Kim. They are charged with armed robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, assault with intent to commit great bodily harm less than murder and assault with intent to rob while armed.

Suspects identified in attack on Ann Arbor restaurant owner

Two juvenile suspects face charges in beating and robbery of 74-year-old Yong Kim.



An update on in this investigation out of Michigan... In Ann Arbor, police have identified two juvenile suspects in the brutal beating and robbery of a 74-year-old restaurant owner last week.

2 juveniles face charges in beating and robbery of Ann Arbor business owner

According to Ann Arbor police, they've identified the individuals responsible for the attack on Yong Kim, owner of Mary's Fabulous Chicken and Fish. Kim suffered several severe injuries on his head, neck and face, and robbed of his wallet, when he was attacked from behind in the parking lot outside his store.

At least two individuals will be facing review by the prosecutor's office:

74-year-old restaurant owner brutally beaten and robbed

Yong Kim, owner of Mary's Fabulous Chicken and Fish in Ann Arbor, was attacked from behind.



News out of Michigan... This week in Ann Arbor, a 74-year-old restaurant owner was hospitalized and after being brutally beaten and robbed by an unknown assailant outside of his business on Tuesday night.

Wife of Ann Arbor restaurant owner describes attack: 'They just started beating'

Yong Kim, owner of Mary's Fabulous Chicken and Fish, was leaving the restaurant and walking his to his car when someone attacked him from behind, knocking him to the ground and beating him in the head, neck and face. The suspect then took Kim's wallet and ran away.

Kim suffered several large gashes on his head, extensive swelling and bruising on his face and neck. His glasses and dentures were also broken during the attack.

Cop fired after off-duty bar brawl

The fight was set off when the officer was called a racial slur.

Damn. Last month in Michigan, a veteran police officer was fired for his role in an off-duty parking lot bar brawl. Bad cop behavior. Big whoop. But it might also interest you to know that the cop is of Asian descent, and the fight was set off because someone called him a racial slur: Slur toward former officer led to fight.

Jason Cooper, a 17-year veteran of the Belding Police Department, was dismissed after an internal investigation found he had "violated police procedure and policies" in an altercation at Grattan Irish Pub in Grattan Township.

The whole thing started when a patron, Ryan Pethers, was reportedly asked to leave the bar because of "unruly behavior." Cooper happened to walk out at the same time, when the two exchanged words. Things apparently got physical when Pethers called Cooper a racial slur:

Transformers 4 looking for Chinese extras in Michigan

Yes, they're making another Transformers movie. Michael Bay is back in the director's chair, and there will be much destruction. And as an American-Chinese co-production, we can also expect to see a lot having to do with China: 'Transformers 4' Is Taking China Very Seriously.

The producers have promised that Transformers 4 has "a great deal to do with China." Gotta make that China money, yo. That means we'll be seeing Chinese actors and multiple Chinese landmarks blown to bits -- this is Michael Bay, after all. Heck, they're even casting some roles through a Chinese reality TV show.

But it looks like they're filming at least some of the movie in Michigan. I got this email passed along to me specifying that they're looking for Chinese adults, 18 years of age and older, to be extras in scenes being filmed in the Lansing area: