Wisconsin Man Harassed Asians For Wearing Masks

And Other Things to Know From Angry Asian America.



Man Faces Hate Crime Charges for Harassing Asians at the Grocery Store
In Wisconsin, police are recommending hate crime charges against a man they say harassed Asian Americans for wearing masks in a grocery store. 57-year-old Robert Shrote admitted to verbally harassing Asian Americans at the Save A Lot store in Stevens Point. According to police, "customers were called names and harassed for wearing masks because of their race." Shrote faces a charge of disorderly conduct and a hate crime "enhancer," meaning the misdemeanor charge could carry up to 90 days in jail and a $10,000 fine.

* * *

'American Idol' Crowns Season 3 Winner Virtually
The season 18 winner of American Idol was crowned last night -- from home -- and it's worth noting that the runner-up was Dibesh Pokharel (stage name: Arthur Gunn), a 22-year-old Nepalese singer-songwriter who, for had emerged as the front-runner of the competition. I'm told he was clearly the judges' favorite, and many watchers thought he'd end up winning it all. But alas, at the end of the night, amidst the televised confusion of the remote finale, the title awkwardly went to Just Sam, a 21-year-old subway singer from Harlem. Congratulations. And I wouldn't worry about Arthur Gunn -- just watch the video of him performing and you'll see. This guy is runner up to nobody.

* * *


Remembering Our Co-Founder, Thomas Low
Thomas Low, co-founder and CEO of multicultural children's publishing house Lee & Low Books, has died of cancer at his home in Connecticut. He was 78. Low co-founded Lee & Low Books with Philip Lee in 1991. Though they had no previous publishing experience, both men had noticed, and been dismayed by, a dearth of contemporary diverse stories for children and believed there could be a business opportunity in pursuing their passion to fill that gap in the industry. Since then, Lee & Low has been a leader in supporting new voices in children's literature, particularly from authors of color.

* * *

Far East Movement Debuts New Song for Heritage Month
"Identity: Project Blue Marble" is an eight-hour relief event happening March 20 on Twitch in honor of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. To mark the occasion, hip hop group Far East Movement is debuting a new song, "We Are the Truth," which can be heard in the trailer for the event (watch video above).

* * *

Parasite: A Graphic Novel in Storyboards
Remember when Parasite won all those Oscars? That was awesome. Now you can experience the movie in graphic novel form, sort of. With hundreds of mesmerizing illustrations, the new book Parasite: A Graphic Novel in Storyboards, is a fresh look at Bong Joon-Ho's award-winning, genre-defying masterpiece, featuring storyboards drawn by the director himself prior to the shooting of the film. The book also contains a foreword written by Bong that shares early concept drawings and photos from the set which take the reader even deeper into the creative process. If you enjoyed Parasite, the book is a fascinating glimpse at Bong's creative process.

Milwaukee man ruled incompetent for trial in triple homicide

Dan Popp fatally shot Phia Vue, Mai Vue and Jesus Manso-Perez in their Milwaukee apartment building.



In Milwaukee, the accused killer who fatally shot a Puerto Rican father and a Hmong couple, in a triple homicide that many are calling a hate crime, has been ruled incompetent to stand trial.

Judge rules man incompetent for trial in Milwaukee triple homicide

The criminal complaint against Dan J. Popp, who is white, alleges that he made racial comments before fatally shooting a Hmong couple, Phia Vue and Mai K. Vue, and a Puerto Rican man, Jesus R. Manso-Perez, in their apartment complex in southwest Milwaukee last month.

Witnesses say Popp, 39, questioned Manso-Perez and his son about their ethnic background after hearing them speak Spanish and said "you guys got to go" before the shooting.

Popp then stormed into the apartment of Phia and Mai Vue. He fatally shot them after pulling them out of a bedroom in front of their four children and another relative, according to the criminal complaint.

Popp was charged with three counts of first-degree intentional homicide in the fatal shootings and one count of first-degree attempted homicide for shooting at, but not hitting, Manso-Perez's son. A coalition of community members has been calling on authorities to investigate the killings as hate crimes.

Community calls for hate crime charges in triple homicide

Dan Popp fatally shot Phia Vue, Mai Vue and Jesus Manso-Perez in their Milwaukee apartment building.



In Wisconsin, a coalition of over twenty community groups is calling for the triple homicide of a Puerto Rican man and Hmong couple, who were fatally shot by their white neighbor, to be prosecuted as a hate crime.

Groups urge hate crime charges in Milwaukee triple homicide

The criminal complaint against Dan J. Popp, who is white, alleges that he made racial comments before fatally shooting a Hmong couple, Phia Vue and Mai K. Vue, and a Puerto Rican man, Jesus R. Manso-Perez, in their apartment complex in southwest Milwaukee earlier this month.

On Friday, representatives from 22 groups representing members of the Latino, Hmong and other communities called on authorities to investigate the killings as hate crimes.

Support the families of Milwaukee shooting rampage victims

Phia Vue, Mai Vue and Jesus Manso-Perez were fatally shot by a neighbor in their apartment building.


At Sunday's vigil for Phia Vue and Mai Vue.
Last week, Phia Vue and his wife Mai Vue were gunned down by their neighbor Dan Popp, who went on a shooting rampage in their Milwaukee apartment building. Popp also fatally shot Jesus R. Manso-Perez.

Family of couple killed in triple homicide at 92nd & Beloit speak out: "Their kids are in need"

The Vues' families are speaking out about the tragedy, and have set up a memorial fund to help to pay for Phia and Mai's funeral services and supporting their four surviving children.

Mai Vue's sister, Linda Xiong, asks for your support:

"We cannot separate the conversation between racial justice and LGBTQ justice."

Cross-posted from API Equality-LA



Content warning: suicide, transphobia

On September 28th, 2015, 16 year-old Skylar Lee of Madison, WI took his own life. Lee was a Korean American transboy who was an active and powerful voice in the LBGTQ community. As we reflect on his passing, we are reminded of the ways that racist and transphobic systems create trauma for our communities and that space must always be created in our work to honor our mental health.

If you are a queer or transgender youth and in need of support or just need someone to listen. Please reach out by visiting translifeline.org or calling 877-565-8860. For 24 hours a day help please visit thetrevorproject.org or call 866-488-7386.

Here is a shared photo from GSAFE, an LGBT organization in Madison, WI dedicated to creating school communities where LGBTQ youth and students thrive. Lee worked for GSAFE and was active in addressing the school-to-prison pipeline. We reflect on his work for intersectionality and the urgency of fighting the school-to-prison pipeline as it directly affects queer trans youth of color. He wrote on this in the Power In Partnerships Publication (full report available here.

Read his words below:

Hmong man assaulted in hunting dispute

Family and community members demand justice for the attack on 64-year-old Sao Lue Vang



Last month in Wisconsin, a Hmong hunter was severely injured after he accidentally wandered on to private land and was assaulted by the son of the property owner. The victim's family and members of the Hmong American community are demanding answers for the vicious attack on 64-year-old Sao Lue Vang.

Family speaks out about Hmong hunter assault

Vang was hunting with friends on public land in Pepin County. At some point, Vang separated from the group and was approached by another hunter, 43-year-old Kevin Elberg, who started harassing, yelling, and accusing him of being on his property. Vang apologized, but the confrontation escalated.

When Vang tried to walk away, Elberg allegedly assaulted him from behind, knocking him to the ground, and kicking and hitting him in the stomach and body. Vang suffered lacerations to his liver and injuries to his hand.

Here's more information on what happened:

Wisconsin man charged in sword attack

29-year-old Young Choi is accused of fatally stabbing his neighbor



What the... Some disturbing news out of Wisconsin, where police say a man stabbed his neighbor to death and injured another man with a long sword. Yes, that is a photo of the suspect, above. I've got nothing.

Watertown police make arrest in sword stabbing death

29-year-old Young Choi was charged with first-degree intentional homicide in the death of Dustin Vanderheyden, his neighbor at the boarding house in Watertown where they both lived.

According to the criminal complaint, police were called after Choi was seen with a sword attacking Vanderheyden, who later died in surgery. When a witness yelled at him to stop, Choi turned around and swung the sword at him, cutting him in the hand. After a brief standoff, Choi eventually surrendered to police.

Oak Creek Sikh Memorial Anniversary

Damn, has it been a year? August 5 marks the one-year anniversary of mass shooting at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin in Oak Creek, where six died and four were wounded when a racist gunman opened fire during temple services. To honor those whose lives were lost or injured on that horrific day, the temple will be holding the first annual Oak Creek Sikh Memorial Anniversary. Here's a rundown of the commemorative events: