Asian Life in Los Angeles | Asian American Poll

ASIAN LIFE IN LOS ANGELES
(Updated Tuesday, Apr 1, 2008, 05:13:44 PM to reflect the 100 most recent valid responses.)

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WHAT YOU SAY

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TK Chang:

Close, but it was actually Ventura County. It turns out there is a pattern in that county for police shootings of suicidal individuals -- all minorities, at that. the list is at anna.yellowworld.org. if you haven't yet, please sign the petition. anna's trial resumes after christmas. if she is convicted, she will be a felon at 14 and faces deportation to china -- where she no longer has relatives to care for her.
kasia Thursday, December 26, 2002 at 19:44:33 (PST) [67.121.244.241]

The Truth

Chicago has roughly the same number with half your population. However, i don't feel at risk. Most of those killed are gang members. You have Bloods and Crips. We have Gangster Desciples and Latin Kings. The Truth is that the rich people in this country don't care as long as NIMBY. America the land of the top 1% of wealth.
Still Love this country Thursday, December 26, 2002 at 14:41:14 (PST) [209.107.68.50]

I'm moving from San Francisco to Los Angeles and someone told me that a good way to find places is through Westside Rentals...
We are kind of short on cizash due to the move...anyone here know anyone that might have a password that still works?

Thanks,
C. Chen grrrlfrend@excite.com Tuesday, December 10, 2002 at 15:38:15 (PST) [66.126.2.15]

Wow, L.A. just hit over 600 murders, one of the highest rates in a decade. Who wants to deal with that insanity?
the truth Friday, November 29, 2002 at 02:43:12 (PST) [12.233.247.164]

all over L.A.

the Japanese/Asians in the Gardena area tend to get permits to go to North Torrance high, while there are some that do go to Gardena High. The Vietnamese in the area will also go to North torrance high or Leuzinger...while there are some Vietnamese that to go to Hawthorne High also. hope this helps.
310 Saturday, November 23, 2002 at 15:10:42 (PST) [128.195.210.246]

kasia:
"14 year old Anna Guo of Southern California was trying to commit suicide when five cops arrived at her home. A rookie officer shot her 3 times in her abdominal area while she was over 20 feet away. The lost shot took place when 5 foot tall Anna already fell to the floor. The cops are now charging Anna with assault on a police officer - a felony."

Let me guess: LAPD.
T'K Chang t_k_chang@yahoo.com Friday, November 22, 2002 at 01:29:44 (PST) [207.167.97.237]

Shoot first; Ask Questions Later

"Did she drop the knife?"
"How many steps towards the officer did she take?"
"Was the officer scared?"
"Does she speak English?"
"Why is she a foster child?"
"Why did she want to commit suicide?"

These were some questions you asked upon hearing the story of Anna Guo.

But can the answer to any of these questions justify the shooting by rookie officer Kristin Rupp of 14-year-old Anna Guo three times in the stomach while Anna was attempting suicide with a steak knife and standing over twenty feet away?

Let me break that down for you.

1) 14-years-old

2) shot three times

3) directly in the stomach

4) while attempting suicide

5) with a steak knife

6) standing over twenty feet away.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that shooting is always wrong in and of itself. Certainly, there are circumstances under which officers are fully justified in protecting themselves. But did Rupp really shoot to protect herself in this case? Did she truly perceive a threat? Could her perceived threat from a five-foot tall 14-year-old standing over twenty feet away possibly be reasonable? Is there a reason why her fellow colleagues did not feel a need to shoot?

And I guess that leads me to another question: Why did Rupp do it? This question leaves me most perplexed. What could possibly have motivated her? Does she hate young girls? Is she delusional? Was she having a bad day? Was she properly trained? Is she panic-prone?

And now, Anna is charged with the crime of felony assault with a deadly weapon on an officer - a charge that many civil rights groups have contended was brought only to cover-up the mistake of rookie officer Rupp. And, indeed, we are left to wonder: What assault? The one that took place while Anna stood twenty feet away? Deadly weapon? The steak knife that Anna attempted to slit her own wrist with?

Of course, the district attorney's office has assured us that, if Anna is convicted of the felony, they seek only to place her in a group home. So my questions are these: Why felony assault? Aren't others who have done far worse charged merely with resisting a peace officer? Couldn't we still send Anna to a group home if she is convicted merely of resisting a peace officer? But would a lesser charge of resisting a peace officer be sufficient to justify a negligent shooting? Oh, I get it.

My concerns for Anna: How is she doing in juvenile hall? Has she fully recovered from the three near-fatal shots? What will happen if she is sent to a group home? When will she be reunited with her father? If she is convicted, isn't it true that she will not be able to seal her criminal record when she turns 18 under Proposition 21?

These questions have not been answered and will likely remain unanswered unless we, the public, demonstrate a strong desire to know. My last questions to you are: Do you care to know the answers? Can you send a 14-year-old to prison without knowing the truth? Will you write a letter to the district attorney? Does justice matter to you?

Join the APA community in Southern California, as well as Assemblymember Judy Chu, in writing a letter to the district attorney to ask that the charges be dropped. A sample letter can be found at http://anna.yellowworld.org. This is a time when the APA community of Southern California, and across the country, must come together. A child's life is at stake.
anna.yellowworld.org http://anna.yellowworld.org Friday, November 22, 2002 at 00:00:27 (PST) [66.119.33.167]

310,

I just went to an elementary school in Gardena today. I noticed a lot of Japanese and Asian people living in the neighborhood, but very few Asian kids attend the public schools in the area. They bus in a lot of Hispanic and black kids. But, I know there is also a growing black and especially Hispanic presence in the area too.

By the way, which Asian groups predominates in the San Fernando Valley, Hollywood and Orange County?
all over L.A. Tuesday, November 19, 2002 at 21:13:29 (PST) [64.130.235.33]

the correct term is Black or African-American. Using the term Afro-American can be compared to saying, Oriental-American. Just thought I'd say something before you actually used that term in conversation. :-)
Islandtea Monday, November 18, 2002 at 19:59:27 (PST) [207.233.74.30]

Gardena was originally a very Japanese area, and it still is. Redondo Beach blvd. is lined with japanese markets, restaurants, etc...but now some Koreans have moved into the Japanese part of Gardena. There is also a substaintial Vietnamese population in Gardena, more towards the Hawthrone/Gardena side and near El Camino College. Carson has many Filipinos, I think about 25% of the city is Filipino. Hope this helps.
310 Saturday, November 16, 2002 at 18:54:33 (PST) [128.195.210.246]

14 year old Anna Guo of Southern California was trying to commit suicide when five cops arrived at her home. A rookie officer shot her 3 times in her abdominal area while she was over 20 feet away. The lost shot took place when 5 foot tall Anna already fell to the floor. The cops are now charging Anna with assault on a police officer - a felony. The trial takes place this Thursday, the 18th.

Please write a letter to the district attorney requesting that the charges be dropped. The Asian Pacific American Legal Center, and the Chinese American Citizen's Alliance have already written letters. We need more people to show their concern.
kasia Saturday, November 09, 2002 at 16:22:21 (PST) [66.119.33.167]

What is the racial background of Gardena and Carson? I thought there would be some Asians down there, but when I worked at some of the schools, I found a lot of Afro-Americans and hardly any Asian kids.
all over L.A. Monday, November 04, 2002 at 21:52:04 (PST) [64.130.235.33]

The best place to live is in the San Gabriel Valley.
May myu01@lycos.com Saturday, November 02, 2002 at 21:56:42 (PST) [204.31.232.194]

HK Boy, you're right about the surfing up in Santa Cruz and Monterrey, it's great up there. The water is colder though. Yuck.
LA Boy Tuesday, October 29, 2002 at 07:07:19 (PST) [128.253.186.46]

HK Boy, chill.... we're just talking about the weather!! Sheesh... I just happen to think that a lot of what you said makes no sense whatsoever, and from what I see around here, I think that some other people agree.

If I were DIRECTLY comparing Boston to SF, I would have said so. I explicitly compared Seattle and the NorthWest as a MILDER VERSION of the NorthEast. Stop twisting my words around and admit that you've been beat. Come ON.

Btw, HK Boy, I am FROM Los Angeles. Born and raised. 22 years. As an avid snowboarder and surfer, I keep tabs (well, used to before I moved out east for work.. NO surf here =( ... )on the weather each and every day. That probably makes me more qualified on SoCal weather than YOU'LL ever be. No one spits on my home town.
LA Boy Tuesday, October 29, 2002 at 07:02:52 (PST) [128.253.186.46]

Waata,

I wish that would happen too, but unfortunately, it won't happen in our lifetimes. Now I am not saying that all asian immigrants/asian americans are perfect. We have our share of bigots and igorants too. But on the whole, I would be safe to say that most asian american youth are willing/able to make friendships across racial lines much more readily than other races. Asian americans just don't have the stupid hangups that a lot of other races seem to have, and if a lot of asian americans do congregate amongst themselves, it would be out of response to antagonisms from other races. There is no greater proof of this than on the asian american websites. Anyone can see that many non asians, including blacks, whites, hispanics, regularly visit asian american websites and post messages on them. That they feel welcome enough to do so is proof of asian american openness. I doubt other poeple feel as comfortable visiting other racially specific websites.

Out of all the other races, it seems as if Whites are the most hospitable to asian americans. I'm speaking in general terms here. Along those same lines, our society univerally condemns whtie racism as evil and bad. Any crimes involving a white criminal and minority victim is automatically presumed as a hate crime. Yet it is not always assumed as such vice versa.

This brings me to my main point. Until we have more people from the non white communities speaking out against racism within their own ranks, race relations will never improve in L.A. or across the country. When people scream about white racism yet ignore/condone minority racism, what makes them better than the klan? Let us see more people from the black/latino communities speak out against racism.
the truth Sunday, October 27, 2002 at 21:47:42 (PST) [12.233.158.221]

Fanatic,

Hopefully all of that will change when the Latinos, Armenians, Cambodians, Vietnamese all become "Americanized" in later generations and the gang thing and ethnic animosity will disappear.

Some Latinos are OK, but some can be downright racist even though they are dirt poor.

I know many who would not consider a half-Asian or half-black kid as Mexican even though if the mother is Mexican.

Armenians, Jews, and other Middle Easterners will always be an insulated groups. It is like that even in their Middle Eastern homelands. People do not mix in those cultures. This is more true with Armenians and Jews who see their small numbers worldwide as a threat to survival.

I know that soon, all of California will revert back to Mexico (they call it "Aztlan") whether we like it or not. It just remains to be seen how they will view and treat the others...
Waata Friday, October 25, 2002 at 01:08:44 (PDT) [64.130.235.33]

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