Woman who attacked Asian American student given six-year prison sentence

Though the attacks on Asian Americans are off the front pages, anti-Asian hate continues to spread rising to the point that it has apparently become accepted as normal behavior.

Billie Davis, 57, was sentenced Wednesday to 72 months in prison and three years of supervised release for committing a federal hate crime when on a bus, she stabbed  an Asian American woman.

On Sept. 17, the Indiana white woman pleaded guilty to causing bodily injury to an 18-year old victim, identified in court papers only by her initials, Z.F., through the use of a knife, because of Z.F.’s actual and perceived race and national origin.

“Racially motivated violence has no place in our society,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.

Billie Davis

“This defendant pulled out a knife and viciously attacked a young woman who was simply riding a public bus to school, seriously injuring her because she was of Chinese descent. The sentence imposed for this heinous hate crime should send a strong message that perpetrators of hate-fueled violence will be held accountable.”

According to documents filed in connection with this case, on Jan. 11, 2023, Z.F., a woman of Chinese descent who was enrolled at Indiana University at Bloomington, was riding a Bloomington Transit bus on her way to school. Davis boarded the bus, sitting behind Z.F. As Z.F. stood to exit the bus at her stop, Davis reached for a folding knife from inside her pocket and stabbed Z.F. in the head approximately seven to 10 times. 

The student, who asked to remain anonymous out of safety concerns, has since returned home, says attorney Kathleen DeLaney, who is representing the student's family.

Davis later admitted to the police that she attacked Z.F. because she was Chinese and because Davis believed Z.F. was the “enemy.” adding that it "would be one less person to blow up our country" Davis used racist slurs when referring to Z.F.

Since the pandemic began when Donald Trump use racist slurs to connect the coronavirus to China, calling it "Kung Flu" or "China Virus," combined with anti-Chinese rhetoric in the ongoing trade wars between the US and China resulting in racists to believe that Asians were open game for their attack.

According to the Stop AAPI Hate Center, nearly 1900 hate crimes against Asian Americans were reported by victims, and around 69% of cases were related to verbal harassment, including being called the “Chinese Coronavirus.”

"The serious federal prison sentence imposed here should demonstrate our commitment to stopping this hate," said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers for the Southern District of Indiana.

“Every person deserves to feel safe in their own community, and no one should be made to fear violence on their way to school simply because of who they are,” said Myers. “Violent hate should have no safe harbor in Indiana or anywhere in our great country. That’s why our Justice Department has prioritized prosecution of hate crimes and community outreach through our United Against Hate initiative."

Anyone who has suffered a potentially hate-based violent incident should call 911 to address immediate safety issues, and then report the event to the Justice Department or FBI. Together we can make our community safer for everyone.”

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X or at the blog Views From the Edge.

'Shogun' earns four Golden Globe nominations

'Shogun,s' Hirokuke Sanada, left, and Anna Sawai received Golden Globe nominations.

Shogun is the big hope for Asian American representation in this year's Glden Globe awards show. The series' actors were among the artists who received Golden Globe nominations. In total, the sweepingl saga that takes place in feudal Japan garnered four nominations.

Moana 2, Disney's sequel to the original Moana, a coming of age of Polynesian princess Moana, was nominated for Best Animated Motion Picture. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson reprises his role of the demi-god Maui.

Although there were no AANHPI nominated in the motion picture categories, there was a greater presence in the television nominations.

The epic saga that takes place in feudal Japan, Shogun, earned four nominations: Best Drama Series; Hiroyuki Sanada, Best Male Actor in a Drama Series, Anna Sawai for Best Female Actor in a Drama Series; Tadanobu Asano for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.

Maya Erskine earned a nomination for her role in Mr & Mrs. Smith in the Best Female Actor in a Drama Series. Mr. & Mrs. Smith was also nominated for Best Drama Series.

FYI: For complete list of Golden Globe nominees, click here.

Even though Wicked is a commercial success, which eaerned a nomination in the category Cinematic and Box Office Achievent, and a nod for Best Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical, and its two lead actors, Cynthia Erivo and Arianna Grande, received nominations, director Jon M. Chu, failed to get recognized.

People magazine wrote: "The splashy adaptation of the Broadway musical has been hailed as one of the greatest — and most ambitious — movies of the year. Though the blockbuster itself landed one of the six coveted slots for best picture - musical or comedy, and two of its stars, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, were both honored for their acting, the visionary behind the movie, Chu was notably missing from the list of best directors."

In years past, AANHPI creatives have been overlooked but after mounting criticism of the lack of diversity, the association broadened its membership to include more journalists representing publications from Asia, Latin America and Africa.

Earlier this year, Shogun earned acting Emmy's for Sanada and Sawai and an Emmy for Best Drama Series.

Emelia Perez, the musical about a trans drug lord, led the entries for mmotion pictures with eight nominations. 

The Bear, with five nominations, led the television entries.

The 82nd annual Golden Globe Awards is set to air live from the Beverly Hilton on CBS and stream on Paramount+ on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025 at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X or at the blog Views From the Edge.

Two Asian Americans are odds-on favorites to win 'Survivor 47'

SCREENSHOT / SURVIVOR

Andy Rueda, left, and Rachel LaMont strategize for the final episodes of "Survivor 47."

If you're a fan of Survivor, the reality show, you're in for a rare treat with two Asian Americans poised to be among the finalists for the $1 million dollar prize.

Andy Rueda and Rachel Mont, a Filipino American and Thai American respectively, are among the final six contestants in the reality show.

It is not the first time an Asian American has been among the finalists, but it is the first time that there are two Asian Americans in position to win Survivor, one of the most popular of the reality show genre, currently in its 47th season.

Oddsmakers say the two Asian Americans contestants are the two most likely winners of Survivor 47.

According to the betting odds in the days before the finale aired Wednesday, LaMont is the most likely to win. According to Bet Carolina, LaMont had a 38.5% chance of winning Survivor 47. Right behind her is Rueda, who has a 26.7% chance.

Despite having partly grown up in Dexter, Michigan, LaMont was actually born in Thailand and spent her first few years in that country. As she explained to Entertainment Weekly, she feels her ability to “assimilate” gave her a leg up on Survivor:

“I was born in Thailand and lived there until I was seven, but I never spoke Thai. Then I moved to the US and didn’t understand American culture. I was the youngest in my family by nine years. I’ve always been forced to understand social dynamics to assimilate from a young age, and I think I’m pretty good at it as a result.”

Though the graphic designer of Southfield, Michigan was nearly voted out she was saved by another Asian American player, Sol Yi, who awarded her immunity. The episode included a brief snippet when Yi and LaMont discussed their Asian upbringing. She has been able to not only recover but has been able to ally herself to an alliance of underdogs to put herself in great standing among the final six.

In last week's episode, despite losing a key ally, Caroline Vidmar, Rachel enters the Final Six with a Block-a-Vote advantage that she must use at the next Tribal Council. Knowing how savvy Rachel has been with advantages, it's safe to say she would use it to help take out one of the two threats left, Genivieve Mushaluk or Sam Phalen. From there, she has an idol no one knows she has, which she can play at the Final Five. Next, LaMont  would probably be the odds-on favorite to win immunity at the Final Four, given she's won it the most of anyone left.

LaMont is well liked, hasn't burned anybody or betrayed any confidences putting her in a strong position for the final three grilling where the last three survivors try to convince the jury, made up of ousted players, why they deserve to chosen as the final survivor, 

FYI: The two-hour Survivor 47 finale will be aired on CBS, 8 p.m. EST.

Aside from LaMont, Survivor 47 has another remaining player that the betting odds say also is likely to win the season. According to Bet Carolina, Filipino American  Rueda, of Buffalo, NY, had a 26.7% chance of winning Survivor 47.

After coming up with an intricate plan, "Operation Italy," conceived during an Italian meal prize with Genevieve Mushaluk and Sam Phalen. As a result of Andy's intricate plan working to perfection, the three underdogs were able to vote out a member of a bigger alliance.

Despite his successful plan weakening the larger alliance, Rueda's impressive move may come too late in the game. In the past, Survivor players have spoken about how hard it can be to change the jury members' initial perception of a player late in the game. If that is the case with Survivor 47's jury, they may be influenced by Ruda's apparent emotional breakdown in episode one when he felt he was being dismissed by the other players on his tribe and practically begged to be voted out.

(He was right to be hurt. Maybe a bit of racism came to the fore when his tribemates cheered on a white player broke open a coconut. When Rueda did the same thing, the reaction was "meh.")

While he was able to survive that first vote, (because his rivals didn't see him as a threat) it seemed like his tribemates didn't take Andy seriously during the first several episodes of the season. However, lo and behold, Andy was routinely shown talking about how he was secretly manipulating the game during his confessional interviews. Is Rueda  just a great actor and a secret genius strategist? We'll find out tomorrow.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X or at the blog Views From the Edge.

Despite winning the majority of older voters, Republicans eye cuts to social security

 

ANALYSIS

President-elect Donald Trump should thank older voters for his victory on Nov. 4. But, that don't hold your breath for any words of gratitude.

In fact, older Americans may be among the first to feel the negative repercussions of Trump's administration. Republican leaders have announced their intention to  make drastic cuts to the social safety net programs such as Social Security, Medicaid and Trump's continuing efforts to erase any vestiges of President Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act, also known as ObamaCare.

Rep. Rich McCormick (R-Ga.) said Dec. 4 that lawmakers suggested cuts may be coming to social welfare programs.

“We’re going to have to have some hard decisions. We got to bring the Democrats in to talk about Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare. There’s hundreds of billions of dollars to be saved, and we know how to do it, we just have to have the stomach to actually take those challenges on,” McCormick told Fox Business Network’s Maria Bartiromo.

During the recent campaign, Trump vowed he wouldn't touch Social Security in order to woo the votes of older Americans who depend on the program, sometimes the only income they receive. However, most Trump has been known lie.

Trump's promises don't prevent his emboldened extreme right supporters from trying to implement cuts and then pass them on the White House where Trump will likely sign them.

In 2022, the average annual Social Security income for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and other Pacific Islander men 65 years and older was $16,633, compared to $13,348 for women.

A new report from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), requested by House Budget Committee Ranking Member Brendan F. Boyle, found that Republican Social Security plans would result in steep benefit cuts for American workers while failing to extend the solvency of the Social Security Trust Fund. CBO found that raising the retirement age to 69 — as proposed by the Republican Study Committee, the Heritage Foundation, and other Republican groups — would result in an average yearly benefit reduction of about 13% for those subject to the full cut.

“Social Security is a sacred promise that after a lifetime of hard work, Americans have earned the right to retire with dignity,” said Democrat Boyle. “This independent, nonpartisan report shows just how devastating Republican plans to rip away hard-earned Social Security benefits would be for American workers. 

"Instead of saving Social Security by making the ultra-rich pay their fair share," said Boyle, "the GOP is hell-bent on gutting benefits for the middle class. Democrats will never stop fighting to keep the promise of Social Security and defend Americans’ retirement security from Republican attacks.”

A majority of 50-plus voters backed Trump over Vice President Kamala Harris last month, 52% to 47%, according to Associated Press' VoteCast.

While Democrats put their efforts in generating support from the younger GenZ voters, older Americans still made up a majority of the electorate. Older Americans historically have been the most reliable voter group in a presidential election in recent history, according to data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau.

According to AP VoteCast, seniors made up 52% of the voters. Traditional exit polls put that number at 55%.

Middle-aged voters were especially influential in tilting the election to Trump. A commanding 56% of voters ages 50-64 cast ballots for Trump, with 43% voting for Harris, exit polls show. The candidates were tied at 49% among voters 65 and older. The two age groups together comprise well over half of the national electorate, meaning they provided the critical difference for the returning president-elect.

Asian American voters for Donald Trump won the attention of mainstream media.

However AANHPI voters went against the national trend, according to a survey conducted by Asian Americans Advancing Justice in partnership with other ethnic groups. Both men and women over 60 eyars of age voted almost 2-to-1 for Harris over Trump. Granted the percentage points is less than 2022 and 2020 when AANHP voters were almost 3-to-1 in favor of the Democratic candidates and issues, but a two-thirds majority ffrom older AAANHPI voters is still a landslide preference for the Democrats.

Despite the overwhelming support for Harris and Democratic issues among AANHPI votrers, in a classic case of "man-bites dog" news values, mainstream media chose to focus on the few  voters who voted more conseratively with headlines like "Asian Americans shift to Republicans."

However Trump did indeed improved his overall performance among voters of all ethnicities who were 50 years to 64  years old by 4 percentage points from his previous presidential run in 2020, exit polling shows.

Interestingly, voters of age 65 and older preferred Harris.  The Woodstock generation, which lived through the fight for civil rights, the birth of women's rights  and saving the environment and were against the Vietnam War, apparently still maintained those progressive values. You got to love those Baby Boomers!

The CBO report also found that:

• Increasing the retirement age from 67 to 69 for all beneficiaries younger than age 59 today would lead to smaller lifetime benefits for all recipients. 

• For workers currently in their 30s and 40s who are subject to the full retirement age increase, the average annual benefit cut would be 13%, or around $3,500 a year.
• Average lifetime Social Security benefits would be reduced by 8 percent for those subject to the full increase in the retirement age.

• Increasing the retirement age would push some beneficiaries to claim disability benefits, modestly increasing expenditures for that program.

• Though increasing the retirement age would reduce spending, it would not create enough savings to change the expected exhaustion date of the Social Security Trust Fund, which is projected to be unable to pay full benefits by the end of Fiscal Year 2034.

“The older voters showed up,” says Republican pollster Bob Ward, a partner with Fabrizio Ward who teamed up with a Democratic counterpart to conduct AARP’s bipartisan preelection surveys this year. “It was big, and we didn’t see any surge of younger voters coming out in full force…. It’s the reason why Trump is now the president-elect.”

But if Republican discussions about cutting social security and Medicare gives any indication about the mindset of the incoming administration, there could be a huge wave of regret among older Americans who voted for Trump.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X or at the blog Views From the Edge.

Almost forgotten, the day after December 7, 1941

Nearly 10,000 POWs died in the Bataan Death March.

Most Americans remember December 7as the day forces of Imperial Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. The bombing in Hawaii thrust the United States into World War II. On the other side of the Pacific, in the Philippines, and the rest of Southeast Asia, the Day of Infamy was the following day, Dec. 8, 1941.

The Philippines, which was a US colony, is a day ahead of the US and Hawaii because of the International Dateline. News of the attack on Pearl Harbor reached the Philippines, at about 2:30 a.m., Dec. 8. By 8:30 a.m., some small US Army installations in northern Luzon were under attack. By 12:30 p.m., the Japanese were dropping bombs on the main US bases, especially the Philippines' five major airfields.

The bombing in the Philippines destroying almost all of a new fleet of P-40 fighters and B-17 bombers, as well as many other military aircraft. 

The attack was the beginning of a five-month defense of the Phiippines doomed to fail that killed and wounded thousands, including those killed in the Bataan Death March of April 1942.

 FYI: For more details of Dec. 8, 1941 in the Philippines and its aftermath, click here.

Although FDR did not highlight this attack in his famous announcement about the Pearl Harbor bombing, the United States took immediate action in the Philippines. In early December, US officials began imprisoning Japanese people living in the Philippines without cause (this was three months before FDR signed an executive order establishing Japanese internment camps). By the end of the month, Japanese military forces freed these civilians.

RELATED:

• Legacy of the 'Battling Bastards of Bataan'
• Bataan to be included in California history textbooks

US forces, including the thousands of Filipinos who fought alongside the US military, resisted the Japanese invasion.  The JapaneseImperial leaders estimated that they would conquer the Philippines in a two-week campaign. It took four months before the Japanese could claim victory.

Despite being outmanned, outgunned, nearly starving and a shortage of medical supplies,  American and Filipino military personnel, it was not until May 1942 before the US surrendered. Nevertheless, the Japanese timetable  of conquest was delayed. That was enough time for Australia and the US to reinforce defenses to prevent further expansion of the Japanese Empire.

Nearly 80,000 men and women of the US armed forces surrendered, the largest defeat suffered by the United States. In a 60-mile forced march tin the tropical heat and weakened by malaria and lack of water, many of the American and FIlipino prisoners of war who fell to the wayside were killed by their captors. It is estimated that nearly 10,000 prisoners died in what became to be known as the Bataan Death March.

Unfortunately, perhaps because of the defeat of US forces, the story of WWII that took place in the Philippiens, is rarely covered in US textbooks. California and Haqwaii are the only states that mandates teaching this chapter of US history in its schools.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X or at the blog Views From the Edge.

AANHPI members of Congress elect Grace Meng to leadership role as Judy Chu steps down

Congressmember Grace Meng  (NY)will lead the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.

After 14 years as chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), Rep. Judy Chu, D-CA, is stepping down as Rep. Grace Meng, D-NY, takes over the helm of the Caucus.

CAPAC, which has about 80 members and associate members from the Senate and House, elected new leadership Dec. 4. Besides Meng, 49, the officers ifor the 119th Congress ncluded:

• Rep. Mark Takano (CA-39) was elected as First Vice-Chair. 
• Rep. Jill Tokuda (HI-02) was elected as Second Vice-Chair.
• Rep. Ami Bera, M.D. (CA-06) was elected as Whip.
• Rep.-elect Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10) was elected as Freshman Representative. 

"It’s an honor to serve my colleagues as the next Chair of CAPAC. I look forward to strengthening and growing the caucus, serving our diverse members, and fighting for policies that empower AANHPI communities across the country," stated Meng, who previously served as the group's vice chair.

The 71-year old Chu, who represents the California's 28th Congressional District, led the Caucus through turbulent times.

“It has been an extraordinary honor to serve as Chair of CAPAC for the past 14 years, following in the footsteps of leaders like Norm Mineta, Robert Underwood, Patsy Mink, and Mike Honda. When I started, we had nine AANHPI members of Congress," said Chu."Today, we look forward to having 25 AANHPI members of Congress.

" I am proud to have led CAPAC as it advanced the needs and interests of AANHPI communities nationwide, from health equity, educational access, and immigration to civil rights, data disaggregation, and language access. I am especially proud of our strong, visible fights against anti-Asian hate and racial profiling," she continued.

Looking forward for the next few years, Chu said: "Our communities will certainly face incredible challenges in the years to come under a second Trump Administration, but I have no doubt that our Chair-elect, Congressmember Grace Meng, will deftly lead this caucus as our community’s voice within the halls of Congress, protecting our rights and strengthening our power."

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X or at the blog Views From the Edge.

Man arrested for exporting military weapons to North Korea

A Chinese national who was in the United States illegally, was arrested Dec. 2 for allegedly shipping firearms, ammunition and other military items to North Korea. 

Shenghua Wen, 41, a resident of Ontario, California was arrested Tuesday morning and is expected to make his initial appearance in the Central District of California.

“The significance of this arrest and discovery of this scheme cannot be overstated,” Akil Davis, assistant director in charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles field office, said in a statement.

According to an affidavit filed on Nov. 26 with the complaint, Wen obtained firearms, ammunition, and export-controlled technology with the intention of shipping them to North Korea — a violation of federal law and US sanctions against that nation. 

Wen and his co-conspirators had allegedly exported shipments of firearms and ammunition to North Korea by concealing the items inside shipping containers that were shipped from Long Beach through Hong Kong to North Korea.

On Aug. 14, law enforcement seized at Wen’s Ontario, California home two devices that he allegedly intended to send to North Korea for military use: a chemical threat identification device and a hand-held broadband receiver that detects eavesdropping devices. On Sept. 6, law enforcement seized approximately 50,000 rounds of 9mm ammunition that Wen allegedly intended to send to North Korea.

A review of Wen’s iPhone revealed to law enforcement that in December 2023, Wen smuggled items from Long Beach to Hong Kong with their destination being North Korea. Messages retrieved from Wen’s cellphones revealed discussions he had earlier this year with co-conspirators about shipping military-grade equipment to North Korea. Some of these messages include photographs that Wen sent of items controlled for export under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations. From January to April, Wen sent emails and text messages to a US-based broker about obtaining a civilian plane engine. There also were several text messages on Wen’s iPhone concerning price negotiation for the plane and its engine.

"These engines would be used to help develop the North Korean military drone program," Wen is said to have told federal authorities, according to the affidavit.

Wen told the FBI “he believed the North Korean government wanted the weapons, ammunition, US militaryuniforms, and other military-related equipment to prepare for an attack against South Korea,” according to the complaint.

Wen arrived in the US on  a student visa in 2012. After his visa expired, he was supposed to return to the PRC in 2018, but apparently ignored his exit date. He was arrested in 2021 for his visa violation. The DOJ would not elaborate how Wen avoided detention and deportation.

US Department of Justice

Restricted weapons and military grade technology seized from Shenghua Wen's home.

Martin Estrada, the US attorney based in Los Angeles, said that prior to leaving China, Wen met with North Korean officials at North Korean consulates.

“Once Mr. Wen came to this country, North Korean officials reached out to him,” Estrada told the San Jose Mercury News. “They asked him to obtain specific items including firearms and ammunition.”

Estrada told the newspaper that North Korean officials paid Wen at least $2 million to do so. Wen bought Super Armory, a federal firearms licensee from the state of Texas, for $150,000.

Through his business and others he paid, Wen obtained firearms, often from Texas, and brought them into California to be shipped, DOJ officials said. There were at least two shipments in 2023, one of which was labeled as a refrigerator and another as camera parts, according to those officials.

Wen is charged with conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which carries a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X or at the blog Views From the Edge.

Three Americans released by PRC in time for Thanksgiving

Three Americans -- two of them Chinese Americans -- have returned to the US in time for Thanksgiving after years of imprisonment in China.

As the Biden administration wrapped up negotiations before transferring power to the incoming administration in January, the White House announced the released of Mark Swidan, Kai Li and John Leung, all of whom had been wrongfully detained by Peoples Republic of China (PRC), according to the US government.

Swidan, 48, of Texas had been facing a death sentence on drug charges while Li, 60,  of Huntington, New York and Leung, a 78-year old US citizen who, until his arrest, was described as pro-Beijing, were imprisoned on espionage charges. Kai has been detained since 2016 and Leung has been in prison since 2021.

“Thanks to this administration’s efforts and diplomacy with the PRC, all of the wrongfully detained Americans in the PRC are home,” said a US government spokesperson.

People's Republic of China recently released, from left: Kai Li, John Leung and Mark Swidan.

The release of the three Americans was made possible as part of a prisoner swap involving three unidentified Chinese nationals who had been detained by the US.

Negotiations for the prisoner swap became more urgent with the impending transition to a new Washington administration, which could start the negotiations all over again, said Harrison Li, the son of Kai Li,. He told The Guardian.“ 

In a statement addressing Li's release, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer credited Mr. Biden's "personal engagement with President Xi" with securing the release of all three men. The prsoner swap was apparently one of the topics discussed between Biden and PRC President Xi Jinping during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Lima, Peru, earlier in November.

"For the families of those Americans newly freed by the Chinese government, this Thanksgiving there is so much to be thankful for," Schumer stated.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X or at the blog Views From the Edge.