Asian students under attack at S. Phila. High

[Danno 1,228]

Asian students under attack at S. Phila. High

By DAFNEY TALES

Philadelphia Daily News

talesd@phillynews.com 215-854-5084

Zhihua Tian traveled thousands of miles from his native China earlier this year to profit from the treasures of the American education system.

Unfortunately, he landed at South Philadelphia High School, where the number of violent incidents often overshadow student achievements.

Tian, 19, of South Philly, and five other students who are recent immigrants are staying home today because they were among 26 Asian students who were attacked by a gang of other students throughout the day yesterday, said Xu Lin, of the Chinatown Development Corporation, who works with victimized students.

District officials said that 10 students have been suspended. No arrests were reported, but students who were outside the school yesterday said they had seen students being led out of the building in handcuffs.

Several incidents of violence against Asian immigrants were reported at the school last year.

Lin said there was a pervasive atmosphere of fear among Asian students.

"It's very, very scary," he said, noting that he repeatedly was beaten up when he attended South Philly High. "You go to school and you don't know when you'll be attacked."

The ordeal began Wednesday, Lin said, when a Vietnamese student was jumped by 14 students across the street from the school.

Yesterday, the attackers were roaming the halls "searching for victims class by class during school," he said.

About 12:30 p.m., Tian and two friends were heading to the cafeteria when someone ran up and hit him in the head from behind, Tian said through Lin, who translated.

"I tried to escape," Tian, a freshman, said. "I ran and they chased me and beat me on the nose."

His friend Shan Chen, 18, also a freshman, was pushed to the ground, punched and kicked, Chen said.

Seven of the victims, including Tian, were treated at Methodist Hospital for scrapes and bruises.

Violent incidents against Asian students often go unreported because the victims often have a language barrier or choose to suffer in silence rather than risk retaliation, said Tram Nguyen, a community organizer with Victim Services in South Philly.

But students at the school, which is 18 percent Asian and has been designated by the state as "persistently dangerous" the last three years, have tried to stop the violence against them.

"We didn't come from China to fight," said Wei Chen (no relation to Shan Chen), who founded the Chinese-American Student Association after last year's attacks.

The group has petitioned the district for more police patrols, security cameras and other measures, he said.

The school's principal, LaGreta Brown, declined to comment, but Michael Silverman, who oversees the city's 32 neighborhood schools, said that assaults in the school are down by 50 percent.

"We've been working with the Asian community since last year to make sure that South Philly High is an inviting place," he said.

But Xiu Ling Lu, whose ninth-grade son, Li Hua Shi, 15, escaped yesterday's pummeling, said she still worries that her son may become an indiscriminate target.

"They just beat every Chinese people. They don't care," she said. "This time he's lucky. What about next time?"

[Niels Bohr 72]

Stupid people. No wonder those who likes aggressive violence are generally the ones who are always working in the factories.

[lostinblue 1,989]

Stupid people. No wonder those who likes aggressive violence are generally the ones who are always working in the factories.

Where is the connect in this story between factory workers and this violence?I see an asian hate crime . School is 66% black，10% white. Never did say what race did the crime.Doubt it is asian on asian.

http://www.publicschoolreview.com/school_ov/school_id/70433

http://blackpoliticalthought.blogspot.com/...iladelphia.html

Asian Students at South Philadelphia High School Racially Targeted by Some African American Students

Posted by Janet Shan | 10:56 AM | View Comments

South Philadelphia High School has increased security in and around the school after more than a dozen Asian students were the victims of attacks primarily initiated by African-American students, who targeted about 30 Asians students, smacking and punching them. The regional superintendent, Michael Silverman, said that as part of the safe-corridors program, city and school police officers and community members will patrol the blocks around the school to ensure that the students get to and from school safely. According to Silverman, 10 students have been suspended as a result of the attacks -- which included African American and Asian students, everyone who was fighting.

Students said attacks occurred inside and outside the school, at Broad Street and Snyder Avenue. Chao Fei Zheng, 19, one of the victims, said that he was among eight Chinese students who were beaten in the cafeteria. "A lot" of students, both male and female, began hitting them, Zheng said, speaking in Chinese. Zheng, whose left eye was bruised from being punched, said he did not know who hit him, as he was covering his face with his hands. He said he did not know why he was hit. Jia Rong Lin, 16, another student, chimed in, contending that the African-American students were "looking for Asian people" to attack. He said he had been hit in the back of the head. Source: Philly.com

The school district needs to nip this in the bud quickly. This has the potential to become deadly and that is not what anyone wants. These students that targeted the Asians students are young thugs in the making and will most definitely enter the criminal justice system sooner rather than later.

[Niels Bohr 72]

Sounds like you prefer people who express violent behaviors to work for you. I don't care what the heck you're trying to make really. I like to make these people who do hate crimes look stupid.

Stupid people. No wonder those who likes aggressive violence are generally the ones who are always working in the factories.

Where is the connect in this story between factory workers and this violence?I see an asian hate crime . School is 66% black，10% white. Never did say what race did the crime.Doubt it is asian on asian.

http://www.publicschoolreview.com/school_ov/school_id/70433

http://blackpoliticalthought.blogspot.com/...iladelphia.html

Asian Students at South Philadelphia High School Racially Targeted by Some African American Students

Posted by Janet Shan | 10:56 AM | View Comments

South Philadelphia High School has increased security in and around the school after more than a dozen Asian students were the victims of attacks primarily initiated by African-American students, who targeted about 30 Asians students, smacking and punching them. The regional superintendent, Michael Silverman, said that as part of the safe-corridors program, city and school police officers and community members will patrol the blocks around the school to ensure that the students get to and from school safely. According to Silverman, 10 students have been suspended as a result of the attacks -- which included African American and Asian students, everyone who was fighting.

Students said attacks occurred inside and outside the school, at Broad Street and Snyder Avenue. Chao Fei Zheng, 19, one of the victims, said that he was among eight Chinese students who were beaten in the cafeteria. "A lot" of students, both male and female, began hitting them, Zheng said, speaking in Chinese. Zheng, whose left eye was bruised from being punched, said he did not know who hit him, as he was covering his face with his hands. He said he did not know why he was hit. Jia Rong Lin, 16, another student, chimed in, contending that the African-American students were "looking for Asian people" to attack. He said he had been hit in the back of the head. Source: Philly.com

The school district needs to nip this in the bud quickly. This has the potential to become deadly and that is not what anyone wants. These students that targeted the Asians students are young thugs in the making and will most definitely enter the criminal justice system sooner rather than later.

Edited December 7, 2009 by Niels Bohr

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Interesting that this is news. Asian kids are always beaten up in urban majority black schools. It's nothing new. One of my closest friends (of Indian heritage) used to hide out during lunch so the homeboys wouldn't beat the ####### out of him (this was in the bx).

Edited December 7, 2009 by w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r

[Danno 1,228]

Stupid people. No wonder those who likes aggressive violence are generally the ones who are always working in the factories.

What factories?

They are all in China now.

B)

At any rate these types usually grow up sucking up the tax dollars you pay, either in Prison, on various social programs or taking care of their healthcare.

Wouldn't it be nice if these Parents could "choose" the school their kids went to via a voucher program?

Instead they are locked into that literal -State mandated hell hole, in Phili.

[thongd4me 69]

We can see clearly what the problem is, but it looks like there is a way to make it better:

Harlem Children's Zone

They are planning to expand this program to cities outside New York.

Detroit and Philly should be obvious choices, for obvious reasons.

I used to be a victim of similar attacks (on the basis of national origin, not race as we were ALL WHITE).

This kind of thing has no rhyme or reason, it's just brutal and opportunistic no matter who the parties are.

I never get such severe treatment as the Asians in Philly got, but it was unpleasant nonetheless.

They were attacking me because my last name was of an European origin different from theirs.

Funny thing is that all my family was in the US since the 1870's and theirs had come within the previous 15 years (since WWII).

[Danno 1,228]

Asian students under attack at S. Phila. High

Actually, if this is the worst of the beatings.... it's really not all that bad..... Now "get on back to class and quite your crying".

[Danno 1,228]

We can see clearly what the problem is, but it looks like there is a way to make it better:

Harlem Children's Zone

Sounds like a winner.... You must either hit the lottery (they have one) or get on a waiting list, sounds like great hope for the masses.

[slim 1,533]

I'm sorry.... did that say he (19) and his buddy (18) were freshmen?

Of course they're getting beat up! Kids that old in my freshman class got beat up too.

[Niels Bohr 72]

I will mention this. I know for a mere fact that most students who are Engineering majors are approximately 90% from India, or China.

Here in Massachusetts, the college that has the most numbers of asians are the engineering college. I see this in MIT, Harvard, BU, UMASS, Northeastern University, Worcestor Polytechnic Institute, etc...

I also know that close to 80% the faculty in most Institution here that teaches in the college of engineering are from either China or India.

Another thing I like to mention is that the livelihood of human sustainability initiatives depends on the role of engineers and scientists. To underestimate these people is to make a fool of yourselves.

On another note, I never really see any faculties from India or China teaching psychology, sociology, history. If there are, it's only a few.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

No description of the attackers? Thank you political correctness.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

No description of the attackers? Thank you political correctness.

it's south philly, everyone knows

[Ban Hammer 13,658]

No description of the attackers? Thank you political correctness.

it's south philly, everyone knows

BY, is that you?

[justashooter 430]

On another note, I never really see any faculties from India or China teaching psychology, sociology, history. If there are, it's only a few.

chinese philosophers and historians tend to stay in china. i know a few, one of whom is very highly regarded in the classical history. he lives here with his son, an engineer.