Despite the increasing awareness towards ending violence against Asian Americans, the hate continues. What’s worse is some have taken to attacking those at events dedicated to ending violence. A Southern California man was arrested Thursday and charged with two counts of bias-motivated interference with federally protected activities after creating havoc at a “Stop Asian Hate” protest in Los Angeles, NBC News reported.
While the protest occurred last year, the 56-year-old man, identified as Steve Lee Dominguez, was arrested Thursday. According to prosecutors, Dominguez approached peaceful rally attendees in his black Honda sedan and yelled "racial epithets at the rally participants," including: "Go back to China.”
The “defendant Dominguez then deliberately drove his car through the crosswalk of the intersection at the red light, made an illegal u-turn and cut off the route of several rally participants lawfully crossing the pedestrian crosswalk,” the federal grand jury indictment said.
As a result of his reckless driving, he nearly hit a 9-year-old girl, the indictment said.
But unfortunately, that's not the only incident to make the news this week. In another recent incident, police are still searching for a suspect in connection to a shooting at a hair salon in Texas. According to CBS Dallas, three Asian women of Korean descent were shot Tuesday. Police officials noted that they were transported to local hospitals and sustained non-life threatening injuries.
But while the incident seems similar to that of the Atlanta shooting last year during which eight people died, six of whom were Asian women, this incident has not been ruled a hate crime.
”It's disturbing that for whatever reason — whether it's an argument or just a disagreement or whatever — for someone to just run up in there and start shooting," CBS Dallas reported that Dallas Police Sergeant Warren Mitchell said.
According to witnesses, the unknown shooter, dressed in all black, walked into the Hair World Salon located in northwest Dallas and immediately began shooting. He later fled the scene in an unknown model maroon-colored minivan, authorities said. "I guess he wanted a quick getaway," Mitchell said.
The suspect is allegedly between the heights of 5'7" to 5’10”. He is described as a Black man with a thin build and curly medium-length hair, police said in a news release.
The salon was located in an area called the Asian Trade District, known as the city's Koreatown.
While the incident has not been declared a hate crime yet, officials noted that the investigation is ongoing and the FBI has been called to assist. At this time what motivated the attack has not been confirmed. However, Mitchell did tell KDFW that police believe the shooter shouted something when he came in. What exactly was shouted is unclear at this time.
"If, in the course of the local investigation, information comes to light of a potential federal violation, the FBI is prepared to investigate," a police spokesperson told NBC News.
In a statement to NBC News, Dallas City Councilman Omar Narvaez, who represents the district, denounced the violence.
“These acts of violence are disturbing, and I have full faith that the Dallas Police Department will capture the perpetrators," he said. "The Asian Trade District AKA Koreatown is a vibrant business community which has grown exponentially over the years, and I am committed to making sure this important business district continues to thrive.”
The incident follows multiple attacks targeting Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) individuals across the nation. Studies have not only found that violence has increased by 339% in 2021 compared to the previous year, but that Asian Americans are changing their daily routines out of fear of violence.
The AAPI community needs our support now more than ever. Join Daily Kos in the fight to end racism and help us spread awareness. Hate is the real virus, and we cannot let it continue.