ORLANDO, Fla. — Since the pandemic began nearly two years ago, attacks against Asian Americans continue to rise.
A national survey released by the group Stop AAPI Hate shows people reported more than 10,300 hate crimes between the start of the pandemic and this past October.
Fewer than 45% of those crimes happened in 2020, with more than 55% occurring in 2021.
Researchers say the reports represent a small portion of the total hate incidents, with most going unreported.
“They are being quite blatant about their hate because they are showing very obviously they dislike you, they don’t want you near them, or in this country. They want a scapegoat. They want someone to blame because it it’s so much easier to blame someone else," explains Diane Tran, a student at UCF College of Medicine student.
Now a second year medical student, Tran recalls a painful memory during her time as a hospital volunteer. A patient refused to let her near him because she was Vietnamese.
“Even though I think that sort of prejudice against me, he didn’t want me to touch him, talk to him, help him with his physical therapy. I think part of it is wrong, but also it’s understandable," shares Tran.
Tran says that patient was a Vietnam War veteran. Still, that racial rejection hurt and it’s a hurt becoming more and more common. A national report showing one in five Asian American Pacific Islanders have been the victims of hate in the past two years. Much of that, blame directed at the coronavirus.
The report by Stop AAPI Hate ranks Florida eighth for states with the most hate incidents, with the majority of such incidents happening in California and New York. Women are the primary target, making up 62% of hate cases.
Tran though, isn’t letting her experience slow her dreams.
She hopes to specialize in internal medicine, focusing on helping and healing every patient she encounters.
“There is a lot of struggle that comes from living your life. That struggle is only mitigated is community. The answer to everything is always community," says Tran.