‘Strong possibility’ of hate crimes against Asian Americans happening in Pa., state police say
No hate crimes targeting Asian Americans have been investigated by state police during the coronavirus pandemic, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t happening, a lieutenant said Tuesday.
Law enforcement nationwide have reported an increasing number of crimes targeting Asian Americans due to “misinformation,” Heritage Affairs Commander William Slaton said.
The novel coronavirus originated in Wuhan, China, and some, including President Donald Trump, have called the coronavirus the “Chinese virus” or the “Wuhan virus.” But Asian Americans are not responsible for the disease’s emergence or spread.
“Just because we have no reports, that does not mean it’s not occurring,” Slaton said. “... There’s a strong possibility that hate crimes against Asian Americans in Pennsylvania could be occurring; they’re just not being reported.”
People may not want to report hate crimes for a multitude of reasons, including fear of embarrassment, lack of community support and fear that law enforcement won’t seriously investigate their concerns, Slaton said.
Another challenge for minorities and those for whom English is a second language is a mistrust of those in authority, including police. But Slaton urged those who may be affected to file a report immediately so it may be investigated and documented.
Reports can be submitted through email at tips@pa.gov, or by calling 472-8477, where dispatchers and troopers who speak a multitude of languages are available 24/7.
Bias incidents can also be reported to Penn State through equity.psu.edu/reportbias.
The Paul Robeson Cultural Center, which advocates for marginalized student populations, recently penned an open letter to Happy Valley that expressed support for Asian Americans.
“People are out and about and they do see people harassing others, so we want to give them the ability to step in or, if they see something, to report it,” PRCC Director Carlos Wiley said Wednesday. “Students who are still here, both domestic and international Asian students, should know we’re here for them.”
It is unclear how many reports have been submitted to municipal police departments throughout Pennsylvania. Reports are typically investigated by the police department with jurisdiction over a certain municipality.
State police only expands its reach when a municipal police department requests assistance or a news report is brought to the department’s attention, Slaton said.
“I am advocating for all Pennsylvanians to take a stand against anti-Asian racism and report any discrimination they see,” Gov. Tom Wolf said in a statement. “Hate is just one more symptom of this terrible disease. If we want to win our war against COVID-19, then we all need to work together.”