(SANTA CLARA, CA, 6/7/2022) – The San Francisco Bay Area Office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations today condemned a violent attack on a 25-year-old Asian man, Sagar Ocean Tamang, who was ambushed near Fox Theater in Oakland after purchasing food from a street vendor at about 11 p.m.
A message written on the GoFundMe page set up to help Tamang says he was attacked from behind and left in an alley without much of his clothing. It says his phone, wallet, pants, boots and coat were taken after he was left unconscious on the street.
Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce President Carl Chan says he’s been in touch with the police about this attack and without video or witnesses, they’ve been unable to make an arrest. He thinks this is a case of anti-Asian hate. Chan says community leaders have been meeting with the FBI to talk about how they can better protect people from these attacks. They’re also planning town hall meetings in Oakland and San Francisco.
“We denounce these despicable acts of hate. There is no tolerance for violence or bigotry in our community,” said Zahra Billoo, executive director for CAIR-SFBA. “We will continue to stand against hate and support our fellow Asian community members in the face of such hostility.”
CAIR-SFBA also expressed concern about a recent hate incident involving a South Bay couple, Lauren Amado and her boyfriend Sebastian, who were reportedly targeted with racist harassment.
The couple said they saw a man park behind a nearby woman’s car, preventing her from leaving. He then got out of the vehicle and then began knocking on her windows. That’s when the couple got out of their car and stepped in to help.
“This is a woman. She’s alone, so I wanted to help. I went out of my car, he saw me and I asked if there was a problem,” Amado said. That’s when she said he began yelling at her and her boyfriend. He called Sebastian a derogatory slur and told the couple, who are from Colombia, to go back to Mexico. She said the man even threatened them with a knife.
“We are deeply upset with these repeated racist incidents. Racism and discrimination are not a part of our community or our nation,” said Billoo. “We will continue to challenge racial injustice and advocate for diversity and inclusion within our communities.”
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CAIR-SFBA is an office of CAIR, America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR-SFBA Communications Coordinator Arooba Kazmi, 408.498.5690, [email protected]