San Francisco saw alarming spike in anti-Asian hate crimes last year
Just ahead of the Lunar New Year, San Francisco Mayor London Breed lamented over the alarming surge in the number of hate crimes reported against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders last year.
In 2021, 60 people within the AAPI community were victims of targeted attacks, up from nine in 2020. It marks a 597% increase, according to preliminary police data released by officials during a press conference in the city’s Chinatown on Tuesday.
Standing beside Police Chief Bill Scott, Breed warned the actual figures were likely much higher because most people are afraid to come forward, but vowed her continued support.
“We want to make sure people feel safe, we want to make sure people are comfortable with reporting,” Breed said, encouraging everyone to look out for one another, especially with the upcoming new year celebrations.
In addition to actively recruiting new officers, Scott said the department has expanded the number of languages that can be used by those calling in to the criminal tip line. He urged anyone who witnesses suspicious activity to call in, even if it is not an emergency.
Scott also warned those gathering for the Lunar New Year to be extra aware this year and to be wary of those either asking for money or offering gifts of any kind.
“The number of hate crimes targeting members of our AAPI communities is alarming, but it’s important to remember that San Francisco police officers have made arrests in the majority of these cases,” Scott said in a prepared statement.
“In fact, one perpetrator investigated and arrested by our Taraval Neighborhood Team was charged with 31 hate crime enhancements alone — more than half of last year’s cases.”
Attacks targeting Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders spiked nationally amid the coronavirus pandemic. Breed placed some of the blame on former President Donald Trump and his rhetoric after the virus was first detected in the city of Wuhan in China.
According to the Stop AAPI Hate coalition, which operates out of San Francisco State University, there were more than 10,000 incidents of hate between March 2020 through September 2021.
With News Wire Services
