Tuesday, June 19, 2007

25th Anniversary of the Death of Vincent Chin

OCA Commemorates 25th Anniversary of Vincent Chin’s Death

Washington, DC – OCA, a national organization with 80 chapters and affiliates dedicated to ensuring social justice for Asian Pacific Americans, today renewed its commitment to hate crimes prevention and education.

On June 19th, 1982 Vincent Chin, a 27 year old Chinese American man, was brutally beaten to death on in Detroit, Michigan. Although the crime was racially motivated, it was not recognized as a hate crime and Chin’s assailants were sentenced to only three years’ probation and a $3,000 fine

“Vincent Chin’s murder and the soft treatment his attackers received galvanized the Asian Pacific American community to unprecedented action and awareness about hate crimes against APAs,” said Ginny Gong, National President, “OCA, a leading civil rights organization in that movement, continues to fight against violence and hate, whether it is motivated by the victim’s race, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, or ability. Today, on the 25th anniversary of Vincent Chin’s assault, we renew our commitment to hate crimes prevention and to spreading awareness about hate crimes.

OCA’s Hate Crimes Initiative Conference Series, in partnership with Allstate Foundation, works with OCA chapters around the country to sponsor conferences targeting community leaders, organizations, and law enforcement officials. The conferences educate participants about hate crimes in the APA community and encourage participants to be proactive and take preventative measures. OCA and Allstate have also partnered to publish Responding to Hate Crime: A Community Action Guide, a guidebook to responding to and preventing hate crimes

OCA-Detroit chapter will commemorate the anniversary with an OCA/Allstate Hate Crimes Initiative workshop and memorial activities this weekend (See release below for details)

Founded in 1973 as the Organization of Chinese Americans, OCA is a national organization dedicated to advancing the social, political and economic well-being of Asian Pacific Americans.

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