VOL 39 NO 46 | NOVEMBER 14 - NOVEMBER 20, 2020

PRSRT STD U.S. Postage Paid Permit No. 746 Seattle, WA

VOL 39 NO 46 NOVEMBER 14 – NOVEMBER 20, 2020

FREE 38 YEARS YOUR VOICE

Kamala Harris win

inspires women and girls nationwide

Attendance, donations plummet at a Tacoma church during the pandemic Photo from St. Ann Catholic Church’s FB

By KAT STAFFORD and CHRISTINE FERNANDO DETROIT (AP) — When Ashley RichardsonGeorge’s 5-year-old daughter saw Kamala Harris wearing a white suffragette suit during her prime-time victory speech on Nov. 7, she ran into her room and came back minutes later wearing a white dress and sweater.

Not only did her daughter, Andrea, want to be like the Vice President-elect, she wanted to look like her, too. And on that night, it was more possible than ever.

“I was just really happy for her because you really don’t believe that you can be anything that you want unless you see it,” said Richardson-George of New York. “So for her, she was like, ‘I can be the president.’ So to see that glimmer in her eyes as a parent, it really is powerful to me as her mom.”

For countless women and girls, Harris’ achievement of reaching the second highest office in the country represents hope, validation and the shattering of a proverbial glass ceiling that has kept mostly white men perched at the top tiers of American government.

“She’s literally the blueprint to women’s political possibility and now she is stepping

By Le Bui NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY On a regular Sunday afternoon during “COVID season,” Father Tuan Nguyen enters St. Ann Catholic Church to a sound that he is not accustomed to hearing at a typical service: silence.

“This is the house the Lord made for his flock,” Nguyen said. “Without the flock, it feels incredibly empty.” see ST. ANN on 12

AP Photo

see HARRIS on 9 Vice president-elect Kamala Harris

Man injured in Trump rally fracas

New larger-thanlife lantern festival Woodland Park Zoo’s new experience

Photo provided by Jesse Robbins

The Seattle City Attorney’s Office hasn’t decided yet if it will file charges in an incident on Oct. 17 where a man was injured following a Trump rally.

Jesse Robbins, 39, said he was exercising his First Amendment right to peacefully counterprotest a Trump rally in the south Seattle neighborhood where he grew up.

“When I found out that this Trump supporting community was surreptitiously setting up shop in this neighborhood, unopposed, it infuriated me.”

At the end of the day, Robbins ended up in urgent care with a bloody head and three stitches. see ROBBINS on 12

SPORTS

Japanese American baseball pioneer to be honored by Asian Hall of Fame

5

■

PUBLISHER’S BLOG

Cultural perspectives Trump’s loss and Biden’s victory

6

ON THE SHELF

Whodunnit?

Murder mysteries with our favorite sleuths on the case

7

Photo credit: Tianyu Arts & Culture

By Ruth Bayang NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

SEATTLE — Woodland Park Zoo is unveiling the region’s first holiday lantern festival starting on Nov. 13.

A news release described it as “a fairytale come to life with a larger-than-life, immersive experience that will “wow” anyone—of all ages! There are many memories to be made full of fun, light, and magic with awe- inspiring sights!”

The experience is a “selfie safari” through a tunnel of lanterns more than 130 feet long.

There are four different sections—Living Northwest, Jungle Lights, SeaMazium, and African Savanna safari.

Each will feature different types of animals.

Other highlights will include T-Mobile Interactive Zones to enjoy, such as a star walking pad, gigantic angel wings, a bubble tree, and a kaleidoscope.

WildLanterns runs from Nov. 13, 2020 through Jan. 17, 2021 (closed Mondays, Nov. 26, Dec. 24 and 25) between 4:00–8:30 p.m.

To limit the number of visitors inside the zoo, tickets are timed entry and can be purchased online by visiting zoo.org/wildlanterns. 

412 Maynard Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98104 • t. 206.223.5559 • f. 206.223.0626 • editor@nwasianweekly.com • ads@nwasianweekly.com • www.nwasianweekly.com

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asianweekly northwest

NOVEMBER 14 – NOVEMBER 20, 2020

■ NAMES IN THE NEWS Indian American named co-chair of Biden’s COVID task force

Nov. 3—making them the first South Asians voted into the lower house of the state Legislature.

Both Democrats from Queens, Jenifer Rajkumar won 66% of the votes and Zohran Mamdani won 72%. Rajkumar is a lawyer and immigrant rights advocate, and Mamdani is a housing counselor.

District—to become the first Asian American to serve in the Wisconsin State Legislature.

Hong defeated Republican candidate Patrick Hull, 88% to 12%, to win the Assembly seat that was previously held by former state Rep. Chris Taylor.

The daughter of Chinese immigrants, Hong is a mother, community organizer, and service industry worker. 

38 YEARS

■ LOCAL

WA doctor suspended

L.A. County Superior Court Judge Vincent Okamoto dies Vivek Murthy

On Nov. 9, Vivek Murthy was named one of the three co-chairs of the COVID-19 Advisory Board that will guide President-elect Joe Biden on dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.

Murthy, 43, served as the 19th U.S. Surgeon General in the Obama administration.

An Indian American, Murthy received his bachelor’s degree from Harvard University. He completed his internal medicine residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, and later joined the Harvard Medical School as faculty in internal medicine.

During his term as the surgeon general, Murthy had helped produce a report on how climate change has brought about a public health crisis. 

California elects 25-year-old lawmaker, youngest in 82 years

Alex Lee

California has elected its youngest state lawmaker in more than eight decades, elevating a 25-year-old progressive Democrat who already has years of legislative experience to the state Assembly.

Alex Lee survived a crowded ninecandidate primary election in March, then trounced his Republican rival by winning 73% of the vote in a San Francisco Bay Area district that includes part of Silicon Valley.

Lee considers himself to be part of “many marginalized communities,” including being Asian American and openly bisexual. 

NY elects first South Asian Americans to state Assembly

Jenifer Rajkumar

Two Indian Americans were elected to the New York state Assembly on

Zohran Mamdani

The 2010 census reported that more than 300,000 South Asians lived in New York City—about a third of the total Asian American population. 

Wisconsin elects its first Asian American representative

Francesca Hong

Restaurateur and activist Francesca Hong has won the 76th Assembly

Vincent Okamoto—a Vietnam war hero and decorated Vietnam War veteran who became a judge at the Los Angeles Superior Court— died in late SepVincent Okamoto tember. He was 76 years old.

Born in a relocation camp during World War II, Okamoto grew up to fight for his country. During his service, Okamoto was wounded twice and made 22 helicopter combat assaults. By the end of the war, he was the most highly decorated Japanese American to survive the Vietnam War. He was inducted into the Army’s Ranger Hall of Fame in 2007.

In 2002, California Gov. Gray Davis appointed Okamoto to the Los Angeles County Superior Bench.

Okamoto is survived by his wife, Mitzi, and son, Darby. 

The Washington Medical Commission has indefinitely suspended the license of Dr. Vrajesh Patel. He was found guilty of three counts of assault and two counts of harassment and was sentenced to five years in prison Patel may petition to have his license reinstated after he has been released from prison, undergoes a multidisciplinary evaluation that finds him able to practice with reasonable skill and safety, passes a clinical skills evaluation, and has personal appearances. 

YOUR VOICE

■ WORLD NEWS

NOVEMBER 14 – NOVEMBER 20, 2020

asianweekly northwest

Firecrackers and prayers as Indians celebrate Harris’ win

By AIJAZ RAHI ASSOCIATED PRESS

Vice president Kamala Harris

T H U L A SE N DR A PU R A M , India (AP) — Waking up to the news of Kamala Harris’ election as U.S. vice president, overjoyed people in her Indian grandfather’s hometown set off firecrackers and offered prayers on Nov 8.

Groups gathered at street corners in Thulasendrapuram, a tiny village of 350 people, reading newspapers and chatting about Joe Biden and Harris’ victory before moving to a temple.

A woman wrote in color powder outside her home: “Congratulations Kamala Harris.

Pride of our village. Vanakkam (Greetings) America.’’

Most of them had gone to sleep

by the time Biden clinched the winning threshold of 270 Electoral College votes, making Harris the first woman and the first person of South Asian descent to be elected vice president.

“For two or three days we kept our fingers crossed while the result was delayed,’’ said village resident Kalidas Vamdayar. “Now it’s a joyful moment for us. We are enjoying it.’’

“We will celebrate with firecrackers, distributing Indian sweets to people and praying in the temple,’’ Vamdayar said. “We will request her to come here. She would have heard our voice and she may come.’’

Tamil Nadu state Food Minister R. Kamraj led about 100 people at the Dharma Sastha temple for a 20-minute prayer during which the idol of Hindu deity Ayyanar, a form of Lord Shiva, was washed with milk and decked with flowers by the priest. He chanted hymns after lighting oil lamps, and the villagers bowed their heads in respect.

“Kamala Harris is the daughter of our village,“ said Aulmozhi Sudhakar, a village councilor.

“From children to senior citizens,

each one of us is awaiting the day she will take the oath as the vice president of the U.S.’’ There was more singing, dancing and firecrackers throughout the day in the village, where cutouts and posters wishing Harris a “grand success’’ adorned walls.

People congregated in groups of 30-40 exchanging sweets, delicacies and snacks at different spots. They seemed to be celebrating Diwali, the most popular Hindu festival of lights, a week ahead of time.

Young children carrying placards with photos of Harris ran around the village.

Several politicians from nearby districts visited the village with their supporters, meeting local residents and visiting the temple.

Musicians played wind and string instruments with cymbals and drums.

J. Sudhakar, who organized prayers on Election Day, expressed his wish that Harris will visit. As Americans voted, around 50 residents, with folded hands, lined up in the temple that reverberated with the sound of ringing bells, and a Hindu priest

gave them sweets and flowers as a religious offering.

Women in the village, which is located 215 miles from the southern coastal city of Chennai, used bright colors to write “We Wish Kamala Harris Wins’’ on the ground, alongside a thumbsup sign.

The lush green village is the hometown of Harris’ maternal grandfather, who had moved to Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu state, decades ago.

Inside the temple where people have been holding special prayers, Harris’ name is sculpted into a stone that lists public donations made to the temple in 2014, along with that of her grandfather who gave money decades ago.

Harris’ late mother also was born in India, before moving to the U.S. at the age of 19 to study at the University of California. She married a Jamaican man, and they named their daughter Kamala, Sanskrit for “lotus flower.’’

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described Harris’ success as pathbreaking, and a matter of immense pride not just for her relatives but also for all IndianAmericans. “I am confident that

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the vibrant India-US ties will get even stronger with your support and leadership,’’ he tweeted.

There has been both excitement—and some concern— over Biden’s choice of Harris as his running mate.

Modi had invested in President Donald Trump, who visited India in February. Modi’s many Hindu nationalist supporters also were upset with Harris when she expressed concern about the divided Himalayan region of Kashmir, whose statehood India’s government revoked in August last year.

Harris stood by Pramila Jayapal, another U.S. congresswoman of Indian origin, when Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar refused to attend a meeting in the United States over her participation last year. Jayapal had earlier moved a resolution on the Kashmir issue critical of India in the House of Representatives.

Rights groups accuse India of human rights violations in Indian-controlled Kashmir, where insurgent groups have been fighting for independence or merger with neighboring Pakistan since 1989. 

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asianweekly northwest

38 YEARS

NOVEMBER 14 – NOVEMBER 20, 2020

■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR NOV 12

KOKORO KARA AUCTION 3 p.m.

All items will be available for bidding jcccw.org/online-auction 206-568-7114 arisan@jcccw.org WOODLAND PARK ZOO’S WILDLANTERNS PRESENTED BY SOUND CREDIT UNION 4-7 p.m.

Tickets at zoo.org/wildlanterns

206-568-7114 arisan@jcccw.org VIRTUAL LEGAL CLINIC (DACA AND IMMIGRATION RELIEF) 4-7 p.m. https://bit.ly/2ImSDD2

21 CISC AND GFCBW SEATTLE CHAPTER PRESENTS: 2020 GIVING THANKS VIRTUAL CHARITY CONCERT 4 p.m.

Text 3838 to 44-321 for a link to fundraising page and donation form

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VIRTUAL ASIAN HALL OF FAME’S INDUCTION CEREMONY 2020 6-7 p.m. https://www.asianhalloffame.org

THE AYAME KAI ONLINE CRAFT FAIR 8 a.m.-8 p.m. ayamekaiguild.org

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19 KOKORO KARA AUCTION 3 p.m.

All items will be available for bidding jcccw.org/online-auction

SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY $6 FOOD WALK Seattle’s C-ID 10 a.m.-4 p.m. https://fb.me/e/3GA1QfSTA

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YOUR VOICE

■ SPORTS

NOVEMBER 14 – NOVEMBER 20, 2020

asianweekly northwest

5

Japanese American baseball pioneer to be honored by Asian Hall of Fame Kaname “Wally” Yonamine could have had a pioneering career in the NFL as a running back with the San Francisco 49ers. But his destiny was playing professional baseball in Japan where he took a chance, overcame hate, and was embraced by a country that the United States had gone to war with just 6 years prior. Yonamine will be honored by the Asian Hall of Fame this year for his achievements.

Yonamine, a Nisei-Japanese American, was born and raised in Hawaii. In a family of seven kids, Yonamine tried to emulate his older brother who played sports. According to his daughter, Amy, he told his family that he was going to play pro sports so school was not his priority. He was right.

However, Yonamine was drafted by the Army in June 1945 just days after graduating from high school. While in the Army, he had the opportunity to play for their football team.

After his stint in the Army, Yonamine was recruited by many colleges to play before choosing Ohio State. He was on his way to Columbus when a scout from the San Francisco 49ers persuaded him to skip college football and play professionally. He did.

The signing of a Japanese American player in 1947 was both inspiring and controversial. America was still healing from World War II, as were Japanese Americans, many of which were sent to internment camps. The Bay Area had a close-knit Asian community at the time and the fact that one of their own would be playing American football gave it a sense of pride and distinction.

According to the San Francisco 49ers website, Yonanime first played for the 49ers in a 1947 intrasquad game in Salinas, California, where there were approximately 400 members of the Japanese community in a crowd of 3,000 onlookers to cheer him on. He did not disappoint as he scored two touchdowns.

The San Francisco Examiner ran a headline reading, “YONAMINE STAR IN 49ER GRID DEBUT.” After his rookie season in San Francisco, Yonamine was poised to return. However, he broke his wrist while training in the offseason in Hawaii.

“It was a blessing in disguise,” said Amy. “It was baseball that kept his athletic career going.”

Despite his short-lived career in football, he is a part of the Levi Stadium Museum in Santa Clara, California, the home of the 49ers. The team continues to celebrate his legacy through the Perry/ Yonamine Award. It honors Yonamine and Joe Perry, the first Black athlete to play for the 49ers in 1948.

Yonamine hung up his football cleats and decided to put on his baseball glove as he was signed by a minor league baseball team. He found himself playing for the Salt Lake City Bees, managed by former major league baseball player Lefty O’Doul. It was O’Doul that suggested that Yonamine head to Japan

to play. The former major leaguer had introduced the game of baseball in Japan prior to World War II. After the war, O’Doul rekindled his relationships with Japanese professional teams and Yonamine was interested in heading to Japan to play.

The move to Japan was a risk, but according to his daughter, he wanted to play.

“He wanted to be accepted there because he felt there was a future for American players in Japan.”

Yonanime signed with the Tokyo Giants and drew comparisons to America’s

Jackie Robinson as he broke the barrier of being the first American, and Japanese American at that, to play pro baseball in the country since World War II. Similar to Robinson, he experienced great animosity from fans due to resentment over the war.

Amy recalls an incident when Yonamine was playing left field during a night game and the lights went out due to an outage. Not feeling safe standing in the outfield, Yonamine headed to the pitcher’s mound. After several see YONAMINE on 9

Photo provided by Amy Roper

By Jason Cruz NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Kaname “Wally” Yonamine

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asianweekly northwest

38 YEARS

NOVEMBER 14 – NOVEMBER 20, 2020

■ PUBLISHER’S BLOG

Cultural perspectives Trump’s loss and Biden’s victory

By Assunta Ng NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Let’s have some fun with Presidentelect Joe Biden’s victory and President Trump’s loss. Some writers compare Biden’s story to the movie “Rocky” and even the fairy tale Cinderella for his perseverance, and eventual triumph over adversities. An Asian cultural interpretation of the two men’s election results would be fascinating.

Over 70 million people voted for Trump in this election, much higher than his total votes of 62.98 million in the 2016 election. He could have easily won the election. Things were going smooth for him, including the economy and stock market gains, despite his character flaws. The man seemed to be invincible, surviving impeachment unharmed.

The Republicans let him get away with corruption and many faults. And Trump supporters treat him like Caesar.

THE PANDEMIC TOPPLES TRUMP Everything happens for a reason. The timing of the pandemic is apparent— during the election year. And the news of covid vaccine availability arrived after the election despite White House pressure to get it before the election.

A national threat is a test to heads of state’s leadership and ability to contain a crisis. However, Trump’s handling of the pandemic is disastrous. He is not

interested in learning new things when it comes to science and especially viruses and diseases. What energizes him is getting the spotlight in his daily press briefings, even with misinformation on the virus, being nominated for the Nobel Prize, and above all, making money.

His lack of leadership, patience, and intelligence to deal with the pandemic is clear.

So many suffering voters woke up to find out who the real Trump is and, oftentimes, it was too late when they died of COVID. The pandemic is an act of heaven, according to some Chinese elderly, to punish Trump.

Without a doubt, the pandemic is beyond Trump’s capability. So he gives up fighting COVID, resulting in over 200,000 total deaths and over 1 million infections in just the last two weeks. White House chief of staff Mark Meadows said two weeks before the election, the U.S. is “not going to control” the coronavirus pandemic. We are going to control the fact that we get vaccines, therapeutics, and other mitigation areas,” according to a CNN report. Trump also favors “herd immunity” to control the virus. How many human lives will be sacrificed before America is good enough to immune itself? What a crazy and cruel mentality! Trump is waving “a white flag” to the disease, Biden said. There is blood on Trump’s hands.

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THE SUPERNATURAL FORCES The spirits’ curses of Congressman John Lewis and Sen. John McCain was at work.

Asian cultures believe in spirits. You call them ghosts or souls. The spirit of Biden’s son, Beau Biden, also showed its might to help his dad’s victory, some Asians and non-Asians said.

Trump had a feud with Lewis and McCain. Lewis, representing Georgia’s 5th Congressional district for 17 terms, was an iconic civil rights leader, who fought alongside with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Lewis died at 80 from cancer this year.

Holding a grudge for not attending his inauguration, Trump didn’t attend Lewis’ funeral, while three former presidents did.

John McCain

While he was running for president in 2016, Trump slighted McCain, a prisoner of war in Vietnam, by saying he’s not a hero, “He’s being captured, I like someone not being captured.” Trump continued to demean McCain’s military service and contributions to America, even after his death, and even skipped his funeral. Those personal insults turned McCain’s widow against Trump and endorsed Biden, even though she is a Republican.

Then the Black Lives Matter movement occurred. Trump was not only incapable of dealing with racial issues, he added fuel to the fire, by declaring peaceful protesters see BLOG on 9

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YOUR VOICE

■ ON THE SHELF

NOVEMBER 14 – NOVEMBER 20, 2020

asianweekly northwest

7

Whodunnit?

Murder mysteries with our favorite sleuths on the case

By Samantha Pak NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Killer Kung Pao

By Vivien Chien St. Martin’s, 2020

Lana Lee is back and she’s got a full plate. She’s still running her family’s Chinese restaurant in Asia Village in Cleveland, which is challenging at best. But just as she starts thinking about a weekend away with her boyfriend, Det. Adam Trudeau, she witnesses a car accident in the plaza parking lot. And of course, she must get involved.

The accident is between June Yi of Yi’s Tea and Bakery in the plaza and mahjong lover Mildred “Millie” Mao—two formidable women you wouldn’t want to cross. In the aftermath of the fender bender, each woman curses and threatens the other and Lana knows nothing good could come from it. And she’s right. The next day, Millie is found dead at a beauty salon in the village and Lana is back on the case.

Longtime readers of my column will know I love a good series and Chien’s Noodle Shop mysteries are no exception. She does a great job giving readers a

new mystery, filled with twists and surprises. But what I really love is getting to know characters over the course of a series.

And here, it’s not just about Lana.

Chien gives us glimpses into the lives of those around Lana. For example, her friends Kimmy (my personal favorite) and Peter have hit a special milestone in their relationship and it’s fun to see them navigate it through Lana’s eyes.

There’s also something going on with Lana’s sister, Anna May— which we will hopefully learn more about in future installations.

I appreciate these details because Chien shows readers vari-

ous personalities among Asians and Asian Americans. In addition to the multifaceted Lana, who we really get to know since the story is told through her eyes, we see the other characters grow alongside her. This may be Lana’s story, but we get a glimpse into the stories of other people that will have readers curious and wanting to know more about them.

Mimi Lee Gets a Clue

By Jennifer J. Chow Berkley, 2020

Mimi Lee has just opened her new pet grooming shop, Hollywoof, in Los Angeles. Her biggest

concerns should be building up her clientele and thwarting her mother’s continuous matchmaking attempts.

But after a run-in with Russ Nolan, a local animal breeder who has been mistreating chihuahuas, she has to add one more item to her list of concerns—especially after he ends up being murdered.

And thanks to their shouting match, Mimi is at the top of the police’s suspect list. So she has no choice but to solve Russ’s murder—and save the pups—herself.

Mimi is assisted by her handsome neighbor Josh, as well as her newly adopted, talking (yes, talking) cat Marshmallow.

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The first in a new series, “Gets a Clue” introduces us to Mimi Lee: entrepreneur, animal lover, protective sister, and loving (if not sometimes annoyed) daughter.

Mimi is a smart and strong young woman. She is determined and resourceful, but she doesn’t always know this about herself. On occasion, she experiences moments of self doubt, making her relatable to the rest of us.

In addition to the whodunnit mystery, Chow brings readers into the world of humans and the animals they love. As a non-pet owner, it was a glimpse into a bond I am not familiar with and from the outside, don’t always understand. But Chow shows what animal companions could mean to us. I particularly enjoyed watching the relationship between Mimi and Marshmallow.

Even though their human-animal relationship is new, they get on almost right away—like a pair of bickering siblings. Marshmallow, a majestic Persian cat, is a sassy, smart-mouthed feline who always has a quick comeback for Mimi.

But he is always ready to help when Mimi needs it. His loyalty to Mimi helps me understand the bond people share with their pets. see SHELF on 10

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asianweekly northwest

NOVEMBER 14 – NOVEMBER 20, 2020

■ COMMUNITY NEWS

38 YEARS

Fair housing groups: Redfin ‘redlines’ minority communities

By GENE JOHNSON ASSOCIATED PRESS SEATTLE (AP) — Several fair housing organizations accused Redfin of systematic racial discrimination in a lawsuit on Oct. 29, saying the online real estate broker offers fewer services to homebuyers and sellers in minority communities—a type of digital redlining that has depressed home values and exacerbated historic injustice in the housing market.

In a complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Seattle, the organizations said that during a two-year investigation they documented the effect of Redfin’s “minimum price policy,’’ which requires homes to be listed for certain prices to reap the benefits of Redfin’s services.

The company was vastly less likely to offer realtor services, professional photos, virtual tours, online promotion or commission rebates for homes listed in overwhelmingly minority neighborhoods than it was in overwhelmingly white ones, the investigation found.

That meant homes in minority neighborhoods were likely to stay on the market longer and sell for lower prices than they otherwise might have, the lawsuit said.

“Redfin’s policies and practices operate as a discriminatory stranglehold on communities of color, often the very communities that have been battered by a century of residential segregation, systemic racism, and disinvestment,’’ the lawsuit said.

The lawsuit comes as the nation reckons with generations of systemic racism, including in real estate. Mortgage lenders and brokers long discriminated by drawing lines on maps—known as redlining—and refusing to provide services for homes outside of white areas, preventing minority residents from building wealth through

homeownership. Though the practice was outlawed decades ago, it has had severe consequences in perpetuating poverty and restricting access to good schools, health care and other amenities.

Litigation in the 1990s and 2000s helped erase similar minimum value policies in the insurance industry, where companies would provide substandard homeowners policies or no policies based on a home’s age and market value.

Redfin, based in Seattle, launched in 2006 and has grown to offer residential real estate brokering, mortgage, title and other services in more than 90 markets in the U.S. and Canada. In a statement, CEO Glenn Kelman insisted that the company had not violated the federal Fair Housing Act, “which clearly supports a business’s decisions to set the customers and areas it serves based on legitimate business reasons such as price.’’

However, he said, the lawsuit raised important questions that Redfin has struggled with.

“Our long-term commitment is to serve every person seeking a home, in every community, profitably,’’ Kelman said. “The challenge is that we don’t know how to sell

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the lowest-priced homes while paying our agents and other staff a living wage, with health insurance and other benefits. This is why Redfin agents aren’t always in lowpriced neighborhoods.’’

Redfin might seem an unlikely target for such a lawsuit: It has previously said it is devoted to eradicating systematic discrimination in the industry and that enabling people of color to find listings online—rather than relying on an agent to show them what homes are available—could help end segregation. Two years ago Kelman hosted a symposium on racial prejudice in real estate.

The company once experimented with awarding realtors commissions based on customer satisfaction rather than sale price, as a way to promote the sale of less expensive homes, but found it difficult to recruit agents who expected to make more money for selling more expensive homes.

But Redfin’s minimum price and other policies have had the opposite effect, according to the National Fair Housing Alliance, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit dedicated to eliminating housing discrimination, and nine of its member organizations. With financial support from U.S. Housing and Urban Development, they studied the policy’s effect in Baltimore; Chicago; Detroit; Kansas City; Long Island, New York; Louisville, Kentucky; Memphis, Tennessee; Milwaukee; Newark, New Jersey; and Philadelphia.

Under the minimum price policy, Redfin doesn’t offer its full services unless homes are listed for certain prices, which vary by market. When potential buyers click on homes that fall below those minimums, they receive a message saying, “Redfin is currently unable to show this property.’’

The lawsuit disputed the notion that Redfin’s practice see REDFIN on 10

NOVEMBER 14 – NOVEMBER 20, 2020

YOUR VOICE BLOG from 6 as rioters and calling his supporters to counter-protest. Trump’s divisiveness inflamed Black voters in Georgia, which pushed Biden’s win and the only Democrat president in 36 years to break Republican’s red states chain on the map.

Beau, Biden’s son who died of brain cancer, had always urged his father to run for president. Before he died, he told his dad, “Promise me you’ll run.” Beau would now be smiling in heaven and saying, “Dad, I told you so.”

ENCOUNTERING A NOBLEMAN Western culture calls Biden a comeback kid after South Carolina’s primary. From the start, Biden looked like an ultimate loser. He lost critical primary elections and his cool after a reporter in Iowa asked him about his son’s involvement in a business

venture. On the debate stage, he gave mediocre performances compared to other Democatic candidates.

So many voters including me, who wanted a change, were skeptical about Biden not because of his character, qualifications, and experience, but because of his age. It was awfully hard to pick the best one out of 17 Democratic candidates, who would be strong enough to beat Trump.

Even a few days before Washington’s primary, I couldn’t decide. The person who convinced me and millions of others to vote for Biden was Congressman Jim Clyburn of South Carolina. He said he knew Biden and his experience, but not other Democrats.

That testimony changed Biden’s political career, it led him to victory. He won South Carolina and other primaries since then, and became the Democratic presidential nominee. His story fits a Chinese proverb, “encountering a nobleman on the road.”

YONAMINE from 5 minutes, the lights went back on and he recognized that fans had thrown trash and bottles in the area where he would have been standing.

According to Amy, many people had issues with him at the beginning.

“They regarded him as a traitor,” she said. He was subject to people calling him to “go home” or “go back,” in reference to him being Japanese American. In addition to the taunts, he was ridiculed for introducing an aggressive style of play, notably sliding into second base to break up a double play by obstructing the second baseman to throw to first.

However, over the years, Yonamine endeared himself to the fans and his teammates. Although he could ride up front on trains, he stayed back in third class with the other players. He slept on the floors of the train instead of the HARRIS from 1 literally into the Oval Office and she’s going to put an intersectional lens on everything this administration does from a gender or race lens,” said Glynda Carr, the president and CEO of Higher Heights, which focuses on electing Black women into political offices.

Harris, a 56-year-old California senator who is the first Black woman and the first person of South Asian descent elected to the vice presidency, has long credited civil rights legends like Shirley Chisholm, Mary McLeod Bethune and Fannie Lou Hamer as sources of inspiration, as well as her Indian mother, Shyamala Gopalan.

On Nov. 7, she paid tribute to the women, particularly Black women, who paved the way for her.

“While I may be the first woman in this office, I will not be the last,” Harris said in her first post-election address to the nation.

Los Angeles mother Kim Rincon sat with her arm around her 9-year-old daughter, Jordan, to watch the speech.

A year ago, Rincon and Jordan had met Harris backstage at a rally during her bid for president in the 2020 Democratic primaries. Jordan gave Harris the “Kamala for President” button she was wearing before Harris crouched to the ground to thank her at eye level.

“Harris was being celebrated as this superstar at that rally and now on stage accepting the vice presidency,” said Rincon, whose daughter is Mexican and Vietnamese American.

“My biggest hope is that Jordan grows up thinking this is normal.”

A similar scene played out in Phoenix, Arizona in Nicol Russell’s home.

As Harris stepped onto the stage,

Clyburn was literally the nobleman Biden needed to save him from failure. A Chinese proverb says, “He is bound for good fortune after surviving a great disaster.”

Since South Carolina, his opponents, one by one, dropped out of their campaigns, and endorsed him. Not only that, they campaigned for him.

BIDEN’S FACIAL ENERGY When Biden first announced his run last year, he stumbled badly. He looked terrible, old, and tired. Republicans spread fake news that he suffered from dementia. Only at the Democratic National Convention, we learned the truth—Biden was a stutterer when he was a child. To some extent, he exhibited a slight stuttering in his speech.

In Chinese culture, facial color is a predictable factor not only for a person’s health, but fortune as well. We regard the color as “energy color.” Biden had none in

sleeping cars that he could have been given.

Yonamine’s staying power in Japan along with his exceptional play eventually made him a fan favorite. He became a well-respected member of the team. He was known for inviting members of his team over to the house for meals and gave out advice to younger players.

“I think people were impressed with how king a man he was.”

After his playing days were over, Yonamine coached the Chunichi Dragons and took the championship of the Japanese league for the first time in 20 years. He then went back to the Tokyo Giants to become a coach. With his accomplishments, he was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame.

Off the field, his wife developed a successful pearl business in Japan in 1964. Yonamine helped out and secured some notable celebrity customers. As the business gained momentum, Presidents George H.W. Bush, Reagan,

Russell’s 5-year-old daughter Makena and her best friend immediately sprang up and ran to the TV. For minutes, they stood transfixed.

“She’s brown like my mom,” Makena told her friend.

For Russell, a Black and Native Hawaiian woman, Harris’ election has profound meaning not just as it relates to her daughter but to herself as well.

“In watching her, I see my sisters, I see my mother. I see every hard-working Black or brown woman,” Russell said. “I see Stacey Abrams. I see Queen Liliuokalani. I see all the women who endured so many terrible things to help clear a pathway for us to have this moment. She symbolizes everything we’ve been working for.”

asianweekly northwest

9

the first part of his campaign, while some of his opponents like Elizabeth Warren looked vibrant and tough.

After he won the South Carolina primary, Biden looked like a different candidate. The energy on his face was back. At an ABC network Town Hall meeting in October, he was in great shape. Days later on the CBS program “60 minutes,” Biden gave a substantial performance, while Trump who had recovered from COVID, was temperatal, frail, and tired.

I could go on and on about Trump‘s misgivings in Chinese cultural perspectives. By now, you understand why former Vice President Joe Biden will be the 46th President of the United States and Kamala Harris, the first woman of color as the Vice President.  Assunta can be reached at assunta@nwasianweekly.com.

and Clinton became customers.

Amy said that baseball was the center of their household growing up, but Yonamine always tried to make time to spend with his children. Even if he played a night game, he’d try to make sure he woke up in time to spend time with his kids and walk them to school. After retiring from managing and coaching baseball, he returned to Hawaii.

He was inducted to Farrington High School Hall of Fame and the state of Hawaii’s Sports Hall of Fame.

He passed away at the age of 85 in February 2011 after a battle with prostate cancer.

Yonamine, along with others, will be honored by the Asian Hall of Fame in a virtual induction ceremony on Nov. 21. Visit asianhalloffame.org for more information about the program.  Jason can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com

Flint, Michigan resident Egypt Otis and her 9-year-old daughter Eva Allen met Harris in September when she stopped by Otis’ bookstore, Comma Bookstore & Social Hub, during a campaign trip focused on Black communities across the battleground state.

So when Allen and Otis watched Harris’ historic speech, it was a full circle moment for the Black mother and daughter.

“My daughter is going to be a part of history because she had the opportunity to have a conversation with our first Black woman vice president,” Otis said. “It just shows you how important representation is.”

In Fairbanks, Alaska, Trina Bailey and her 13-year-old daughter, Leilah, sat arm-in-arm on the couch watching Harris’ speech. It was

a moment of hope and mourning as Bailey reflected on the Black women she loves who never had the chance to step on a stage like that.

“I believe Black women belong in all places where decisions are being made,” said Bailey, who is Black herself. “Today, that’s Senator Kamala Harris. Tomorrow, it’s my daughter, Leilah Bailey.”

Leilah, who wants to be president one day, said Harris’ speech made her confident her dream is possible.

“Young girls are feeling like they are able to do more than they thought they were able to,” Leilah said. “I felt amazing because it made me feel like I had a chance to do things that mostly men have done.” 

10

asianweekly northwest

38 YEARS

NOVEMBER 14 – NOVEMBER 20, 2020

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Plaintiffs: Arun nagarajan and indhu Sivaramakrishnan Defendants: Lian and Susan Chen Summons is for Susan Chen Cause number 19-2-23880-1 SEA Summons Language: TO: SUSAN CHEN You are hereby summoned to appear within sixty days after the date of the first publication of this summons, to wit, within sixty days after the 22st day of October, 2020, and defend the above entitled action in the above entitled court, and answer the complaint of the Plaintiffs, Arun Nagarajan and Indhu Sivaramakrishnan, and serve a copy of your answer upon the undersigned attorney for the plaintiffs, Douglas Wilson at his office below stated: and in case of your failure so to do, judgment will be rendered against you according to the demand of the complaint, which has been filed with the clerk of said court. The action involved damages to the Plaintiff’s trees and outrageous conduct of the defendants.

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was justified by business concerns, noting the company charges a minimum commission for the sales it handles. In Chicago last June, the company didn’t offer services unless the homes were listed for at least $400,000, the lawsuit said. In adjacent, predominantly white DuPage County, however, the minimum price was just $275,000.

In Detroit the same month, the minimum was set at $700,000. In the surrounding, mostly white areas outside the city limits, it was $250,000.

Further, it alleged, Redfin sometimes failed to provide services even when a home’s price topped the minimum.

That was much more common in predominantly minority neighborhoods, including Chicago’s South Side, the organizations said.

Using Census data to compare ZIP codes that are at least 70% white with those that are at least 70% minority, the

SHELF from 7

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The playboy has left his latest film, said

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organizations compared listings for which Redfin offered its “best available service’’ with those for which it offered no service on multiple dates over the past two years.

On June 12, for example, there were 218 homes posted on Redfin in non-white neighborhoods in the Kansas City area. Of them, 16 had Redfin’s best service and 127 were offered no service.

By contrast, there were 4,550 homes in predominantly white neighborhoods of Kansas City. More than half received the best available service and only 14% had no service, the lawsuit said.

Similar disparities were found in other cities, it said. On Long Island last Aug. 20, listings in white ZIP codes were 55 times more likely to receive Redfin’s best service.

In minority ZIP codes of Louisville, none of the 108 homes posted on Nov. 21, 2018, or the 31 homes listed on June 11, 2020, received Redfin’s best service, the groups found.

to be the most expensive in industry history, in jeopardy and his mother has hired Chopra to find him. And where Chopra is, his baby elephant sidekick, Ganesha, is sure to follow. The petite pachyderm is one of my favorite characters of this series. While he is a highly intelligent creature who comes through for Chopra and his team when needed, Ganesha is also a baby and it’s fun to see when his behavior reflects this. Who wouldn’t love to see a baby elephant acting petulant after not getting his way?

As the pair investigate, they uncover feuds, death threats, and bad financial decisions that prove many have motives for wanting Vicky out of the way.

“Bollywood Star” takes readers on an adventure as Khan dives deep into

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The lawsuit asks the court to block any Redfin policies found to violate federal fair housing law and seeks punitive damages.

Brandon Scott, Baltimore’s City Council president and mayoral candidate, sent a letter to Redfin on Oct. 29 calling for an end to the policy.

Lisa Rice, president and CEO of the National Fair Housing Alliance, said the groups did not share their findings with Redfin before filing the lawsuit because past experience with the industry sometimes resulted in long, unsuccessful negotiations that only protracted the issues.

“We have had decades and decades and decades of discriminatory practices in the real estate field,’’ she said.

“Real estate agents are some of the most well-trained professionals in the industry. They know what redlining is.’’ 

a flamboyant film industry. The plot is filled with enough surprises and twists to make your average Bollywood movie proud. Khan will keep readers guessing when it comes to Vicky and his fate and the culprit will surprise even the most adept sleuth.

I also enjoyed the story’s subplot, which delves into India’s transgender community, or eunuchs. As a community that has been shunned, targeted, and persecuted by societies throughout the world, Khan does a great job of reminding readers that they are human just like the rest of us. They have their own hopes and dreams, same as everyone else. And in a world that is growing more and more divided, we should all take care to remember that at the end of the day, we are all human. 

SOLUTION from SUDOKU on page 4.

NOVEMBER 14 – NOVEMBER 20, 2020

YOUR VOICE

■ ASTROLOGY

asianweekly northwest

11

Predictions and advice for the week of November 14–20, 2020

By Sun Lee Chang Rat—Take advantage of a temporary lull in the action to recharge and prepare for busier times ahead.

Dragon—Are two things not aligning correctly?

You should be able to maneuver them into position.

Monkey—In spite of the obstacles in your way, you should be able to find the answers that you seek.

Ox—Despite a recent quiet period, the game is still in play. Be ready to move quickly on a promising opportunity.

Snake—Don’t be lured by outside appearances.

Once you have a look inside, it might not be so desirable.

Rooster—In the mood to be adventurous this week? Consider trying a cuisine that you don’t know very well.

Tiger—The lines have been drawn, but not yet set in stone. If you need to make adjustments, do so soon.

Horse—You have clearly turned a page and you aren’t looking back. Good things lay in store for you.

Dog—An important milestone is coming up. Let it serve as motivation to begin what you have been putting off.

Rabbit—Out of sight can mean out of mind. As such, something that needs to be remembered should be readily visible.

Goat—It’s not always possible to pick up where you last left off. Factor in additional time to catch up.

Pig—Are you a romantic at heart? Surprise your partner with something simple that shows how well you know them.

WHAT’S YOUR ANIMAL SIGN? RAT 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020 OX 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009 TIGER 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010 RABBIT 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011 DRAGON 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012 SNAKE 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013 HORSE 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014 GOAT 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015 MONKEY 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016 ROOSTER 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017 DOG 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018 PIG 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019

*The year ends on the first new moon of the following year. For those born in January and February, please take care when determining your sign.

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12

asianweekly northwest

38 YEARS

NOVEMBER 14 – NOVEMBER 20, 2020

The emptiness of St. Ann that Nguyen described is due to the required social distancing regulations to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, a pandemic that has upended many aspects of American life.

The Catholic Church is no exception.

Churches across America had to close their doors to the public during this time, which could make matters worse for churches already struggling with declining participation. According to a News Gallup poll, over the past two decades, church participation dropped by 20%. Unfortunately, St. Ann has been losing its members steadily since 2015.

“I remember there used to be not enough seats to fit everyone in,” Nguyen said. “Nowadays, it seems there are too many empty seats.”

Father Nguyen is a member of the Archdiocese of Seattle and the pastor of St. Ann Catholic Church in Tacoma, Washington. According to the parish website, it was established in 1924 to accommodate religious services for those living in the orphanage chapel known as St. Ann’s Home. Over time, parishioners started to promote social and volunteer events to strengthen the church community, a community that eventually included more than 1,000 Vietnamese American members.

“The Vietnamese community really came together and turned this into a second home for me, ” Nguyen said.

“People make up pieces of the church and when more people start to leave, more pieces are gone.”

Since the outbreak of the pandemic and the closure of church doors, St. Ann is one of many parishes that has dealt with financial struggles.

“We rely on contributions from donations we collect during services and not receiving that steady income every week has made it very difficult for us to grow in the ways that we want to.”

He said being cut off from that extra money has limited the parish’s ability

Photo from St. Ann Catholic Church’s FB

ST. ANN from 1

The eucharistic youth group

to make physical improvements to the chapel, such as fixing the ventilation and air conditioning, repainting the pews, and creating new playgrounds for kids.

Sister Kim Tran, the Stewardship and Communications Coordinator at St. Ann, also touched on the difficulties of encouraging people to donate money to the church.

“It’s sad because we, as a community, work so hard to make the church what it is and it seems like people don’t have any interest in donating to a church that they aren’t able to go to for a while,” she said.

Both Nguyen and Tran reiterated that parishioners can make online donations, but rarely do. They believe this may be due to the elderly population’s inability to use technology and declining interest in caring for a church they physically can’t attend. Many families have also seen their income decline during the pandemic and can’t afford to donate.

The church’s weekly income has gone down from $7,000 to $5,000, Tran said.

Since churches have been forced to close their doors, services are now held online as a form of virtual worship, something parishioners seem to dislike.

“It’s hard to put Jesus at the forefront of your life and even harder when you have to worship in your own home instead of an actual church,” Nguyen said. “I know there are many people who attend our physical services weekly that choose not to attend our online masses and that’s very disheartening.”

He is also worried about the participation rate and the spiritual needs of his community. A Pew survey and a survey by the Public Religion Research Institute, found that one-third or more who attended regular masses haven’t bothered to attend online services. This could lead to an even more devastating decline in church participation because if people do not feel inclined to attend online masses, they may choose not to attend regular masses when church doors open again.

According to Nguyen, an average of 300 people attended in-person services at St. Ann, but only around 100 people participated in online worship.

Jennifer Mai, a parishioner at St. Ann, participates in online worship weekly. But she admits it’s not the same as in-person services.

“It feels as though I’m not obligated to follow along,” she said. “It’s like a routine that has been disrupted and I can’t keep track of my faith with everything else going on.”

Mai admitted it’s distracting and uncomfortable to fully commit to practicing her faith through online services when she is looking at a computer screen instead of a physical altar or priest.

“The parish is doing their best to set everything up and commit resources to make online services worthwhile,” she said. “Unfortunately, it’s not for everyone and it’s certainly not for me.”

The relationships between people

HE SAID, HE SAID Robbins told the Northwest Asian Weekly that “one guy shoulder checked me”—and Robbins said that it happened twice and that this person got in his personal space.

Nguyen told the Northwest Asian Weekly that Robbins “bumped me, but I don’t think that he intentionally bumped me,” and Nguyen told Robbins, “Hey, don’t touch me bro.”

Nguyen said other protesters tried to

Le can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

defense training in krav maga.

“It saved my butt.”

Photo provided by Do Nguyen

ROBBINS from 1 THE RALLY Robbins learned about the pro-Trump rally on Oct. 17, organized by a local Vietnamese group. He said this group doesn’t like to publicize their events so as to avoid counter protesters.

On Oct. 17, Robbins—who speaks Vietnamese and has been involved with the Vietnamese community for a number of years—showed up with a sign at King Plaza on Martin Luther King Jr. Way South.

It said, in Vietnamese, “You pay more for Vietnamese sandwiches than Trump pays in taxes” and “China owns Trump.

Trump is a traitor. You are a traitor,” on the other side.

Do Nguyen, 52, told the Northwest Asian Weekly he saw Robbins and the sign he was holding, and that he was “happy and glad” that someone was exercising their free speech rights.

within the Vietnamese community of St. Ann may also begin to falter without the ability to communicate through in-person services. This is something that Maria Nguyen, the leader of the Thieu Nhi Thanh The Youth Community at St. Ann, believes could cause a decline in church participation.

“People, especially the younger generation, come to church to not only worship God but to spend time with one another,” she said. “COVID took that away from them, and could take away church participation as a result of the loss of connection.”

Nguyen reiterated that it is not only essential to have a strong connection with God, it is equally important to have a powerful bond with your peers in the religious community, especially in regards to the younger generation.

“People have a tough time balancing their daily lives of school, work, family, and relaxation time and if these kids are not constantly exposed to God’s word and work, it could lead to them dropping out of the religion,” she said.

She believes keeping young people extremely active within the church should be a main priority because they are not as disciplined as adults and could stop going to church altogether if they are not constantly exposed to the St. Ann community.

“We give the kids ample opportunities to connect through dance lessons, choir practices, Vietnamese language classes, Thieu Nhi meetings, bible studies, volunteer events, barbecues, picnics, and so much more,” Nguyen said.

“It’s through these moments that kids are able to realize that they really do belong here, in the presence of friends and presence of God, and I’m hoping we can expand upon that in the near future and make up for the time that COVID took from us.” 

cover Robbins’ sign with their flags and Robbins appeared to get annoyed.

“So he walked back to this original spot,” said Nguyen. “And he bumped me again. I don’t know if he intentionally bumped me or what, but I yelled, ‘Hey, don’t touch me bro!’”

The police report states “a verbal confrontation with members of the crowd escalated to a physical confrontation that left [Robbins] with a cut on the top of his head. After the initial physical confrontation, he attempted to walk away, but a member with the crowd chased him while holding a flag.”

Building security camera footage confirms that Robbins tried to get away repeatedly, and was chased down and beaten. Nguyen said Robbins attacked him first.

Robbins denies that. Robbins said he stood 20 feet across from the rally, held up his sign, and braced for boos and jeers.

“I didn’t want them to think they could have these events unopposed, unanswered,” said Robbins. “Even if it was just me.”

It was just him counter protesting, a calculated risk, Robbins admits. He is 5’10” and has had eight years of self

NOW WHAT? “I want these people to be held accountable,” Robbins told the Northwest Asian Weekly. He said it has been a mental drain to relive the moments where he was choked from behind, stomped on, and kicked. He also said what’s missing in the police report is that the crowd approached him, not the other way around.

Nguyen maintains that Robbins instigated the fight but states, “There shouldn’t be any violence among us.”

Nguyen told the Northwest Asian Weekly that he has tried to reach out to Robbins via Facebook and mutual friends to “say sorry—things like this shouldn’t escalate to what happened,” and to “find peace and understanding, and clear the air.”

Robbins said he has declined to meet with Nguyen “since he was a part of the group that intimidated, harassed, and then ultimately assaulted me, and because I want to be as hands-off with this case as much as possible, instead opting to let the police and city attorney do their work first.”  Ruth can be reached at editor@nwasianweekly.com.