UPDATE ON DENNY’S INCIDENT

On behalf of the National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium, Liz OuYang from AALDEF went to meet with the students who had been assaulted at the Denny’s in Syracuse. In her investigations, she found that a group of seven students (six of Asian descent) went to Denny’s and saw a group of African Americans waiting to be seated. They waited for several minutes to be seated. The students observed groups of white males enter after them who were seated immediately. They also saw two large empty tables that could have accommodated both the African American group and the Asian Pacific American group. When the Asian Pacific American group complained, the hostess became angry and shouted at the students. Two private security guards appeared and escorted the students from the restaurant.

As they were leaving a large group of white males also exited from Denny’s and ordered them to "Get the f---- out of here". They then kicked and punched some of the students, two of whom lost consciousness. The other students begged the security guards to do something, but they just stood by and did nothing. Finally some of the African American students pulled some of the white males off the Asian Pacific American students which caused the attack to end. When the police arrived at the health center where the students were being treated for their injuries, they refused to accept a complaint by the Asian Pacific American students.

We are asking people to write letters asking for the case to be investigated thoroughly and expeditiously addressed to:

Janet Reno
U.S. Attorney General
Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20530

cc: Isabelle Katz Pinzler
Acting Assistant Attorney General
Civil Rights Division
Department of Justice

 

Sharon Leibeck Hartman
Office of the Civil Rights Monitor
P.O. Box 36806
Los Angeles, CA 90036-0806

We are also suggesting that people write a letter to the District Attorney’s office urging that they arrest all the responsible individuals involved and prosecute them to the fullest extent under the law to:

William J. Fitzpatrick
District Attorney
421 Montgomery Street, 12^th Floor
Syracuse, NY 13202

If anyone has any additional questions about this incident, please speak to Liz OuYang at AALDEF at 212-966-5932 (e-mail to AALDEF@ worldnet.att.net). If you need additional information on anti-Asian violence or would like a copy of the National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium’s 1995 Audit of Violence Against Asian Pacific Americans, please contact Jacinta Ma at 202-296-2300 (e-mail to [email protected]).

POSSIBLE TALKING POINTS FOR INDIVIDUAL LETTERS

TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL:

Explain who you are and why you are writing.

For example, I am writing because of my concern that an incident of anti-Asian violence is not being addressed.

Summarize important facts into two or three sentences.

• Note that an attack on one Asian Pacific American for being who he or she is, really is an attack on all Asian Pacific Americans
• State that hate violence must be addressed and because the local authorities were unwilling to take a complaint, the U.S. Department of Justice should get involved.
• Thank them for their involvement in the Vincent Chin and Jim Loo cases and ask them to further their commitment to addressing hate violence by investigating the Denny’s case.

TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY:

Explain who you are and why you are writing.

For example, I am a student (or a parent, etc.) and I am writing because of my concern that perpetrators of anti-Asian violence have not been arrested.

Summarize important facts into two or three sentences.

• Note that an attack on one Asian Pacific American for being who he or she is, really is an attack on all Asian Pacific Americans.
• Emphasize safety concerns.
• Explain that you believe that perpetrators of anti-Asian violence should not go unpunished.