New data shows scale of anti-Asian violence, harassment in Seattle

Nearly two in five Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander residents living in Seattle said they have been a victim of an anti-Asian incident in the past year, according to a new study.

Commissioned by the national nonprofit organization The Asian American Foundation, in partnership with the Seattle-based Chinese Information and Service Center, the study surveyed 1,000 adults in King, Pierce and Snohomish
counties between May 30 and June 10 about their public safety concerns and experiences.

The new statistics bring into sharper focus a public safety crisis that drew increased attention at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic — when anti-Asian hate crimes skyrocketed — but has long been felt in areas such as 12th Avenue South and South Jackson Street in the Chinatown International District, where visible homelessness, open drug markets and business closures have left many demanding more investment and accountability from local officials.

Among the most troubling findings: 30% of respondents said in the past 12 months they were called names or insulted, 24% were harassed or threatened and 20% were physically attacked.

Results from the new study were shared during a community meeting Monday in Little Saigon. During the event, many local advocates and leaders said the numbers were not surprising.

Others said seeing the issues quantified left them in disbelief.

“It doesn’t feel real,” said Quynh Pham, executive director!of Friends of Little SàiGòn,!which hosted the event!at its Little Saigon Creative location. “It’s saddening to see it all.”

Some community organizers said the study may still undercount the scope of bias and violence some Asian residents experience.

“I think it’s missing a lot of people who never come out to speak about these issues,” said Adrianna Suluai, policy director at UTOPIA Washington, an LGBTQ+ rights organization led by queer and trans Pacific Islanders. Suluai said
she suspected harassment and attacks against LGBTQ+ people within the Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander community were undercounted, for example, pointing to the “layers of discrimination” some face.

At Monday’s event, state Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos said she invited anyone to spend time on 12th Avenue, where she said they will see elderly community members “trying to fight for a little bit of space amongst all of these members of our community who are in great need of help.”

“We’re teaching our seniors self-defense,” she said. “What does that say about us? About our communities?”

People living in the Chinatown International District were far more likely to report having personally experienced an anti-Asian incident, the study found, with 47% saying they’ve been victimized compared with 33% of those living elsewhere in Seattle.

A majority of respondents, 72%, said fears about being targeted for their race or ethnicity have forced them to change some of their habits and behaviors.

Forty percent said they avoid going out late at night, while 28% said they avoid certain neighborhoods. About one in five said they avoid taking public transit. More than 20% said they avoid speaking their native language in public, according to the study.

“That’s what broke my heart,” said The Asian American Foundation chief programs officer Georgette Bhathena, who grew up in Seattle. “Not speaking their native languages and tongues because of fear means they don’t have that deep sense of belonging.”

About half of people who experience anti-Asian hate incidents do not report it, the study found, the primary reason being they were reluctant to bring any attention to themselves.

In addition, about one-third said they were unsure how to report such incidents, and about one-fourth said they were uncomfortable reporting to law enforcement.

A majority of respondents said better relations with police, such as expanding in-language access to emergency services, and more services for victims, including legal aid and mental health support, would help combat anti-Asian hate.

As for what would make people feel safer, better infrastructure, including more lights and walking paths, and increased police presence were top suggestions among respondents.

Respondents also recommended boosting overall foot traffic through events and activities. The return of the beloved CID Night Market last week is just one example of “activation events” that can bring energy and dollars into the neighborhood, said Chinese Information and Service Center executive director Michael Itti.

“Making it a regular habit to come down to the CID, enjoy it, go to bakeries or coffee shops or restaurants … that’s the kind of behavior we want to encourage,” Itti said.

Community groups at Monday’s meeting called on city, county and state officials to increase funding for programs aimed at improving public safety for Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities, such as the hate crime helpline and victim support services offered by the Chinese Information and Service Center. Many are seeing funding begin to dwindle as federal COVID-19 relief dries up.

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