The brutal killing of a Detroit man in 1982 inspires decades of Asian American activism nationwide

Wilson Lee holds an U.S. flag as Boston City Councilor Erin Murphy speaks during a remembrance ceremony for Vincent Chin in Chinatown, Sunday, June 23, 2024, in Boston. Over the weekend, vigils were held across the country to honor the memory of Chin, who was killed by two white men in 1982 in Detroit.

“For a whole generation of Asian American activists, the Vincent Chin case was the case that got them involved,” says writer and filmmaker Curtis Chin. “It was the thing that brought them to the table.”After the judge spared Vincent Chin's killers, Curtis Chin — then 14 — grabbed his parents’ typewriter and wrote outraged letters to newspaper editors. He had found his calling.

On June 20, the FBI released a 602-page file on Chin’s death, revealing previously unseen witness interviews with descriptions of his final moments and the anti-Asian slurs his attackers used, among other details. Activists told, which first reported on the FBI documents, that they were not notified about the file, and the agency did not provide a reason for its release.

Vincent Chin was a victim of brutal, racial violence, but from that tragedy emerged “a chorus of Asian American voices,” Curtis Chin says.The autoworkers who attacked Chin blamed foreign vehicle manufacturers for hardships in the U.S. auto industry. Established in 2020, Stop AAPI Hate advocates for policy change and collects comprehensive data on acts of hatred against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. The group has documented thousands of cases nationwide, including verbal and physical abuse, and discrimination in business and education.

Wilson Lee, co-founder of the Chinese American Citizens Alliance Boston Lodge and the Chinese American Heritage Foundation, said he and his wife have organized a vigil for Chin every June 23 for six years. Even as media attention faded, their dedication to Chin’s memory has not wavered.

Ethnicity U.S. News Charlie Kaufman

United States Latest News, United States Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

You're Not A Baby Of The '80s Unless You've Seen These MoviesTell me you're born in 1982 without telling me you're born in 1982.
Source: ScaryMommy - 🏆 116. / 63 Read more »

'Crimes of The Times:' The 1982 'Twilight Zone' movie disaster cast a harsh light on HollywoodGrowing up in Los Angeles, it was hard to escape the terrible footage on the nightly news of the plunging helicopter that killed Vic Morrow and two children.
Source: latimes - 🏆 11. / 82 Read more »

Marin County Sheriff identifies body found in 1982 Muir Woods cold caseMarin County authorities have positively identified the body of a man who was found in the Muir Woods National Monument over four decades ago.
Source: KPIXtv - 🏆 443. / 53 Read more »

Marin coroner’s office ID’s man whose remains were found in Muir Woods in 1982DNA evidence and genealogy research helped investigators identify Sigvard Svensson of San Francisco, a Swedish immigrant who was born in 1908.
Source: mercnews - 🏆 88. / 68 Read more »

Parents of baby found dead on Vermont roadside in 1982 identified, will not face chargesThe parents of a baby found dead in Northfield, Vermont, on April 1, 1982, have been identified, but will not face charges in connection with the child's demise.
Source: FoxNews - 🏆 9. / 87 Read more »

1982 DC Comics Style Guide: Long-Awaited Reissue Features the Art of José Luis García-LópezThe 1982 DC Comics Style Guide is reproduced from a rare original copy featuring García-López's key art.
Source: ComicBook - 🏆 65. / 68 Read more »