Oakland Police are investigating back-to-back violent assaults in the city’s Chinatown, including one that targeted a high profile member of the Asian American community.
Carl Chan, President of the Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce, has been very vocal about the recent rise in attacks on Asian Americans and has called for more police presence in the area.
Chan was walking on 8th St. near Broadway on Thursday afternoon to pay a visit to an assault victim, when he says he was suddenly struck on the head from behind.
Chan says his attacker yelled a racial slur at him.
“I had to make a quick decision – chase the guy or take a picture, because I didn’t see any cameras there,” he told KCBS Radio. “So I thought I’m going to take a picture first before I do anything and I’m glad I did.”
He called police who later made an arrest, thanks in part to the photos he took. Chan had scratches and bruises on his knees, but says he is otherwise doing fine.
Police are also investigating a second attack that happened in Chinatown on Thursday. Officers were called to 8th and Franklin where they found the victim, who was able to provide a description of the suspect. That description led to an arrest.
At a rally on Friday, Chan says he has receiving an outpouring of concern and thanked his supporters including state Attorney General Rob Bonta and Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, who Chan says called him in tears.
“(It) also brought tears to my eyes. She was crying and she was saying that she doesn’t want to lose me.”
Chan says while he is shaken up, the incident just makes him more determined to continue fighting on behalf of the community.
“I don’t want this to happen to anyone, any senior. They don’t have to be Asian, any senior, any race, I don’t want them to be a target of crime.”
Officials have not said if they consider either of yesterday's attacks to be racially motivated.
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