Family of black belts saves woman from attacker in Texas

Hello and good morning! It’s Monday, June 24. Here is some of the news in our community you need to know today.

Crime

Family of black belts saves woman from attacker in Texas

A family of taekwondo instructors successfully prevented a sexual assault in the Cypress area on Tuesday by utilizing their martial arts training. The An family have run their taekwondo academy in Katy for 17 years.

• The family was returning home from lunch when they heard screams at a nearby mobile phone store. Their patriarch, Han An, a taekwondo grandmaster and South Korean military vet, led the charge. They found a man on top of a woman. Han confronted the attacker, pinning him down despite being bitten and scratched. His sons Simon and Christian assisted in subduing Robinson, while their mother Hong and sister Hannah escorted the shaken victim to safety.

• The suspect, identified as 19-year-old Alex Robinson, was arrested on the scene. He was charged with (1) attempted sexual assault, (2) assault and (3) unlawful detention. He appeared in court with a bond set at $100,000 amid claims of mental health issues.

News

FBI raids Oakland mayor’s home

Early Thursday morning, more than a dozen FBI agents raided Mayor Sheng Thao's house on Maiden Lane in the Oakland Hills as part of a political corruption investigation. The FBI confirmed the raid was a “court-authorized law enforcement activity," but did not provide specifics. 

• Alongside Thao's home, agents also searched locations related to California Waste Solutions (CWS) and its executives, David and Linda Duong and Andy Duong. The Duongs are under investigation for using “straw donors” to funnel money to council members, including Thao, who allegedly received some of these funds and traveled to Vietnam on a trip funded by the Duongs.

• The news sent shockwaves through Oakland City Hall, leading to the temporary closure of the mayor's office. The raid coincides with the approval of a recall vote against Thao, the city’s first Hmong American mayor. Protesters gathered outside her home on Thursday afternoon, emphasizing the need for transparency and demanding her resignation. Meanwhile, CWS stated it is cooperating with the investigation, asserting it “was not involved in any unlawful or improper activities.”

News

Seattle cop fired over racist slurs toward Chinese neighbor

Officer Burton Hill of the Seattle Police Department (SPD) was terminated after an investigation by the Office of Police Accountability (OPA) into his racist remarks and threats toward his Chinese American neighbor, Zhen Jin, in August 2022. The incident occurred during an altercation between the neighbors over alleged food scraps left outside.

• Hill's partner, Agnes Miggins, initiated the confrontation by pounding on Zhen’s door, accusing her of leaving bones that posed a threat to their dog. In audio recorded by Zhen, Burton was reportedly heard calling her a “dumb f*cking ch*nk” and threatening to put her in jail.

• Hill, who was off-duty and intoxicated at the time, was found guilty of unprofessional behavior and biased policing, though claims that he misused his law enforcement status for personal gain were deemed inconclusive. Former Police Chief Adrian Diaz decided to fire Hill on May 2, 2024 — before his own removal from the position — while Interim Chief Sue Rahr confirmed Hill’s termination on May 13.

News

Neighbors caught on film throwing eggs at Asian family’s home

A South Korean family in Ottawa, Canada, said they have been subjected to two years of harassment from their neighbors. The front door security footage, which recently surfaced online, shows a man and woman throwing eggs, mocking Asian languages and saying they “f*cking hate Asians” on the driveway of the family's home in Barrhaven in early June.

• The family claims they have reported being subjected to loud music, thrown trash, and racist insults to authorities, but haven't received adequate support. A woman living in the home said the incidents have “severely affected our new home, disrupted our daily lives, and deprived us of sleep, health and happiness."

• The neighbors' ex-husband claims his family is being bullied, but has not provided evidence. The incident has gained national attention due to a viral video, prompting parliamentarians and local politicians to call for stronger measures against anti-Asian racism and hate crimes.

News

Why the Asian unemployment rate surpassed white unemployment for 1st time

A new study published by Northeastern University on Monday suggests a link between political rhetoric and media coverage blaming China for the pandemic and negative consequences for Asian Americans in the job market. The effect was observed to be stronger in areas with higher levels of anti-Asian sentiment (strongly Republican states).

• The Asian unemployment rate surpassed the white unemployment rate in the U.S. for the first time in modern history between April 2020 and May 2021. Asians in face-to-face jobs were also 7% more likely to be unemployed compared to white workers. Even if employed, Asians experienced an average 8% drop in weekly earnings. 

• The study highlights the economic impact of racial bias beyond just physical violence and hate crimes. The researchers acknowledged the study’s limitation that "Asian" encompasses diverse ethnicities, potentially underestimating the true impact.

Entertainment

Shay Mitchell’s “Spanish” claim raises eyebrows

Canadian actress and entrepreneur Shay Mitchell is facing criticism online for claiming Spanish heritage instead of Filipino on her Max show “Thirst with Shay Mitchell.” A viral clip shows the “Pretty Little Liars” star, the first cousin of renowned Filipino singing legend Lea Salonga and whose mother hails from Pampanga, Philippines, stating, “My dad’s Irish, my mom’s Spanish. I can drink a lot and then i get f*cking spicy.”

• Mitchell previously discussed overcoming self-hatred related to her Filipina background: 'Why am I trying to change myself? You know, I should be so proud of who I am and what my heritage is.” The Philippines' colonial past with Spain plays a role in why some Filipinos might claim Spanish heritage. In Mitchell's case, she previously divulged that she hid her ethnicity in a bid to fit in with her childhood friends who have "light skin, fair complexions, and these beautiful light eyes."

• Mitchell’s “my mom’s Spanish” remark sparked discussion on social media, with many expressing disappointment at the alleged disconnect. “Come on girl, embrace who you are and you'll have thousands and thousands of people supporting you,” urged one TikTok user.

More News

• Crying Oppenheimer apologized to Hiroshima survivor!: J. Robert Oppenheimer, known as the “father of the atomic bomb,” apologized to Hiroshima survivor Naomi Shono during a private 1964 meeting in the U.S., revealed the Japanese nonprofit World Friendship Center. The evidence comes from a recently discovered 50-minute video held by the organization, in which interpreter Yoko Teichler recounted how Oppenheimer, in tears, repeatedly apologized to Shono. Noriyuki Kawano, director of the Center for Peace at Hiroshima University, said the surprise apology must offer some consolation to the “hibakusha” — survivors of the bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki — though he stressed the need to consider “who and what he was apologizing for at the time.”

• SB19’s label announces new P-pop girl group auditions: 1Z Entertainment, founded by P-pop sensation SB19, announced auditions to form a new girl group, marking the label's first major project. Open to Filipino women aged 18 to 21, applicants must showcase talents in singing, dancing, rapping or modeling. Candidates need to submit an online application that includes a pair (singing/rapping and dancing) of one-minute solo performance videos by June 29. Successful applicants will advance to face-to-face auditions.

• “Evangelion” OST singer cancels appearance after AI rumor: Yoko Takahashi, the singer of "Neon Genesis Evangelion" theme song "A Cruel Angel’s Thesis," announced on Wednesday that she is canceling her July 10 concert appearance with the Ikebukuro Anime Philharmonic because her “beliefs differ” from theirs and she is “unable to see eye-to-eye with the organizers.” The decision comes after reports emerged accusing the organizers of using AI-generated images for some parts of their fliers and posters. The Ikebukuro Anime Philharmonic eventually apologized in a statement released on the same day as Takahashi’s, admitting that the organizers had unknowingly used AI-generated images and promised to replace them with artwork made by human artists.

Feature

Thinking of switching careers?

Thuy did and now she’s a certified popstar: Vietnamese American singer-songwriter Thuy initially pursued a medical career to fulfill her refugee parents’ aspirations, all while secretly nurturing her passion for music. In an interview with NextShark, the independent artist delves into her journey to international fame with sold-out tours and a historic Coachella performance. Now, the 32-year-old singer shares her advice to aspiring artists, underscoring her ambition for increased Southeast Asian representation within the American music industry: “Don't let age be something that holds you back from changing your career because at the end of the day, you have one life.”