Violent China-bashing has been mainstreamed since US passing 1882 Chinese Exclusion Acts / ‘Tonight, it’s my turn’: Chinese PhD student attacked by 5 men near University of Wisconsin-Madison 自美國通過 1882 年排華法案以來，暴力抨擊中國已成為主流/ “今晚，輪到我了”：中國博士生在威斯康星大學麥迪遜分校附近被 5 名男子襲擊 by Carl Samson Fri, June 17, 2022
A Chinese doctoral student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison was reportedly assaulted by five young men near the campus, triggering a student protest against anti-Asian hate and violence.
The student, 26, shared his account of the incident on Weibo, which was then also translated and posted on the r/UWMadison subreddit.
The student said he was walking home along University Avenue on Tuesday night when a group of men surrounded him, struck him in the face, shoved him to the ground and repeatedly punched and kicked him.
His attackers fled after he screamed for help twice, the victim said. The assault left him with a bleeding ear and multiple “spots” on his head.
The victim said he kept calling for help. A group of witnesses who were partying across the street helped him in the aftermath, followed by what appeared to be a medical student who checked his injuries and made sure he was conscious.
A Chinese male student was beaten by FIVE random young men yesterday on University Ave. close to @UWMadison campus. We feel extremely disappointed about what happened to him. And this isn’t the first Asian hate crime at UW-Madison.
The entire attack lasted no more than 40 seconds, the victim said. He described his assailants as both white and Black men who were all “very well dressed” and “very fit.”
Despite his unfortunate experience, the victim said he feels no hate for his attackers.
“They are just those who have lost their basic rationalities and common sense under certain ideologies/hatred/cultures. The limited resources in society/education almost decided that it’s impossible to raise everybody into a decent person with common sense,” the victim said. “Tonight it’s my turn, and I’m glad it’s my turn and not the turn of anyone else’s, at least I could still take a few punches.”
Meanwhile, the same assailants are also accused of attacking a South Asian victim earlier that night. The incident allegedly occurred just a few blocks away from where the Chinese student was assaulted.
The incidents are now under investigation by the Madison Police Department. On Thursday, UW-Madison released a statement saying they are aware of the attacks and that campus police are cooperating with the investigation.
“The university has been made aware of recent acts of violence and aggression against students that took place near the UW–Madison campus,” the statement reads. “UW-Madison is committed to making our campus and nearby downtown areas safe for all.
“Initial reports came from members of our Asian, Pacific Islander and Desi American communities, and we are aware that in recent years these communities have faced increased threats to their safety, well-being, and sense of belonging. We recognize the safety concerns and trauma these actions may cause, and will continue to work to create safe, equitable and inclusive working, living, and learning environments.”
Students have organized Stop Asian Hate protests in response to the attacks. A march will take place from the Capitol to Library Mall from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
A letter to the university administration — signed by current students and alumni — and a public petition were also created to call for change.
“Hatred solves no problems but creates more. United we stand, divided we fall,” the petition states. “If the attackers turn out to be UW-Madison students, we urge the university to handle the misconduct according to university conduct policies and procedures.”
Long story short: walking home from the gym tonight, I got attacked by some young guys for no apparent reason, some of them black, some of them white, my left ear and my face are bleeding, but no more serious injury.
It has been my 5th year here in Madison as a Ph.D. student, I chose Madison largely because it is already a much safer place as compared to the rest of the US, and I didn’t even apply to any of the California/New York/Southern schools for safety concerns. But tonight, whether it was racial hatred or common school violence, it still came to me.
I was walking home alone tonight across University Avenue, which is the main street in downtown Madison. I was about to turn the corner and head towards my residence when a group of very tall and well-dressed young guys sped up to me and surrounded me, a black guy punched me in the left side of my face all of a sudden, then I was pulled to the ground by the people behind me, followed by punches and kicks. I was so dazed and dumbfounded that for the first 20 seconds, I didn’t even realize I should call for help. It wasn’t until I was spotted by the people around and I heard there were girls yelling that I realized I should call for help. After I shouted HELP twice, they ran away. When I stood up, my glasses were knocked off, my head was numb, and I couldn’t see anything. I continued to yell HELP and crowds started coming from all over. A group of black girls who were partying at a bar across the street witnessed the whole attack, and they came over and sat me down, helped me call the police, handed me tissues and water, and took pictures of me. A passerby white guy, presumably a medical student, checked all parts of my body, checked the wounds, asked some questions, and made sure I was conscious. The police arrived about 5-10 minutes later and took statements from me and the passerby. The location where I was attacked was just across the street from a store, and I was attacked almost right under the store’s security camera. The police will request the footage. And there were security cameras all over that busy street.
As I recall now, the entire attack should have been no more than 40 seconds, they didn’t say a single word, didn’t try to rob my stuff, they just dragged me to the ground to kick me. I was able to see about 3 people, and passersby described there were about 5. They were very well dressed, in fancy sportswear, and no more than 25 years old. I had the vague impression that they should be higher than average Americans, very fit.
Johnson Choi Biz 