Activists patrol Oakland’s Chinatown amid rise in violence against elderly Asian residents

A man wears a mask to protect himself from the coronavirus while running in front of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. (AP Photo)

OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 7:39 AM PT – Monday, February 15, 2021

A group of Asian-American activists are patrolling areas in Oakland, California in hopes of stopping violent attacks on elderly neighbors. The group, called Asians with Attitude, are reportedly looking to protect Oakland’s Chinatown.

The group has been letting small business owners and other community members know they will have a presence in the community. This comes amid a recent surge in violence targeting elderly Asian residents.

Over the weekend, protesters gathered in Chinatown to celebrate the Lunar New Year and to call for unity in combating the attacks.

“We’re just here for the movement, we’re here to try to come together as a community,” stated Jimmy Bounphensy, founder of Asians with Attitude. “I started off by myself, I’m glad my message got out to everyone. We’re just here trying to send a message out to stop the hate, stop the violence.”

The activists said they will have patrol teams guarding the community throughout the day and night.

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