‘The Damage Has Been Done’: Old Wounds Reopened For Philadelphia’s Cambodian Community After Threatening Letter
By Alecia Reid
July 9, 2021 at 5:29 pm

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Leaders in the South Philadelphia community are speaking out following a disturbing threat made to the Cambodian Association of Greater Philadelphia. People in attendance of a rally Friday acknowledged police taking swift action in this instance in finding the person allegedly responsible for writing that hateful letter and impersonating a veteran.

An anonymous letter writer, angry over fireworks being set off at Mifflin Square Park, was received at the Cambodian Association of Greater Philadelphia on Monday. It contained threats they say were ethnic intimidation.

Speakers at a rally Friday say that threat of gun violence was triggering to the Cambodian-American community in South Philly that have been discriminated against in their home country. Past traumas of displacement were reopened with that letter.

They contacted police, who got involved to support the fourth largest Cambodian population in the country.

Thursday night, police said their investigation revealed that they identified a 79-year-old woman who claimed to be the author of the letter.

“This strategically concocted and threatening letter has jeopardized the safety of our entire Cambodian community in the City of Philadelphia and all of the beautiful neighbors in this community — not just Cambodians, all the neighbors in this community. Our Cambodian community — our war refugees and survivors of genocide — and the event of this week has retriggered a population who actually suffers from traumas of war and PTSD, and brought upon pain and mental distress. The damage has been done,” CAGP Executive Director Saruan Chan said.
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‘It is a hate crime:’ Cambodian leaders call for accountability after letter threatens shooting over fireworks
ByAriella CohenDarryl C. MurphyJuly 9, 2021

Cambodian residents of Philadelphia say they want full accountability and investigation after an anonymous letter sent to the Cambodian Association of Greater Philadelphia threatened to shoot Cambodians over fireworks going off in South Philadelphia.

“This letter is ethnic intimidation. It is a hate crime no matter who wrote it,” Sarun Chan, the executive director of the association said at a press conference held Friday.

Chan said that the letter illustrated ongoing anti-Asian hate and violence experienced in Philadelphia and nationally since former President Donald Trump first associated the coronavirus with China. The deadly shooting of six Asian women in Atlanta happened on the one-year anniversary of Trump’s first tweet referring to COVID-19 as the “China virus.”

Hate incidents against people of Asian descent increased 149% nationally in 2020, according to an analysis of police data by a center at the California State University, San Bernardino. In Philadelphia, the number rose from two incidents reported to police in 2019 to six in 2020 — a 200% increase.

Philadelphia police said a 79-year-old woman claimed to be the author of the letter that threatened to shoot Cambodians over fireworks set off in Mifflin Square Park at Sixth and Ritner streets. The park sits a few blocks from a thriving area of shops and businesses, many of which are owned and operated by immigrants. Though the popular neighborhood park is used by people of all nationalities and identities, the author blamed the fireworks set off there on Cambodian people. She said the celebratory explosions affected her sleep and mental health.

According to the Inquirer, the author wrote: “I want to take a gun and go down there and kill these individuals. … I am writing you to let you know when I do freak out and try to kill these people that it is your fault for not going to them and encouraging them (it is in their best interest) to stop doing this and remain alive!”

Police said the woman is not a former military member nor does appear to have weapons. The officers forwarded their findings to the District Attorney’s Office for more review and possible criminal charges.
https://whyy.org/articles/it-is-a-hate- ... fireworks/

“ Chan said that the letter illustrated ongoing anti-Asian hate and violence experienced in Philadelphia and nationally since former President Donald Trump first associated the coronavirus with China. ”

This is pure leftist propaganda.