White Girl Bleed A Lot

by Colin Flaherty

  In March seven hooded black men with weapons surprised an Asian couple returning to their suburban Philadelphia home after a day at their beer distribution company. After threatening the couple with pistols, the thugs escaped with cash and valuables.

  SCAN ME!

  VIDEO: Asian Home Invasion

  Many of the crimes involve violence. Some even murder: “Two Asian business owners were killed in 2009--Robert Chae in his North Wales home, and Joseph Ha, a half-block from his dry-cleaning business in Olney,” the Daily News reported.8

  “Many of the victims live close to their business,” said Taleeb Starkes, a Philadelphia resident and producer of the noted documentary on black violence, Mothers of No Tomorrow. “So a lot of these crimes directed at Asians involve planning and stalking, which make them extra dangerous. And of course the police never hear about many of them.”

  SAN FRANCISCO

  At the same time in San Francisco, the San Francisco Chronicle was writing about the “dirty little secret” of black-on-Asian racial violence:

  A 2008 survey by the Police Department in which about 300 strong-arm robberies were analyzed. “In 85 percent of the physical assault crimes, the victims were Asian and the perpetrators were African American,” she said.

  Hundreds of people marched into Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting to express their fear, frustration, and outrage. But so far the response has been disappointing, particularly from the San Francisco Police Department. It seems intent on downplaying the role of race and its impact in the community.9

  It’s no secret to America’s premier truth-teller, Walter Williams:

  In San Francisco, five blacks beat an 83-year-old Chinese man to death. They threw a 57-year-old woman off a train platform. Two black Oakland teenagers assaulted a 59-year-old Chinese man; the punching knocked him to the ground, killing him.10

  MANHATTAN

  In April 2010, five elderly Asian women were attacked over a period of weeks in Lower Manhattan by groups of black people: The Anti-Asian Hate Crime Spree. New American Media explains the black-on-Asian violence:

  A Black man who was raised in one neighborhood in the San Francisco area to target Asians and Latinos, not fellow Blacks, for petty theft and crime.

  Emenike argues that recent examples of violent and non-violent crime (apparently targeting Asians) are not symptoms of anti-Asian racism, but of economic opportunism.

  If young people try to rob an old black person in Hunters Point, they usually don’t know who they are messing with and they can fall into beef with the victim’s family or community. Robbing African Americans, it’s more likely that the family will come back and harm the robber. So young people go after Chinese and Mexicans.11

  The Internet is full of video news accounts of black-on-Asian crime throughout the country. The television drama Law and Order based an episode of its trademark “ripped from the headlines style” show on the true story of a black gang kidnapping, torturing, and killing an Asian restaurant worker in New York. But when it came time for casting the real life black criminals, they were all played by white actors.

  In the summer of 2012 a black gang targeted gamblers at a Philadelphia casino for home invasion robberies. Out of the ten families hit, nine were Asian.

  There is a video showing five black people targeting elderly Asian women in Manhattan for violence, reported Asian journalist Ying Ma. Those episodes, combined with similar violent and more lethal actions in San Jose and Oakland, did not seem to get much attention, she said.

  Local officials and the local media have bent over backward to deny or ignore the issue of race,” said Ma. “Many African-Americans in crowded and unsafe urban centers often view every Asian — Chinese, Vietnamese, Filipino, or Korean — as a “Chinaman” who is unworthy of basic human decency or respect.

  In one city after another, black teenagers and adults frequently hurl racial slurs at the “Chinamen” among them, at the grocery store, on the bus, on the subway, and in the streets. If the “Chinamen” are lucky, no violence will ensue.12

  SCAN ME!

  VIDEO: Targeting Asian Women

  Asian victims are often reluctant to report the crimes, say Asian community leaders and police officials. Victims also find the violence hard to understand. Amanza Emineke and others do not.

  “The reason Asian kids are getting robbed is because there is an assumption that young Chinese kids on Third Street are filthy rich and have an iPod or laptop on them” he told the African section of the New American Media news service web site. “To a young, broke black male, the appeal of nabbing a few hundred dollars from some Asian kid’s pocket is even greater during this recession.

  “This isn’t to say that the inter-ethnic tension between Blacks and Asians is a one-way street. Asians (as Asians will tell you) can be particularly racist against the African American community.”13

  SCAN ME!

  VIDEO: Amanza Emineke

  Blacks are broke. Asians are racist. Got it.

  Emineke would know. He was charged with assault and a hate crime after robbing a Chinese student. The assault charge stuck, but not the hate crime. “I was glad when the charge was dropped, because a hate crime shines a whole different light on you,” he told reporters.

  Another black person with self-confessed, first-hand experience committing violence against Asians, told the Inquirer: “They had a term, ‘clocking wigs,’ that meant hitting someone in the head. … They preyed on women, whites, and Asians.”14

  Fear of black mob violence and lawlessness is an everyday fact of life for many Asians—immigrants or not—in America.

  In addition to certain groups, certain times are popular for black mob violence. And in some places that means the Fourth of July.

  6

  HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY

  The list is getting longer: Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Peoria,

  Los Angeles, Georgia, Florida, Waco, North Carolina, and

  Philadelphia. And that is just from 2012.

  The Fourth of July: Picnics. Hot dogs. Race riots? Something about America’s birthday seems to bring out racial violence, lawlessness, and animosity. Last year it was Dallas, Baltimore, and Peoria.

  In 2012, more than a dozen examples of large-scale racial violence marred celebrations in Chicago, Los Angeles, Cleveland, Columbus, Georgia, Florida, Texas, South Carolina, Greensboro, and, once again, Peoria.

  Chris Rock started the day off with a bang: “Happy white peoples Independence Day,” he tweeted. “The slaves weren’t free but I’m sure they enjoyed fireworks.”

  On Twitter, @KnockyMoBitches picked up the beat: “F**k #IndependenceDay! You tell me the exact date blacks were free, then you’ll see me jumpin up gettin excited blowin up shit and what not.”

  In Chicago, some were enjoying the celebration until they were set upon by a mob of dozens of black people intent on violence. One man was taken to the hospital. Eleven black people were arrested and charged with assault.1 Police blamed the problems on teens without parents. As usual, the media did not report the mob was black. And it took witnesses to set the record straight on the Internet. “For all that don’t know, the perpetrators are African-American teens,” said a man self-identified as Jonathan Kizer on the Chicago Tribune website. “I work in the area and I’ve seen firsthand what these teens are doing. It’s really bothersome bcuz they are hurting innocent ppl, but also perpetuating a negative view of the black community. Not all of us are like this, but people would never know from what they see and hear.”

  Local television reporters did remind people that it was the latest in a series of mob attacks in the downtown and upscale North Side area. Two days later, talking about that night, the CBS Chicago affiliate reported, “Sources told CBS 2’s Suzanne Le Mignot that 17 other people were arrested overnight for other mob attacks across the city.”2

  That’s it. That’s all anyone said about seventeen more people caught rioting in Chicago on the Fourth of July.

  In Columbu
s, Ohio, the newspaper waited for days to report about the July 4 race riot there. That is how long it took Michael Meeks to write a letter to the editor:

  After the show ended and people started walking back to their cars, things turned violent. A gang of approximately 30 black youths (both male and female) started walking and running down Broad Street and randomly assaulted white people — old people, children, women.

  I was first aware of the violence in front of the church at the corner of Third and Broad streets. One block east of there, a man crossed the street through the traffic holding his crying son. They clearly had been assaulted. When others asked if they were OK, he said, “No, we’re not OK; we got separated from my wife and daughter, and they’re still over there.”

  Finally, two Columbus officers were seen slowly walking toward the scene of this violence. At this point, the black youths crossed the street to the opposite side of the officers and started randomly attacking more white people on the north side of Broad Street. I know; I was assaulted by five different youths.

  At this time, the police meandered to our side of the street. Some of us went to the officers and said, “Do something, innocent people are getting assaulted right here on Broad Street.” One officer replied, “We don’t have enough officers.”3

  Another local from Columbus chimed in:

  Mr. Meeks, People have been complaining about gangs of Black Rowdies doing the very same thing after Red White & Boom since the City began the celebration. … After the show they run East on Broad St. Assaulting, even robbing. … And every year it seems to take the Police Dept by suprise … or could it be that if the police don’t see it … It didn’t happen. … If it didn’t happen no bad PR….4

  If the Pulitzer people ever decide to start awarding prizes to newspapers that do all their investigative reporting on their letters to the editors’ pages, the Columbus Dispatch should have a lock on the 2013 awards.

  In North Carolina, Greensboro police used tear gas on one thousand black rioters after dozens of fights broke out and people were destroying downtown businesses:

  There were an estimated 1,000 people present in Center City Park when small groups within the crowd started pushing each other around 10:30 p.m.

  “They began to break into smaller groups and we began to have several violent issues — fist fights, pushing, shoving. … We had one incident where they disrupted a business and turned over furniture,” Deputy Chief Wayne Scott told FOX8’s Lindsey Eaton.5

  At least one person on Twitter predicted the riot: “Downtown greensboro is gonna have a riot tonight!!” said @PuffThisT-weet at 3 p.m.

  Over on Twitter, several people in attendance were upset at the rough treatment, especially:

  “Man im bout to go off MF Greensboro PD macing and spraying tear gas on people for small ish” @Mister_T336.

  In Albany, Georgia, eighty-five police officers in the downtown lost control of the crowd twenty minutes into the fireworks show after large groups of black people disrupted the celebration. Police stopped the fireworks, and blamed the problems on teens without parents. Witnesses were not so forgiving, saying it was a dangerous and chaotic scene that some say included gun fire.

  When posters to Albany websites said the rioters were black, some responded saying it was not an issue of black and white. “So how many white kids did you see running around destroying property?” asked one witness. Not one person posting said they saw any white people involved in the violence or destruction. Or Asians. Or Latinos.6

  In the Cleveland suburb of Shaker Heights, hundreds of black people created a “real dangerous environment” with violence and by rushing into a crowd of fireworks watchers. Eight people were arrested after police in riot gear with dogs quelled the disturbance. Or tried to. In one news story at the Cleveland Plain Dealer, a reader was frustrated that the paper had not reported the riot.

  My daughter and I will NOT be back next year. “Daddy why are all those kids screaming, swearing and fighting?” “Because their parents didn’t raise them any better honey.”

  Nothing better to see police in riot gear riding on the outside of a SWAT van as the fireworks celebrating our freedom from the English rule rush toward a crowd of idiots. Then police officers telling people that are there to watch the fireworks that THEY have to leave.

  But I thought that the police would put an end to that. I was wrong.7

  Over at the Shaker Heights Patch, Steve Smith had a similar experience. “It’s not fear-mongering to say that these people created a real, dangerous environment.”8

  Linda Jenkins told the Patch: “We were patient and scared; it was so sad to see families sitting along the sidewalks trying to have a wonderful and traditional outing to be placed in the middle of madness that’s what it felt like for me.”9

  The year before, Shaker Heights had a similar experience:

  “We were watching fireworks on July 4th in Shaker Heights,” said a reporter for the Plain Dealer. “The only fireworks we saw were in the sky, but in another area, kids went wild. Some 500 to 1,000 showed up in a flash mob.

  “Harmless fun? Not to the teen who ended up with a broken jaw.”10

  On Twitter, a black woman from Cleveland who goes by the handle @Coke216, had another perspective on Shaker Heights 2012:

  Yo, I got attacked by racist cops and attack dogs yesterday, cuz niggas wanted to start a riot at the fireworks. Lol. @Coke216

  In Watts, Los Angeles, eight hundred black people setting off fireworks at the Nickerson Gardens public housing project did not take kindly to police and fireman who showed up to stop it. “During the incident, the suspects allegedly tossed rocks, bottles, and fireworks at Los Angeles police officers, according to City News Service.”11

  That would be live fireworks.

  Newspapers might not like reporting on black people in riots, but on Twitter, no one has a problem talking about it. On Twitter, both sides were represented:

  “Cops in riot gear and the locals shooting fireworks at the cops pretty funny until u drive through it …. Eh,” @ryan-curtis7966

  Here two of the residents of Watts thought the riot was funny.

  niggas in the niccersons had the riot squad out there … throwin fireworks n roccs at police lmfao yall did that fasho @HerFavDrugg.

  So we was downtown watching tha fireworks and ah riot broke out nigas was err Wer! @Quarta_Mill

  Three hundred police were there, along with a crowd of eight hundred revelers. (Couldn’t tell that from the news report, could you?) Several officers were hit by fireworks. There was no word on their condition.

  In Waco, Texas, four hundred black people filled the streets of downtown following a fireworks show, throwing fireworks and destroying property. When police arrived, they threw explosive devices and rocks at the officers. “Officers’ attempts to move the crowd were not successful and when they moved into the area, the people became hostile,” says KCEN-TV.

  The crowd then started throwing rocks at officers and police cars. One officer received a minor injury when he was struck. Large fireworks that explode with a large flame were also thrown at officers by people in the crowd where attempting to use them as hand grenades.

  An armored vehicle was used to try to clear the streets. When it was brought in, members of the group started throwing bricks and large pieces of concrete.12

  When they refused to leave, the police brought in an armored vehicle and sprayed the crowd with “chemical munitions.” Twitter was on the case:

  Normal people hear pops on the 4th an think fireworks, people in Waco hear pops on the 4th and duck and roll. #ghetto @JustinKFly91

  Was watching fireworks at the Waco Bridge. Waco have wayy too many ghetto people … Just saying :P @ HaoT_Dinh

  Same shit Goes Down Every Year in Waco, Bridge Fireworks Fights & Ratchet Kids -__ @Chelaa11

  In Philadelphia, hundreds of black people streamed through the streets of downtown, beating, looting, and terrorizing. Right next to City Hall. One person was arre
sted for punching a police officer in the face. Several black people predicted it on Twitter hours before the violence and lawlessness began:

  Who ever gunna be in philly better watch out for them flash mob young bouls today, cause they gon catch reck today ctfu. @RRRShizz

  I knew better then to attend that nonsense @NafiAssad

  Downtown was one huge flash mob tnight lol <—-Dumbass Philly youth @JOrtiz268

  Ihavn’t been in Philly for lykk 9month now.but its the same shxt iknow it 4th of july Them Flash Mob’s gone go to The PARKWAY & STRT FIGHTs @ @iAmJQuiah

  @truqueo6 Flash MOB downtown in Philly@truqueo6

  One person even looked forward to it.

  I love dem lil wild flash mob ass yungbuls n Philly. Lol dem yungbuls be sexy @DaRealCannon

  The next day, anchor Rob Jennings at the ABC affiliate in Philadelphia began the report by saying several people were “brutally attacked by an unruly mob.” Out on the street, the reporter, David Henry, took a less dramatic view. He started out with the de rigueur claims that “this is perhaps the only blemish on an otherwise glorious Fourth of July weekend.” That and the two people who were shot nearby.

  Other than that, how did you enjoy the play Mrs. Lincoln?

  Then while video of the attack showed the mob streaming up the largest street in downtown Philadelphia, the reporter described some “scuffles” that left people with “minor injuries.” It’s almost as if he did not hear his own interview or watch the viewer-created video of the scene. “This Asian kid got punched in the face and pounded to the ground,” witness Jay Ingersoll told the reporter. “We heard ‘flash mob, flash mob, flash mob.’”13