There will be a vigil tonight outside the home of Vincent Chin's killer

Vincent Chin died on June 23, 1982.



Thirty-five years ago today in Detroit, four nights after being severely beaten in the head with a baseball bat, Vincent Chin died. The case would become a seminal rallying point for the Asian American community. And tonight, concerned community members plan to gather for a vigil outside the home of Chin's killer.

For those unfamiliar with the case: Chin was out at a strip club celebrating his bachelor party when he got into a fight with a couple of disgruntled auto industry workers, Ronald Evens and his stepson Michael Nitz. Witnesses say they heard Ebens yell "It's because of you little motherfuckers that we're out of work!" -- referring to U.S. auto jobs being lost to Japanese manufacturers. Vincent Chin was Chinese American.

The fight was broken up, but Ebens and Nitz weren't finished. They searched for Chin outside the club, tracked him down to a McDonald's and attacked him. Nitz held Chin in a bear hug while Evens repeatedly bludgeoned him with a baseball bat until his head cracked open. Vincent fell into a coma and died on June 23, 1982.

NPR's Morning Edition aired a Story Corps interview Vincent Chin's best friend, Gary Koivu, who talks about his lifelong friendship with Vincent and hauntingly recounts the night he witnessed his murder.

No Ban, No Wall: A Resistance & Solidarity Vigil

Thursday, January 26 at JACCC in Los Angeles



Trump is signing executive orders to ban access to USA for people from Syria, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen tomorrow. He is following through on his commitment to build a wall banning and deporting immigrants. The President and the Office continue to promote an agenda of hate and oppression.

If you're in Los Angeles, you're invited to join in solidarity with the #VigilantLOVE Coalition and South Asians for Justice - Los Angeles for a solidarity & resistance vigil against Islamophobia, state violence, and xenophobia.

It's happening Thursday evening, January 26 at the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center in Little Tokyo. Here are some more details.

Who the f*ck throws eggs at a solidarity vigil?

Little Tokyo hosted a vigil and rally in support of Muslim Americans and other immigrants.


Photo Credit: Josie Huang/KPCC
On Wednesday night in Los Angeles, community members led a march through Little Tokyo on the 75th anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor, calling for solidarity with Muslim Americans during this time of heightened of xenophobia and discrimination. We've been here before. We know where this leads. This is a community leading a literal march to make sure that America does not go down this road again.

Japanese-Americans stand with Muslims in wake of attacks

What this article does not mention is that as the vigil, a diverse gathering of about 200 community folk, made its way down 2nd Street, someone threw eggs at the crowd from a third floor balcony of the Hikari Apartments. According to several friends who were there, the eggs were thrown as vigil participants were chanting "Muslims are welcome here." Thankfully, nobody was hit. But it's definitely a reminder that there are some shitty people out there.

The way some friends tell it...

VigilantLove: A Solidarity Community Vigil Against Violence and Islamophobia

Thursday, December 10 at the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center



If you're in the Los Angeles area, you're invited to take part in a solidarity candlelight vigil to honor the lives of those who have passed away in recent attacks, the dignity of Syrian refugees, as well as the safety and justice of Americans, particularly Muslim, Sikh, South Asian and Arab American communities. It's happening Thursday, December 10 at the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center in Little Tokyo.

Here are some more details: