Ep 128 | Fight to Stop Asian Hate Crimes Part 2: Peter Yang Zhao and Sergeant Steven Lee

Talking Taiwan

A note from Talking Taiwan host Felicia Lin:

In this episode I’m welcoming back Peter Yang Zhao and Steve Lee to continue talking about the topic of Asian hate picking up after part 1, episode 125. Both have been active in the fight to stop Asian hate crimes, and have lots to share on the topic. Peter Yang Zhao, is an anti-Asian hate crime activist, and Tourette’s syndrome activist. Sergeant Steven Lee is a 16-year veteran of the NYPD, a whistleblower fighting to reform police corruption and anti-Asian hate crime activist. In 2020 he ran for State Assembly in District 40.

Here’s a little preview of what we talked about in this podcast episode:

• What happened to Peter’s wife after she was punched in the face and the police came
• Why Peter’s wife was handcuffed by police and remained handcuffed when taken to the hospital to get stitches
• Bail reform
• What happened when Peter reached out the Flushing Chamber of Commerce, Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF), Ron Kim and the MinKwon Center for help
• How Peter’s wife’s case was classified as a criminal case instead of a civil case
• How the case was delayed and dropped due to the COVID-19 pandemic
• How Peter wrote an article for AsAmNews about what happened with his wife
• What a COP program is
• The Guardian Angels
• Flushing block watch groups Main Street Patrol and PSP
• 5 D’s of self-defense: deter, detect, delay, deny defend
• What is considered self-defense
• Why Asian hate crimes are underreported
• What can people do to help stop Asian hate crime
• Why Steve is fighting police corruption

Related Links:

Peter Yang Zhao on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fabulously_tourette/

Peter’s account of the anti-Asian crime involving his wife: https://asamnews.com/2021/03/23/oped-finding-real-solutions-to-ending-anti-asian-hate-crimes/

Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALEDF): https://www.aaldef.org/

MinKwon Center for Community Action: http://minkwon.org/

Shomrim (Jewish COP): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shomrim_(neighborhood_watch_group)

Guardian Angels: http://guardianangels.org/