Asian Student Stabbed in Racially Motivated Attack At Indiana University

Syndey Spack, Red & Black Contributor

JAN 18 - A simple bus ride home turned into a life and death situation for one student at Indiana University. The student, who is of Asian descent, was attacked by Billie Davis, 56, on Jan. 11. Davis used a folding knife to repeatedly stab the unsuspecting student in the head, resulting in multiple puncture wounds, as CNN reported. CNN also reported on an affidavit which detailed that the motivating factor for the attack was the student’s race according to Davis, who is White; she claimed that “it would be one less person to blow up our country.”

In an interview, Jim Wimbush, the vice president of Indiana University’s diversity, equity, and multicultural affairs, stated that “No one should face harassment or violence due to their background, ethnicity or heritage.” part of American society. A report from the FBI showed that in 2020, Asian hate crimes rose 73 percent while other crimes rose only 13 percent.

Monroe County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Jeff Kehr told NBC News that “Indiana doesn’t have any hate crime laws.”

Yet it seems violence and harassment like this is becoming a normal

The victim of this hate-filled attack was taken to the hospital following the event to be treated for her wounds, police stated. Online court documents show that Davis is being charged with attempted murder, aggravated battery and battery by means of a deadly weapon.

This lack of law means that there is no way to increase the maximum penalty for the crime due to hate being the motivating factor. However, Kehr says it may be argued to the judge during Davis’s sentencing to increase it beyond the midpoint; this may be allowed by judges if biased factors motivated the crime.