Viewpoints Vol. 99 Issue 11 April 8, 2021 by RCC Viewpoints

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“The young intellectuals are all chanting “‘revolution, revolution.’ But I say the revolution will have to start in our homes by achieving equal rights for women.” -Qiu Jin

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VOL. 99, NO. 11 APRIL 8,

2021

An Associated Collegiate Press two-time national Pacemaker award-winning newspaper, serving as the voice of the students since 1922. VISIT OUR WEBSITE VIEWPOINTSONLINE.ORG

Faculty Association, HR settle dispute Both parties come to agreement of faculty investigations BY ERIK GALICIA EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Te n s i o n s b e t w e e n t h e Riverside Community College District Faculty Association and Human Resources Department eased as both sides came to an agreement over investigations of instructors. Union board members went public with their grievances at recent Board of Trustees and

Academic Senate meetings. While declaring full support for faculty investigations that root out any sort of discrimination, they said they believed HR had gotten out of control in its handling of said investigations. Chancellor Wolde-Ab Isaac was in New York at the time that union board members publicly addressed the issues they were having with HR. While he was gone, the dispute reached

the point where the Faculty Association called for a complete audit of HR and a public hearing on the department. According to Rhonda Taube, Faculty Association president, HR had “gone crazy with what is the latitude of what constitutes an investigation.” “They really seem to be working outside of the bounds of the law,” she said in an interview April 1.

Ta u b e a n d D a r i u s h Haghighat, Riverside City College vice president of the Faculty Association, claimed HR has questioned instructors about “who sits next to who at committee meetings” and “who says hello to who in the morning.” The HR Department is responsible for maintaining a climate that is free of unlawful discrimination, harassment and

retaliation. The department is tasked with overseeing investigations of possible violations of Title V and IX, laws that prohibit discrimination based on ethnicity, nationality, r a c e , g e n d e r, s e x , s e x u a l orientation and other protected characteristics. Lorraine Jones, district Title IX and compliance officer,

See HR on page 5

Student forum addresses reopening BY ERIK GALICIA EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Administrators reiterated details of the Riverside Community College District’s campus reopening plans during an open forum with over 70 students April 6. The district recently announced plans to return to inperson instruction during the fall 2021 semester in a pre-pandemic manner: 80% in-person and 20% online. Chip West, Riverside City College vice president of Business Services, said the 80-20 plan assumes Riverside County will be in a largely non-restrictive tier in August. That plan does not include social distancing requirements or pandemic-related class capacity limits. If the county remains in a more restrictive tier by fall, the corresponding safety measures will remain in effect on campus. “We will follow those to the letter,” West said via Zoom. He added that RCC is fixing air filters in all facilities to meet state safety mandates and is installing personal protective equipment and hand sanitizing stations. Gregory Anderson, RCC president, said vaccinations are strongly encouraged but not

See FORUM on page 3

DANIEL HERNANDEZ | VIEWPOINTS

A fruit vendor prepares food for customers at his stand on Tyler Street near the Tyler Galleria Mall in Riverside on April 3.

Communities rally for street vendors BY JENNIPHER VASQUEZ STAFF REPORTER

Communities across California have joined forces to safeguard street vendors in the wake of a recent homicide. Lorenzo Perez, 45, worked as a street vendor in Fresno, California. He was approached by an 18-year-old male and shot in the head March 21. The 18-year-old pretended he was going to buy something from Perez before murdering him. The incident led to a united

effort by community members and street vendor advocates statewide to provide security, tasers, pepper spray and other forms of protection. Edin Enamorado, 33, of Cudahy, California, is one of many across the state who advocate for street vendors. He provides aid to those who have been attacked or fear for their safety. Enamorado worked with the Bernie Sanders campaign as the regional field director, overseeing five counties between Oxnard and Salinas. He is currently a research

coordinator for USC, which collaborates with the National Institute of Health. Street vendor Gerardo Ivan Olmeda Del Pilar, 22, was brutally attacked while selling fruit in Long Beach on Jan. 16. Enamorado said this attack sparked the movement in support of street vendors. He traveled to Long Beach with his team to help fundraise for the victim and found ways to help others in the community who are at risk of being attacked. “We got several social media comments saying we should give

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EDITORIAL

Dozens rally against AAPI hate in downtown Riverside

Believe your eyes when seeing evidence in Derek Chauvin trial

them tasers, so that’s what we started doing.” Enamorado said. “But then as we started talking to self-defense experts, they said that pepper spray was better.” He said two other attacks against street vendors occured in Long Beach while he was there, prompting him to begin hiring teams of armed security to accompany the vendors while they work. Enamorado funded these resources out of his own pocket in the beginning. Once attention

See VENDOR on page 4

INDEX NEWS LIFE VIEWS EDITORIAL SPORTS

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April 8, 2021

News

NEWS BRIEFS Counseling and Advising Support Riverside City College counselors are available for drop in questions. Currently, they are not able to create comprehensive educational plans. They are advising that students try to drop to attend a drop in session for your appropriate pathway. Schedule Appointment or call (951) 222-8440.

Spring Break Spring break for Riverside Community College District students will run from April 12-18.

Important Dates The last day to drop a course with a “W” is May 14.

Vaccinations Open Riverside County has opened vaccination appointments to all residents ages 16 and older. To make an appointment at a local vaccination site, visit https://www.rivcoph.org/ COVID-19-Vaccine.

The RCC Promise Program The RCC Promise Program is part of a state and nationwide effort to provide affordable education. Full-time eligible students receive free tuition, support for textbooks, priority registration, access to educational and faculty advisors and activities. Certain restrictions apply. If you have additional questions, email The. Promise@rcc.edu.

Model UN Wins Awards The Riverside Community College District Model United Nations team won the Outstanding Delegation Award at the virtual 2021 International Model United Nations Conference in March. The team is a joint delegation with 17 students from five universities in Japan.

Sign up for The Morning View, our weekly newsletter, to receive stories stories curated by our editors right in your inbox on Sunday mornings. To s i g n u p , v i s i t viewpoints online.org and type your email address into the pop-up window.

SCREENSHOT BY LEO CABRAL | VIEWPOINTS

California Community Colleges Eloy Ortiz Oakley held a virtual meeting March 23 with student reporters and answered questions ranging from the reopening of campuses, vaccination rollouts and recent crimes against the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities.

Chancellor addresses fall 2021 plans Virtual meeting covers reopening, vaccines, anti-Asian hate BY CHEETARA PIRY NEWS EDITOR

The head of the California Community Colleges system provided state updates on campus reopenings, vaccinations and hate crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Eloy Ortiz Oakley, California Community Colleges chancellor, said during a teleconference March 25 that fall 2021 goals aim to get students back into classrooms, considering enrollment has dwindled across the state over the past year. “It’s no surprise that there’s been an enrollment decline,” he told student reporters. “But it is concerning. We want to do everything we can to re-engage with those students and get them back enrolled so that they can get to their educational goals as quickly as possible.” The Riverside Community College District has announced it intends to return to inperson instruction as it was pre-pandemic: face-to-face instruction at 80% and online instruction at 20%. Oakley, however, proposed that campus reopenings in the fall would be a “gradual return” with hybrid class options available. “I don’t care which college we’re talking about, they will have to have some sort of hybrid opportunities because not every faculty member can come back, not every staff member can come

back,” he said. “Certainly, not every student will be able to come back. Given that there’s going to be some type of physical distancing guidance, not every classroom can accommodate 100 students at once.” Gregory Anderson, Riverside City College president, said the district’s reopening is entirely up to the Board of Trustees. “If the Board of Trustees says we’re going back 100% then we’re going back 100%,” he said. “What we know is that our trustees and our Chancellor have given us the direction that we’re going back 80-20.” Faculty across the district have raised concerns over the past few weeks about a return to instruction as it was prepandemic resulting in fewer class sections offered. Some have proposed a shift to a more equal mix of in-person and hybrid offerings, while others

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have asked for the data and dialogue that would get that shift rolling. RCC sent a survey to students March 23, though, asking for student input on the type of courses they would be more inclined to register for this upcoming fall. Oakley said a return to campuses would largely entail student vaccinations. The district’s three campuses served as vaccination sites the week of March 29. The district intends to keep vaccinating people at its campuses in the coming months. Although the vaccine cannot be mandated at this point due to the way it was approved, Oakley said the state’s preference is to eventually make it a requirement for students. That decision will become clearer over the next few months, he said.

We want to do everything we can to re-engage with those students and get them back enrolled so that they can get to their educational g o a l s a s qu i ck l y a s p o s s i b l e.

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-Eloy Ortiz Oakley

The argument for a student vaccination requirement, according to Oakley, would be approached as if it were any other inoculation requisite. “There’s lots of vaccinations that are required in order to attend college or other public employment settings,” he said. “That would be no different than the COVID-19 vaccine. There are processes available for that.” With clarity in reopening guidance expected to start coming in, Oakley insisted students begin enrolling for the summer and fall terms as soon as they are able to. “I’m confident that over the next couple of months we’ll see more and more guidance and we’ll see more and more access to the vaccine,” he said. “So the certainty around what fall will look like will become more and more clear.” The state chancellor also knuckled down on safeguarding the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. He said there will be no tolerance for anti-Asian or Pacific Islander violent actions in any shape or form. “There is no connection between our brothers and sisters in the AAPI community and the causes of COVID-19, or the connection to China, or anything else,” Oakley said. “We all need to come together to make sure that we are doing everything we can to protect the Asian American and Pacific Islander community on our campuses.”

April 8, 2020

News

Students ask reopening questions FORUM from page 1

ANGEL PEÑA | VIEWPOINTS

A woman sits peacefully March 27 holding a sight that says “hate has no home here.” Members of the Asian Pacific American Labor alliance gathered at the Dosan Ahn Chang-Ho memorial in support of the victims murdered by a domestic terrorist in Atlanta, Georgia on March 16.

Prominent leaders speak at protest Riverside community stand against recent attacks on Asians BY CHEETARA PIRY NEWS EDITOR

Several dozens gathered in solidarity in downtown Riverside to denounce xenophobia and hate against the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. The diverse crowd converged at the memorial for Dosan Anh Chang-Ho, a Korean independence activist, at the intersection of Main Street and University Avenue at midday March 27. R e p . M a r k Ta k a n o , D-Riverside, was about to leave for Georgia when he heard about the downtown rally. He said that as an Asian American congressman, he felt it was his duty to make a stop and address the recent surge in anti-AAPI hate crimes. “It’s definitely in response to (the) murders of six Asian women in Georgia,” he said about the demonstration. “That crime has awakened people everywhere.” A 21-year-old White man killed eight people, six of whom were Asian women, in Atlanta, Georgia during a killing spree that specifically targeted three massage parlors March 16. The shooter insisted the attack was a result of his sex addiction. Jay Baker, Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office captain, said during a news conference the following day that the shooter wanted to rid the temptation by eliminating massage spas and that this was a result of a “really bad day.” According to police data collected by Cal State San Bernardino’s Center for the

Study of Hate and Extremism, there has been a 145% increase in hate crimes against the AAPI community in the last year. AAPI women have reported abuse and mistreatment at a higher rate. Priya Vedula, medical school student and spokesperson for the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, shared some of the incidents of hate the community has suffered. “We need to bring light to that issue that we’ve been facing this for a long time,” Vedula said. “Hateful rhetoric led to so many happy families facing the rage, getting spit on, beaten. Discrimination is becoming more apparent now in ways that have become more violent and more hurtful, especially to our vulnerable elders and our women.” Asian-owned nail salons in Yucaipa and Riverside have recently been harassed in a string of racist letters that urged them to leave the country. The mayor of Eastvale, Jocelyn Yow, was frustrated and said she felt paralyzed when watching the news. She had just held a vigil a week prior at Eastvale City Hall but was apprehensive that rallies are not enough. Yow made the point of incorporating ethnic studies at the K-12 level as a means of curbing racism for future generations. “Too often, a lot of people don’t know a whole lot about A s i a n A m e r i c a n h i s t o r y, ” she said. “It’s not just these hate crimes. Racism has been happening in this country for decades, for centuries.” Yow pointed to anti-Asian legislation enacted by the U.S.

government, including the Page Act of 1875, an anti-immigration law that targeted Asian women, the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, the Japanese internment camps of World War II and the murder of Chinese American Vincent Chin by two White men in 1982. “We need to make sure that those stories, our stories, our voices are included in the history book and that people are aware about that,” she said. “We need to make sure history doesn’t repeat itself.” Takano attributed the rise of hate crimes in the AAPI community to the frustrations brought on by the pandemic. He said irresponsible rhetoric from former President Donald

Trump stoked further resentment in an already angry minority. The congressman suggested several avenues for keeping AAPI communities safe and seen. “We need to review the extent to which we have outreach into the different AAPI areas,” Takano said. “We need to understand whether law enforcement has the capacity to be able to communicate in those languages. We need to make sure we cultivate the voices of AAPI communities on advisory boards.” Yow said the protest gave her a “glimmer of hope.” “It made me realize that while there’s hate, the opposite of that end is also love,” she said. “And everyone is here because they have chosen love and unity.”

ANGEL PEÑA | VIEWPOINTS

Rep. Mark Takano, D-Riverside, gives a speech at the AAPI protest in downtown Riverside on March 27.

required at this point. The district will adjust that policy if state guidance changes in the coming months. RCCD’s three colleges served as vaccination sites for employees the week of March 29 and Anderson said the aim is to vaccinate students next. Administrators said the district will be able to adjust quickly should the pandemic worsen, but students remained concerned. Erika Stocker, a student who works in retail, said many at her workplace have failed to follow COVID-19 regulations and worried about the college’s plans to address students who do the same. “We will not allow a student or an employee who violates district or college policy to continue,” Anderson said. According to Anderson, there have been no on-campus infections over the past year. We s t s a i d i f a s t u d e n t contracts the virus on campus, those who came into contact with the infected person will be notified about their exposure, but the student’s identity will be protected. The infected student would be required to quarantine for 14 days. Many were concerned by the district’s communication about its plans. Associated Students of RCC members said one email sent to students March 12 was not enough. ASRCC did not have the answers to questions raised by the student body. “We’re putting the pieces in place right now,” Anderson said. “The next step is to continue working on the schedule and get that out to students. You will be receiving more communication, but right now we’re just planning within the parameters that were already announced.” Stefany Moctezuma, ASRCC vice president, raised concerns over students not being asked for input on the reopening plans before they were announced. “You might have been asked the same questions,” she told administrators. “Why? We care about other students, we care about ourselves, we care about our family. You guys might not know what’s going on on this side of the screen.” Moctezuma encouraged students to reach out to ASRCC with any questions or concerns. Administrators acknowledged that reopening communication has been lacking, and that faculty and staff have also raised similar concerns. FeRita Carter, RCC vice president of Student Services, said the district’s Safe Return Task Force will provide bimonthly communication and that Chancellor Wolde-Ab Isaac will begin holding monthly open forums on reopening as well moving forward.

April 8, 2020

News

ANGEL PEÑA | VIEWPOINTS

A woman and her child give out water bottles and keepsakes to several dozens at a rally for solidarity with victims of anti-Asian violence March 27 in downtown Riverside.

Multiple college groups discuss racism Organizations band together against anti-Asian hate BY JESSICA LOPEZ STAFF REPORTER

Three college-based organizations came together with a message of allyship in response to the recent spikes of violence against the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. The webinar titled “Silence is Violence: Unpacking and Addressing Anti-AAPI Violence” was presented through Zoom on March 27. It had participants from organizations such as the Asian Pacific Americans in Higher Education, African American Male Education Network and Development, and the California Community College Organización de Latinx Empowerment Guidance

& Advocacy for Success. “Stop the Hate,” a video presentation, showed members of the AAPI community discussing their individual interests — a lighthearted moment before clips of hate crimes compiled. The video drove panelist and vice chancellor of Human Resources at Chabot-Las Positas Community College District Wyman Fong to tears. “I’m sorry that this was heavy,” Fong said. “But this is real and has been growing in our community for over a year now.” Panelists answered scripted and live questions about how people could actively oppose antiAsian racism in their own lives. They proposed taking a further look at one of the root causes of

anti-AAPI violence, centering the discussion on how White supremacy has affected each of the panelists’ lives as people of color. Cynthia Olivo, Pasadena City College vice president of Student Services, called attention to what White supremacy does at the macro level. She used the narrative of “othering and exclusion” as an example. “We need to work together to do everything we can to dismantle that, to disrupt it, using our agency, from wherever we’re at,” Olivo said. “It’s important for us to be united with each other in solidarity.” The panelists said people should bring awareness to issues going on in all communities not

just the ones they belong to. The panelists did not hold back on addressing the fight for equality and justice. They noted the difficulties of uniting different minority groups when it comes to trying to understand each other’s unique issues. Dyrell Foster, Las Positas College president, spoke about his experience combating racism while also raising a multicultural family. “ We s h o u l d n e v e r b e comparing our struggles to one another,” Foster said. “Anger and frustration, and sadness. These are feelings that everyone has experienced. These are feelings that we all have.” The coalition made it clear

that during their fight against the structures held up by White supremacy, they do not support generalizations made about White people. They acknowledged the presence of many allies that do the work to understand root causes of racism, using self awareness as a tool to understand and uplift voices from minority groups. “If you feel uncomfortable by sitting on the sidelines, then that’s a problem” said Erin Vines, Antelope Valley College vice president of Student Services. “So jump all in. We cannot let hate be normalized because it happens so much. We have to address it each time we experience it.”

Fresno killing of vendor sparks community action and protection VENDOR from page 1 toward his work grew, he created a GoFundMe for people to contribute. The donations have significantly increased, allowing Enamorado the ability to provide self-defense mechanisms to street vendors. His advice to those wanting to get involved and help street vendors within their own communities is to talk to them first. “Try seeing what the vendors have experienced and offer what they need,” Enamorado said. “Make sure you give them the help and if you don’t have much, maybe just (drive) around making sure they’re good and giving them company while they’re working.”

He encourages anyone to reach out to him on social media so they can work together to organize safety nets for street vendors in their communities. Enamorado has worked closely in Fresno with a fellow advocate for street vendors, Alexandria Ramos-O’Casey, to provide pepper spray to local vendors. Ramos-O’Casey was his former supervisor when he worked for the Bernie Sanders campaign. She reached out to him after the death of Perez in an effort to broaden safety resources for street vendors. She said the work being done has grown into a community effort by local volunteers in Southeast Fresno, college clubs and friends or families of local street vendors.

The organizers have been reaching out to potential volunteers in the Bay Area, Los Angeles, Bakersfield and Hanford. “This is going to continue to expand,” Ramos-O’Casey said. “We want to make sure that we’re aware of the resources, aware of the best practices and just make them easier to access for the vendors who are asking for this type of support.” Her team is also working to provide audio and video recording devices to vendors. She said they have requested the devices due to unfavorable encounters with local law enforcement and described an incident with a fruit vendor who was jailed for attempting to use his knife in self-defense when a group attempted to rob him.

“When they are trying to enact their self-defense rights, oftentimes our police departments aren’t very nice about it,” RamosO’Casey said. The fruit vendor believed the police were there to help him take down information about the robbery, but instead he was arrested and taken to jail for a month after the incident. “This innocent man was put in jail, risked his life not only with all this money he was losing from not being able to work for a month, but at the same time risking his life in the middle of a pandemic in a jail that’s full of (COVID-19),” she said. The charges against the fruit vendor were eventually dropped and he was released due to lack of evidence.

Ramos-O’Casey said the incident with the fruit vendor is one of many examples of how the recording devices will maintain their innocence and allow them to do their job. Free self-defense classes for street vendors are now being hosted locally in Fresno and in areas of Southern California that Enamorado has helped provide safety resources to. “When Lorenzo passed, it not only reminded us of how much violence these folks are going through, but also just how many other systemic issues they’re going through,” RamosO’Casey said. “Something needs to be done or else this really has an unfortunate opportunity to continue and we didn’t want that to happen.”

April 8, 2021

News

Workers react to move into orange tier

Concerns linger, optimism arises as Riverside County reopens BY ISABEL WHITSETT STAFF REPORTER

Riverside County has moved into the orange tier and, while worry lingers, many workers are looking forward to more hours on the clock. The moderate risk level lessens capacity restrictions for most social settings, such as gyms and restaurants. There are no capacity restrictions for retail stores in the orange tier. Cynthia Carlos, Aéropostale manager at Riverside’s Tyler Galleria Mall, is not in full support of having no restrictions just yet. “I don’t think it’s the best idea,” she said. “A lot of people don’t follow social distancing rules in the store as is, so it’s a little risky.” Retail stores allowed a maximum capacity of 50% in the red tier and 25% capacity in the purple tier. Celeste Dominguez, Zumiez manager at the Tyler Mall, said people have mistaken the progression of tiers for safety. “People perceive this shift into the red tier as having freedom to do whatever they want,” she said. “But we aren’t entirely safe yet.” However, Dominguez is not entirely opposed to the move into the orange tier.

DANIEL HERNANDEZ | VIEWPOINTS

Patrons eat an array of meals in the patio area of the Food Lab in downtown Riverside on April 3. “We missed out on a whole year of our lives,” she said. “Being able to go out and do the things we’ve missed out on will be nice to do again.” Elizabeth Dickson, a Moreno Valley parks and recreation worker, said gyms, retail stores, amusement parks and restaurants opening and allowing a higher capacity of people means more hours and money for essential workers. “When COVID-19 started, I had a lot of hours taken away from me,” Dickson said.

She added that the shift into the orange tier is exciting because it means more hours under her belt and money in her pocket. L a N i e c e Ta y l o r , B J ’ s Restaurant and Brewery hostess in Moreno Valley, said she is concerned about the consistency of California’s plan. “Being in the red tier as a restaurant worker means we could either stay open or we could close again, depending on the positive cases recorded,” she said before the shift. “The unknown is what worries me.”

Although cautious, Taylor supports a move into the orange tier. “There are a lot of people struggling,” she said. “Things getting back to normal will hopefully help.” Daniel Acosta, another BJ’s employee, said that these are still trying times, regardless of the county moving through tiers. “It’s still stressful putting myself and my family at risk,” he said. California’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy allowed restaurants

an indoor capacity of 100 people, or 25%, in the red tier. Those numbers double in the orange tier. Similar rules apply to gyms, which are now open indoors with modifications. They are at 25% capacity in the orange tier. Arelise Barrientos, a Moreno Valley College student and assistant manager at LA Fitness in Riverside, also supports a move to the orange tier. “Many gym goers won’t cancel their memberships and more people will start to sign up with us again once they know amenities like the pool and sauna are available,” she said. B a r r i e n t o s ’ c o - w o r k e r, Riverside City College student Brandie Serles, said the gym closure was not easy. “Unemployment was tough,” she said. “Figuring out my finances and how to make everything work with no job was a challenge.” Serles said her uneasiness about struggling financially is finally being put to rest now as the county continues forward with less limitations for businesses. “It is a stress reliever to know that we are opening our gyms and coming back to work,” she said. “I can’t wait for LA Fitness members to get their money’s worth since they haven’t had full access to all gym amenities.”

Instructors union alleges several problems in HR department HR from page 1 r e s p o n d e d t o Ta u b e ’s a n d Haghighat’s claims through Chris Clarke, the district’s public information officer. “This assertion is patently false and damaging to the district,” Jones said through Clarke. “The responsibility to ensure the district appropriately stops, investigates and prevents discrimination, harassment and retaliation is a serious one and not taken lightly.” Clarke also relayed that Jones said nearly every law that governs the district’s response to complaints of discrimination, harassment and retaliation has changed in the past several years as a result of significant social justice movements. The PIO cited the #MeToo movement, the Penn State sexual abuse scandal, the college admissions scandal, the Brock Turner rape case and other notable

cases. “Title IX and Title V, and the California Education Code have all changed in light of these and other national issues,” Jones said in her statement. “The rules that govern these processes do not create or allow for an exemption for faculty.” But the union members said the line between what requires an investigation and what does not had been blurred. They alleged that, in some instances, minor occurrences were investigated while major ones were not. Much of what was investigated did not fall under what is considered a Title V or IX violation, Haghighat said. According to Haghighat, faculty disputes and issues between instructors and students were being sent to HR when they should have been handled by vice presidents and deans at the

individual colleges. Private law firms hired by the district perform investigations, as agreed upon by RCCD and the union. Delisle Warden, district general counsel and chief of staff, commented about the hiring of attorneys through Clarke that “the district uses various firms, depending on expertise, training and availability.” The Faculty Association requested documents from the district that detail the costs of faculty investigations, citing the California Public Records Act and the Educational Employment Relations Act as the legal basis for the union being entitled to those records. Taube and Haghighat shared the request to HR in a series of emails provided to district employees between March 11 and April 1. They asked for all financial

documents related to the costs of investigations and the HR Department’s budget. The request was met with resistance based on the confidential nature of certain aspects of the documents. The initial response did not sit well with the Faculty Association, which considered filing with the Public Employment Relations Board to resolve the issue. Things changed when Isaac recently made it back to Riverside and listened to the union’s concerns in hours-long meetings. “We reached an agreement that the issues need to be tackled in a meaningful manner,” he said. According to Haghighat, Isaac said the district will provide the financial documents it can legally provide. “We don’t want to compromise confidentiality,” Haghighat said. “But all other information will be provided.”

A union email sent to faculty April 7 commended the district for providing the documents and lamented dragging Warden into the dispute. It also said the Faculty Association could continue negotiating with the district in good faith. Haghighat said Isaac also told him he would ask HR management and Warden to work directly with the Faculty Association. “We agreed that HR needs to revamp and reorganize itself and work through these problems,” he said. “We agreed to structure the union and HR to work together in the agreement about law firms that are hired to conduct faculty investigations. Their credentials must be approved by both HR and the Faculty Union so both sides have confidence in the decision.” The only thing left to do is de-escalate the built up animosity, he added.

April 8, 2021

LIFE

“ Somet imes t he fut ure changes quickly and completely, and we’re left with only the choice of what to do next. We can choose to be afraid of it ... or we step forward into the unknown and assume it w ill be brilliant.” - SANDRA OH

IMAGE BY ARSAL ASIF AND DANIEL HERNANDEZ | VIEWPOINTS

A screenshot depicts a still of Viewpoints’ first Non-Fungible Token. Follow @RCCViewpoints on social media to find out how to bid on the downloadable version of this NFT.

NFTs bring digital artists safer source of income

Industry boom, cryptocurrency let creators take charge of transactions TIMOTHY LEWIS STAFF REPORTER

The art world at large is in a stirred presence after the sale of a Non-Fungible Token made by digital artist “Beeple” for a whopping $69 million March 11. Non-Fungible Tokens are currently taking the creative and crypto world by storm. Similar to the Mona Lisa or your favorite t-shirt, these digital tokens have unique properties that cannot be replicated, making them one of a kind pieces. Digital Artist Mike Winklemann also known by the pseudonym “Beeple” started his piece “Everydays: The First 5,000 Days,” a compilation of 5,000 images, in 2007. He vowed to finish a piece of digital art from start to finish everyday for the next 14 years. The collection of images was sold for $69 million within hours of being put up for sale at Christie's auction house. Beeple’s “First 5,000 Days” was the first piece of digital art ever auctioned at Christie’s. The recent purchase was just one of many NFTs that have sold for seven to eight figure sums. The digital art phenomenon’s popularity boosted overnight, attracting fans of art, resale culture and the average internet user simply interested in this rising new trend. NFTs are legitimized by being linked to blockchains like

IMAGE COURTESY OF WORLD SPECTRUM | PIXABAY

Large sums of cryptocurrency, such as Bitcoin, are being used to buy NFTs safely. Ethereum or Bitcoin. Blockchains are a digital ledger system that publicly records digital content transactions, guaranteeing the buyer that the person trying to sell an item is in fact the real owner of said item. NFTs are changing the meta of how we share, create and own art, giving artists who were once only able to gain likes and follows off of their hard work an opportunity to make an income off of what they love doing more easily than ever before. The digital art market is booming. This year alone it has made over $250 million in profit for artists and digital creators

everywhere. Many consider this digital art trade a fad that is sure to evaporate over time due to its absurdity. People are paying large sums of cryptocurrency to digitally own an intangible computer file that any person can download themselves for free. Very similar to the dot com boom of the mid ’90s, NFTs have great potential for changing how we interact with art for years to come. Though nearly every website can be accessed for free, the rights to the domains of these sites are extremely valuable and projected to be worth even more

in the foreseeable future. There is now a market demand for digital content more than ever. User-generated products, profile pictures, animated shorts, augmented reality art and filters are suddenly all valuable items people are willing to pay for. Digital art is a medium that has been around for decades but seldom gets the credit deserved as a legitimate form of art. NFTs are a step toward a greater appreciation for the most commonly consumed art form outside of film and music. Though commissions were often used for artists to create a profit, never before has there been an option for a digital artist

to have an auctionable piece that could simply be electronically sent to the owner. Notable Japanese contemporary artist Takashi Murakami recently became the latest addition among celebrity contributors to this rising trend. He shared his first NFT piece on Instagram on March 29, explaining his intentions of making digital art work as well as his inspirations for getting involved with virtual art originally. “The transformation of the reality of (the) virtual world for me occurred during this pandemic when I saw the way my children interact with ‘Animal Crossing: New Horizons,’” Murakami said in the post. “They were watching some fireworks display within the game while talking with their school friends, who they could no longer meet in person, through Zoom.” He admired the display. “I saw the reality of the shifting values when I realized that these children could discern beauty within a virtual world,” he said. Murakami, like many of us, has seen how technology has allowed us to connect, share and create with one another across vast distances. Knowing this, he has decided to change how he expresses himself through his work, with NFTs being the new mode of creation and distribution.

April 8, 2021

Life

Rap single addresses anti-Asian racism

BY JACOB QUEZADA STAFF REPORTER

ERIK GALICIA | VIEWPOINTS

A white dove walks among hand-painted stones at the Coronavirus Memorial and Peace Garden in Menifee’s Central Park on March 16.

A white dove for every victim

Menifee garden honors residents lost to COVID-19 BY LIV PEARSON STAFF REPORTER

Ornamental white doves line the tree branches in a Menifee garden, overlooking countless white stones. There are 153 of them spread across 12 crepe myrtle trees. Each bird, donated by the city’s Alayvilla family, represents a Menifee resident who has died of COVID-19. Lesa Sobek, mayor pro tem of Menifee, said she heard heartbreaking stories from families who have lost loved ones to the pandemic, as well as stories of relief from those who overcame the virus. The community’s experiences led her to want do something to show respect toward her constituents. “The garden is here for anyone who has felt the effects of the virus or is grieving and just needs a place to sit and get some peace,” she said. The memorial garden was accomplished with the help of local businesses such as Louie’s Nursery and Landscape, which provided a generous donation of stones. The stones were painted white by members of the Menifee community and are available for park visitors to decorate. They are meant to pay homage to loved ones affected by COVID-19 and people who may be dealing with other hardships. Many of the stones were dedicated to parents and grandparents who have passed away. “Mama, you were a bright light that will never dim,” reads one stone decorated with a sun, hearts and flowers. Another, dedicated to a father, is painted gold and black,

with the logo of the New Orleans Saints in the center. An angel on a larger stone, painted by artist Linda Morrison, stands upright and looks over the rest. The city and Menifee’s Interfaith and Community Service Council held an event in early March celebrating the opening and dedication of the peace garden. “This is a community that cares about each other,” Mayor Bill Zimmerman said. “All of us are hurting. We’ve all lost family members and friends that meant so much to us. This is an opportunity for a community to come together in support of each other.” The memorial is located at the park’s entrance, next to the fountain. Stones remain available for community members to stop by and paint. “There are going to be people who come here privately on their own and spend time here, getting that catharsis, that feeling of release and a little bit of closure for some of the personal feelings that they’re having,” Zimmerman said. “This goes on beyond today.” Sobek likened Menifee to a family as it navigated the struggles of the past year. “We take budget, we build bridges and we take care of each other,” she said. A trio of doves was released into the garden during the ceremony. They were unable to catch one of the birds when it was over and it remained in flight over the garden. Sobek called the remaining bird a symbol of what the memorial stands for. A video of the dedication can be viewed on the Menifee City Hall Facebook page.

ERIK GALICIA | VIEWPOINTS

A white stone memorializes someone’s father. The garden is lined with undecorated white stones available for residents to handpaint in honor of whoever they have lost in the past year.

ERIK GALICIA | VIEWPOINTS

The Coronavirus Memorial and Peace Garden is open to anyone. It is located at the entrance of Central Park in Menifee.

Kero One stepped back from his usual serenading jazzy beats to put forth a call to action against the rise in anti-Asian hate with his latest anthem. The Asian American hip-hop artist has a clear message: Pull out your cameras and film. He employs videography as the means to combating racism in society. His single “The Loud Minority” begins with a statement and a question: “Any ethnicity can be racist / When Xenophobia reaches over you, can your neighbors be faceless?” The song blends his lyrics with audio clips of viral videos revealing anti-Asian epithets and violence, the sampling of which can be heard in the background. The Brooklyn Umbrella Attacker, Anna Lushchinskaya, is heard striking a subway commuter as she hurls a derogatory slurs. Director General of the World Health Organization Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus’ speech is exerted, stating “The greatest enemy we face is not the virus itself. It’s the stigma that turns us against each other.” The shift in paradigm from combating a virus to treating communities as the virus becomes the dialogue of “The Loud Minority.” Kero presents the case that vitriolic hate toward Asian Americans is scapegoated from communal economic hardships and other personal pitfalls. “This is my truth, our truth, so snap out of your coma / And stop blaming entire ethnic groups for the corona / Your business might be failing / Or grandmother is ailing / Or simply the seed that was planted in your hearts prevailing.” His pacifistic approach of rubber and glue is highlighted in the chorus, “Keep on saying how you feel / And I’mma keep my camera phone concealed.” The verses hit home and call attention to the power of multimedia in fighting the alarming surge in anti-Asian hate. “They are staring us down because our masks don’t appeal / They’re the virus, I ain’t Jewish but my facts Israel / I got no solution so the conclusion I feel / If you see some racist s--- go down / Pull out your cameras and film.” Not straying far from the rest of his projects, Kero’s single offers a glimpse into the receiving end of racism and a reality check for victimizers and bystanders. His sampled use of news broadcast coverage and viral videos, coupled with his underlying message of documenting instances of racism, reveals that hateful acts can go as viral as an epidemic.

‘Nobody’ dad breaks bad Loveable lawyer snaps into action in new film BY ALYSSA ALDRETE LIFE EDITOR Bob Odenkirk has taken a beat down for the last 11 years. After several stints in the sketch comedy world during the late ’80s and early ’90s, Odenkirk struck gold in 2009 with his Emmynominated character Saul Goodman, a shifty lawyer that often finds himself at the brunt end of violence, courtesy of his methmanufacturing clients in AMC’s crime drama “Breaking Bad.” Odenkirk ended many episodes of “Breaking Bad” and the long-running spinoff series “Better Call Saul” with bloody teeth and black eyes. But when the new action film “Nobody” opened with a shot of a bloody, beaten Odenkirk smoking a cigarette in handcuffs and being interrogated by two detectives, it included all the points of the cliché “how did we get here” scene, with the long-time comedian seemingly now the root of the violence around him. I laughed it off immediately. Odenkirk has become so synonymous with the cowardly, wisecracking Goodman character to me that I truly felt I could never buy him in an intimidating role. But as the film ensued, I realized that all Odenkirk needed to rebrand himself as the guy giving the beatdowns was to link up with screenwriter Erik Kolstad. Kolstad, the writer and producer of “Nobody,” has begun building somewhat of a niche rebranding former funny guys as believable badasses. He is the brains behind the “John Wick” trilogy, which solidified Keanu Reeves (formerly most known for the “Bill and Ted” franchise) as a certified “guy you don’t want to mess with” action character. Together, Kolstad and director Ilya Naishuller paint a quick picture of this “nobody” for the audience in the first 10 minutes of the film. After the initial interrogation scene, we are met with a “weeks earlier” screen, followed by a montage of Hutch Mansell’s (Odenkirk) mundane, repetitive routine: the light jogs of a middle-aged man trying to stay in shape, sitting mindlessly behind a computer at a nine to five office job, coming home to a detached wife complaining about his neglected honey-do list and the disinterested conversations with his two children. When the family experiences an attempted robbery in the middle of the night, Hutch, raising a bat over the two mid-20s thieves, decides not to take a swing and lets the criminals get away unscathed. His lack of fight is met with disappointment from everyone, including his son, his neighbors and his boss, who also happens to be his father-in-law. With an ego bruised even more than before, Hutch sits with a need to prove himself. After tracking down the robbers to retrieve a special stolen keepsake, he hitches a ride on the Metroline bus and witnesses a group of sleazy guys taunting a young woman riding alone. In a matter of minutes, Hutch goes from kindly asking the bus driver and woman to vacate the bus, to single-handedly beating the five armed Russian men to a pulp. Although there are a few cringy oneliners expected from a middle-aged dad

before provoking the fight, Odenkirk delivers the action scene I think we all needed to see after a lack of production of these types of films due to the strains COVID-19 has put on the movie industry. It’s the type of scene that makes us moviegoers dodge our heads along with every punch thrown, all with huge grins on our faces. Following the action-movie formula, these were obviously the wrong guys to piss off. An action-packed unraveling of Hutch’s previous life ensues as he fights the bigger battle against a handful of the Russian mob’s most ruthless criminals. Let’s leave it at this: the perfect combination that is the reveal of a basement turned heavily-secured hidden bunker, Hutch’s wife Becca’s (Connie Nielsen) suspiciously pristine suture skills and the unlikely intertwining of Odenkirk, Christopher Lloyd, Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA and a warehouse full of automatic weapons is something I didn’t know I needed when walking into a movie theater for the first time in over a year. It’s blatantly obvious that Naishuller (also the director of “Hardcore Henry”) is trying to stamp his cinematography style on all that he touches, including many more slow-motion scenes put to awkward song choices than needed. But to be fair, in a film making Odenkirk an action hero for the first time, the irony almost seems necessary. There’s nothing to laugh about in the intense “John Wick” universe. But if I didn’t end up chuckling more than a few times during this particular action film, I would have thought that Odenkirk failed at this endeavor. However, to no one’s surprise, he embodies this role to perfection. Hutch Mansell is believable as both the routine-ridden, quirky dad and the suckerpunching, semiautomatic wielding exassassin — a feat I don’t believe would have been accomplished without any player involved in this film’s team. It’s very fastpaced with a few dad jokes sprinkled in, but ultimately, “Nobody” gives action and comedy fans alike a refreshing and enjoyable first experience back into the cinematic world we’ve all missed.

“

Hutch Mansell (Bob Odenkirk) is believable as both the routineridden, quirky dad and the semi-automat ic wielding ex-assassin.

”

- Alyssa Aldrete, film critic

PHOTO COURTESY OF UNIVERSAL PICTURES

April 8, 2021

Life

Show Me the Body satisfies with new album Three-track project a ‘strong seven and a half out of 10’ BY STEPHANIE ARENAS STAFF REPORTER

New York-based hardcore punk band Show Me The Body has once again satisfied fans with their new EP “Survive.” Inspired by the sounds of hiphop and noise rock, Show Me The Body has released two albums and four EPs to date. The newest addition “Survive” was released March 19, and so far, has been given nothing but positive reviews by the band’s fan base. While the EP itself pleased many who had a listen, it is only three songs long and runs a little under 10 minutes, which is definitely not enough for an avid fan. The EP begins with the song “Rubberband,” a fun little ditty that begins at an almost slow pace. However, as the song progresses, the beat picks up and leaves you head banging by the end. It is not just the instrumental that leaves the fans wanting more. The lyrics feel relatable as well. “Rubberband” paints a picture of a man who is aching for the meaning of life. The man feels as though there is no point to living if life is just filled with pain and loss — a feeling that most teens and young adults may find themselves in. The second song of the EP is “People on TV.” While a catchy tune, it is by far the least memorable. The song in itself is only three minutes long but feels as though it drags on. It is definitely one of the band’s weaker songs. The final song of the EP is “Survive,” a tune that I strongly believe to be the best on the album. This song has energetic instrumentals, passionate vocals and strong lyrics: all the elements that diehard fans so desperately crave from the band. While the other songs were definitely groovy and thrashing in their own way, it felt as though there was still something missing. But everything about “Survive” feels complete. Overall, I give the album a strong seven and a half out of ten. There is definitely some heart in these songs, but it still feels as though the band could have given more. While the EP feels incomplete, it is still a pretty decent album. Perhaps something that one could play in the background while finishing up chores. Other than that, it for sure is not the group’s best work.

IMAGE COURTESY OF HBO MAX

“Godzilla vs. Kong” is available for streaming exclusively on HBO Max. It was directed by Adam Wingard and is his highest-grossing movie.

Godzilla, Kong have come a long way

Mega monsters fight it out CGI-style in new adaptation BY TYRESE BLUE STAFF REPORTER

Kong sleeps on the side of a cliff surrounded by a forestry area of Skull Island. A young deaf girl named Jia (Kaylee Hottle) approaches him with the intention of comforting him and he suddenly throws a large spear mid-air and hits a digital screen, revealing that Kong is being held captive in a large containment facility by the Monarch Organization on Kong Island, which is set up to look like his natural habitat. The reason for his containment is to protect him from Godzilla. But “Kong bows to no one.” “Godzilla vs. Kong” is considerably director Adam Wingard’s biggest film — it’s his largest budgeted and highest grossing movie to date. The film is considered to be part of the “Kaiju” genre, a type of Japanese film style that highlights “giant monsters.” Dr. Nathan Lind (Alexander Skarsgard) is sent by the Apex company to help transfer Kong to A ntarctica, w here there supposedly lies an entrance to his ancestral homeland. However, during Kong’s transport by ship, Godzilla emerges from the deep

ocean waters and starts attacking the fleet of ships, ultimately taking out the majority of them. When Kong is finally released, Jia, who we learn is able to communicate with Kong through sign language, encourages him to enter the underground passage. The fleet follows Kong by using Apex aircraft carriers and they all eventually arrive at the center of the hollow Earth, where it seems life is plentiful and other giant animal species exist. This is where Kong uncovers his origins and presumably finds his new home. Kong’s relationship with Jia goes beyond what’s shown in the film. Jia is the last surviving member of the Iwi people, who inhabited Skull Island for thousands of years until a storm wiped them out. She becomes a central character to this particular story, since she is the only human Kong is willing to trust and communicate with after he saves her from the devastating storm. This connection is also an Easter egg since it implies that Jia has psychic senses abilities. She senses Godzilla approaching the transport ship and attempts to warn everyone on board. This ability to communicate

and sense the presence of monsters has been seen in the past in “Godzilla” and Kanji films in general. The character Miki Seagusa appears in the Japanese “Godzilla” films and is able to telepathically communicate, sense the location of Godzilla and was a head of the institution for psychic children. Despite the title of the film implying Godzilla and Kong are both protagonists, Godzilla sees little screen time in comparison to Kong. Godzilla is portrayed as the antagonist from the beginning of the film, destroying the Apex factory and attacking Kong. However, not everything is what it seems. Madison (Millie Bobby Brown) points out “there’s a reason why he was provoked.” This foreshadows that we shouldn’t judge Godzilla’s intentions so quickly. Godzilla has both reasonable and selfish motives for attacking both Kong and the Apex company. Killing Kong would ensure his status and dominance as the King of Titans of the surface of the Earth. He also knows Apex is creating a weapon that poses a threat to him and all Titans. These circumstances lead to the final battle of the film. The outcome is exhilarating.

Despite the Apex company and its founder Walter Simmons (Demian Bichir) being perceived as the villains, I believe their intentions aren’t all that immoral. Their creation of Mechagodzilla is meant to terminate Godzilla and end all other Titans’ reigns so humanity will no longer have to live in fear of the giant monsters. Ultimately, their plans go wrong and their own creation leads to their demise. The focus of the movie is more on visual pleasure for the audience than an award-winning on screen performance. The captivating and thrilling visual effects and CGI Godzilla and Kong make this film. The human characters are the vessels that carry the audience through the story of the giant Titans. This is why I don’t see much reason in criticizing the actual actors’ performances, which were convincing overall. The film also uses some cliches, such as the clever scientists and corrupt, villainous corporation. Overall, the film is a thrilling pleasure with striking visual effects and an intriguing plot. Although it has some unnecessary cliches and side characters, make no mistake about it: This box office hit lives up to people’s expectations.

April 8, 2021

Views

“This is actually the purpose of language — to give meaning to concepts as they evolve.”

- Alok Vaid-Menon

MICHAEL FLESHMAN | FLICKR

A woman holds a sign that reads, “Voter Suppression Is UnAmerican” and marches amongst others in a peaceful demonstration.

Republican Party seeks electoral gains Voter suppression rampant, country needs to take action now

BY PAUL QUICK STAFF REPORTER

The Republican Party is mad as hell and they are not going to take it anymore. What is the “it,” you ask? The “it” is losing statewide and national elections due to minority voting in historically Republican states. It appears that the last straw was the highly publicized loss of two senate runoff elections in Georgia this past January. In that election, two senators, Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, bested their Republican counterparts in the historically red state. To combat minority voter turnout in Georgia, Arizona and other states, the Republican Party has launched an all-out assault on voters’ rights. Rather than make any effort at broadening its voter base, Republicans have instead decided that voter suppression

is the name of the game. To this end, Republicans have carried over or introduced at least 253 bills with provisions that restrict voting access in 43 states, according to a study by the Brennan Center for Justice. According to Kenneth Meyer, an expert on voting and elections at the University of WisconsinMadison, the GOP is avoiding the route a losing party might usually take. “The typical response by a losing party in a functioning democracy is that they alter their platform to make it more appealing,” Meyer told The New York Times. “Here, the response is to try to keep people from voting. It’s dangerously antidemocratic.” Georgia Republicans passed a sweepi ng law to rest r ict voter access. Some of the new provisions include more rigid voter identification for absentee voting, further limitation of drop boxes, restrictions on who can vote with provisional ballots and, perhaps most disturbing, expansion of the legislature’s power over elections. They even made it a crime to offer food and water to voters waiting in line. A similar law passed in Iowa and Republicans are moving full speed ahead with similar efforts to restrict voting in Arizona,

Florida and Texas. On March 24, Michigan Republicans introduced bills that would establish numerous voting restrictions. Many of the bills presented in Michigan appear to be worded to address debunked election fraud theories. T hese i nclude allow i ng people from each party to oversee all precinct audits, making it a misdemeanor to impede a poll watcher from recording ballot counting with their phones or cameras. Other bills focus on increasing poll challenges and poll watcher training. All of these effor ts are squarely aimed at Black, Brown and young voters. The new barriers to casting mail ballots, which Democrats widely used, are obvious. But if you think it stops there, let me enlighten you. Republicans are seeking to revise the Electoral College process and judicial election rules solely for the benefit of Republicans. There are even initiatives to lessen citizen-led ballot drives’ effectiveness and outlaw private donations for funding the administration of elections in certain districts. These measures have been performed under the premise of stopping voter fraud even though multiple studies and investigations have shown it

barely exists. A n e x a m ple of t h i s i s the state of Iowa. There was a record turnout of voters in this past November’s election. Republicans were by far the beneficiary of this record turnout. However, the state has taken steps to increase the strength of the Republican candidates even further by cutting early voting by nine days, closing polls an hour earlier and putting further restrictions on absentee voting. For mer Sen. Jim Carlin, R-IA, made the party’s position clear when he said, “most of us in my caucus believe the election was stolen.” W here is t he proof ? Republicans apparently don’t trouble themselves with proof. If “the Donald” said it happened, it happened. Another glaring example is the state of Arizona, which Biden won by a razor-thin margin. A Republican lawmaker has proposed legislation that would allow state representatives to ignore the results of presidential elect ions a nd decide for themselves who would receive the state’s electoral votes. The Republican Party is in full-blown panic mode. All of the efforts amount to a desperate attempt to hold onto power and mold the electorate to help them

win elections without majority support. A n o t h e r a s p e c t of t h e Republican efforts that should cause great concern is assistance from the army of conservative judges appointed during Trump’s stay in the White House. R e p u bl i c a n l e g i sl a t o r s propose more and more voter suppression measu res. The Supreme Court ratifies them and clears a legal path for even more voter suppression. Soon, the Voting Rights Act will have little of its intended benefit. A l r e a d y, t h e J u s t i c e Department has been stripped of its involvement in state elections that historically discriminate against Black and Brown voters. So, what do we do to stem the tide of White supremacy-driven legislation that seeks to dominate the electoral system? The current administration and Democrats, in general, need to fight like hell to dismantle and undermine this effort. Like the country took to the streets to demand racial justice, we need a similar movement to protect equal access to vote by its citizens regardless of race or political affiliation. Let them know that we are mad as hell and we are not going to take it anymore.

April 8, 2021

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Transgender community in danger

Onslaught of conservative legislation targets LGBTQ+ members

BY JULIO RODRIGUEZ STAFF REPORTER

“Our ignorance is weaponized to pass laws that hurt people,” said Rep. Alexandria OcasioCortez, D-NY. The history of this country is tainted with racist and bigoted laws that have been in place since its inception. That unfortunate tradition continues in the modernday United States. Arkansas and South Dakota have taken it upon themselves

to legislate and police the bodies of our transgender and gender nonconforming family across the country. All in all, there are about 20 states pushing laws similar to the ones passed in these two states. Although the Arkansas bill was vetoed by Gov. Asa Hutchinson, R-AR, Republican lawmakers pushed it through. It bans transgender minors from accessing gender-affirming care, puberty blockers for younger teens and hormone replacement therapy for older teens. In South Dakota, Gov. Kristi Noem issued an executive order that bars transgender women from playing in women’s sports. But when pressed about the number of trans athletes currently playing sports in South Dakota, the governor refused to answer, and that’s because there are none. But that seems to be a trend. These legislators are passing harmful laws and argue that there

is an immediacy to passing them. However, when the Associated Press questioned state legislators, the majority conceded that there were currently no transgender athletes competing in middle school or high school female sports. Other state officials pointed to the one case presently being litigated in Connecticut against two trans track and field runners. They point to this situation because it’s the only one. What is happening is a broader cultural war from the religious right against transgender, nonbinary and gender nonconforming communities. We cannot revert to regressive policy-making that only hurts people and benefits no one. According to the Public Religion Research Institute, 75% of Americans support LGBTQ+ protections. But those percentages drop when people are asked about trans rights

specifically. That is what the conservative right is banking on — our ignorance about the trans community. That is why this is our time to act, our time to listen. We need to listen to the trans community and educate ourselves about gender affirmation. Taking rights away from people is not okay in 2021 and we must fight hard against any efforts to roll back the progress we have made in support of the trans community in this country. We should strive to continue to be more inclusive and more understanding of everyone. At this moment, we must be more loving and accepting of our trans brothers, sisters, siblings, family and friends across this globe and country. A majority of Americans remain bigoted and ignorant about the trans community. That is because misinformation is thriving and the transphobic

propaganda machine is in full effect. But bigoted lies don’t just remain bigoted laws. They transform into violence and the murder of trans people in this country. Over 44 transgender and gender nonconforming people were murdered in 2020. And that doesn’t even take all the unreported murders and suicides into account. We must fight tooth and nail because the lives of the people we love who are affected by these laws matter. We cannot allow the bigoted laws of the southern states to hurt more lives. I say this one more time for emphasis. As allies, as advocates, as supporters, as friends, we need to listen and join in this fight with the trans community and fight these misguided laws. Why? Because it’s the right thing to do.

JASON LEUNG | UNSPLASH

A young man holds a sign at a peaceful protest in support of ending hate crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

Racists expose themselves, again Recent spike in anti-Asian hate stems from centuries of discrimination

BY ELAINA KLEVEN STAFF REPORTER

It took the Atlant a Spa Shooting to finally shine the light on anti-Asian American and Pacific Islander hate crimes and the discrimination they face daily. The terrorist attack on three Asian-owned spas killed eight

people: Delania Ashley Yang, Xiaojie Tan, Daoyou Feng, Paul Andre Michaels, Hyun Jung Grant, Soon Chung Park, Suncha Kim and Yong Ae Yue. Repor ts say the shooter, 21-year-old Robert Aaron Long, claimed his motive for the attacks was to quell the sexual desires these Asian-owned spas gave him. Long visited two of the nail salons beforehand and said he used them to heal his sexual urges. Police have found no evidence of anyone being a sex worker at the spas. But anti-AAPI hate crimes skyrocketed during Donald Trump’s presidency. He pushed the nar ratives of American exceptionalism and economic competition with China. Racists seemed emboldened to excuse their anti-AAPI hate

with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The suspicion that the virus originated in Wuhan, China was enough to ring xenophobic alarms even though there is no evidence to support that claim. There were nearly 4,000 hate incidents against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders reported between March 2020 and February 2021. The source of these crimes seems to be radical racism and a desire to physically harass Asian Americans, which sparked the “Stop Anti-Asian Hate” movement. While this push for change has rightfully drawn support from most, it has not seen the amount of criticism Black Lives Matter saw during the last year. The reason could be in how the media has portrayed the movement or who it has blamed.

The Black Lives Mat ter moveme nt ai m s to expose the systemic racism and police brutality many African A mer icans face. But the movement against anti-AAPI hate is aimed directly at those who are radically racist. While the immediate blame for anti-AAPI hate should be placed on perpetrators such as Long, there is an undeniable source for the spike in such crimes seen in recent years. The snowballing of these crimes stemmed from decades of c a s u a l r a c i s m a n d t h e sexualization of Asian women in the media. Trump simply exacerbated the issue. Claiming these ter rorist attacks are only a result of radical racism ignores America’s centuries of systemic, social and

political racism. The hate in these systems has become blatant in the present. The truth of the matter is most Americans are not willing to accept the fact that both their direct and underhanded racism built the envi ron ment that spawned these violent crimes. Many are satisf ied with knowing they have not assaulted an Asian person and therefore assume they are on the right side of the movement. However, to truly be an ally to Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, people must step back and question if what they are saying or doing contributes to hate cr imes. T hey must consider what they can do to stop themselves and others from playing into the spread of racism targeted at AAPI people.

April 8, 2021

Views

Seeing is believing in Chauvin trial

Editorial

Ever since the horrific beating of Rodney King was captured on video, Black and Brown Americans have wondered what it would take for the judicial system to hold police accountable. Despite the recording of King’s beating at the police’s hands, a jury acquitted three of the officers and deadlocked on the other. The case illustrates that while camera phones can capture police doing something wrong, they don’t ensure that justice will prevail. That lesson seems especially relevant today as we watch the news coverage of the Derek Chauvin trial. Chauvin has been charged with second degree murder after the former Minneapolis police officer knelt on George Floyd’s neck for for over nine minutes, until the unarmed Floyd was dead. While some outside the Black and Brown community who have seen the video will ask “what more do they need,” minorities already know that when it comes to the use of deadly force against them by police, it’s never that simple. The following men died after Floyd and all the deaths were recorded by the police’s body cameras or witnesses: Manuel Ellis, of Tacoma, Washington, died while being restrained by police. He pleaded with the officers several times and indicated he could not breath. Derek Ollie Scott, of Oklahoma City, died while being restrained by police, all the while indicating he could not breathe. Scott’s mother ARSAL ASIF | VIEWPOINTS said “there are a lot of George Floyds and my son Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer, is being charged with second-degree was one of them.” unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. Multiple Antonio Valenzuela, of New Mexico, was high ranking police officers condemned Chauvin’s use of force as excessive and deadly. killed by an officer’s choke hold after a traffic stop. Javier Ambler, of Austin, Texas, died after that the department’s policy requires that officers being held down and tasered four times by police. his death, but that it was instead caused by drug roll restrained people on their side to avert Only one of these instances resulted in use and a possible heart condition. Chauvin’s potential breathing problems. charges against the officers involved. The officer attorneys are essentially ignoring the obvious Even Chief Medaria Arradondo testified responsible for Valenzuela’s death was charged cause of death and amplifying personal attacks against Chauvin. Arradondo said “(I) vehemently with manslaughter. The defense in every instance on Floyd. As with most cases of this nature, character disagree that that was appropriate use of force” of this nature will insist that you are not seeing assassination of the deceased is a common defense when asked about Chauvin’s behavior while what you are clearly seeing. restraining Floyd. By way of background, Minnesota v. Chauvin tactic. In that sense, Floyd has also been put on “I absolutely agree it violates our policy,” involves George Floyd, a 46 year old Black trial. The evidence presented against Chauvin thus Arradondo said. “It’s not part of our training … man, who died May 25 after spending minutes ethics or values.” pleading for his life from underneath former far is compelling. It includes testimony from All the eyewitnesses’ testimonies have been police officer Chauvin’s knee. The final minutes passersby, an off-duty fireman, EMTs and police impactful, emotional, often tearful and indicative of Floyd’s life were captured on a teenage girl’s department officials. Lt. Richard Zimmerman, the most senior that they feel Chauvin’s actions are unjustifiable. cellphone video. The memory of what they witnessed that day The prosecution in its opening statement in the member of the Minneapolis Police Department, haunts them. Chauvin trial told jurors to “believe your eyes” testified that Chauvin’s actions go far beyond After all is said and done, there will always be when they watch the video evidence of Floyd’s accepted police protocols. He referred to a knee that image of Chauvin resting comfortably on the final minutes. As with a number of cases involving on the neck as “deadly force” and would be victim’s neck until life was slowly, agonizingly the use of deadly force by police, the defense will considered “the top tier” of force. He further characterized Chauvin’s actions as “totally choked from his body. insist that your eyes are deceiving you. Those looking for justice in this incident The defense witnesses said Chauvin forcibly unnecessary.” Another key witness, David Pleoger, a hope that the jurors actually believe what their pressing his knee into a sensitive area of Floyd’s eyes can see. anatomy for over nine minutes did not cause retired Minneapolis police sergeant, testified Viewpoints’ editorials represent the majority opinion of and are written by the Viewpoints’ student editorial board.

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“I don’t know the secret to success but I’m pretty sure the closest thing is preparation.” - Michelle Wie

SPORTS

April 8, 2021

ANGEL PEÑA | VIEWPOINTS

Notre Dame’s Levi Fox throws a pitch to a Jurupa batter March 29. The sophomore threw two strike outs and allowed two runs against Jurupa.

Notre Dame defeats Jurupa in a close match up 2021 high school baseball season returns after COVID-19 shutdown BY JESUS CORONEL STAFF REPORTER

The Notre Dame Titans withstood a late-inning comeback at Jurupa Valley High School on March 29. The Titans lost junior first baseman Zakary Hensche in the first inning to a knee injury before falling behind 1-0 after an RBI Double by the Jurupa Jaguars in the bottom of the fifth inning. But Notre Dame rallied in the sixth inning, taking the lead 4-1 and starting what would be a game of catch-up for the Jaguars. Then Jurupa Valley rallied back, tying Notre Dame 4-4 in the seventh inning. Both teams scored two runs in the eighth inning, keeping a 6-6 stalemate heading into the ninth. A clutch ground rule double from Titans catcher Josh Castillo, a senior, propelled Notre Dame to a 7-6 lead. Castillo threw out a Jurupa runner on an attempted steal at second base before senior Devin Ramirez closed the game with a strikeout. Jaguars Coach Chuck Armenta was satisfied with the performance the team made throughout the game. “They battled back,” he said. “As a coach, that’s what you want. You don’t want them to give in to their emotions. So

when you see them reach down and fight back, that’s an important character.” Titans coach Benny Hernandez was impressed with the determination of the team to win the game after they lost Hensche, who he described as a key player, early on. Hernandez said some Titans played multiple roles and filled in at secondary positions. “Everybody stepped up,” Hernandez said. “They all took charge. Everybody on the lineup came up. I used everybody in the dugout today. These guys don’t quit.” His main goal for the season is for the players to have fun, after many students didn’t get to do so amidst the coronavirus pandemic. Last year, many Titans players only played one game before campuses were shut down. “These guys had a rough year,” he said. “I just want our seniors here to go out there and give it their best and go out there and enjoy the rest of the season.”

For a full photo gallery of this game, visit Viewpointsonline.org

ANGEL PEÑA | VIEWPOINTS

Jurupa Valley High School is 2-2 this season and is preparing to face Garey high school April 9.