Racists attack Asian American chef who criticized Texas over mask mandate

by Anagha Srikanth | March 15, 2021 | Mar. 15, 2021

Story at a glance

Experts have drawn a link between the start of the coronavirus pandemic and the increase in harmful actions against Asian Americans.
After a Texas restaurant owner spoke against lifting the mask mandate, he became the target of a racist attack.
Local officials have condemned the anti-Asian sentiment surrounding the attack and the pandemic itself.

The day after a Texas business owner found racist, anti-Asian slurs graffitied on his restaurant’s windows and patio tables, there was no sign of the attack — physically at least.

“It’s very touching and very moving because my day started off with a lot of anger, hostility and I was hurt by this,” restaurant owner Mike Nguyen told The Washington Post. “And to see the support and the love of the community, it kind of helps you heal a little. San Antonians and Texans will not tolerate this.”

The community response included San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg, who is of mixed Asian and Jewish descent and condemned the attack, which followed Nguyen’s public stance against Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s decision to lift the mask mandate.

BREAKING NEWS ON THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

NEW STUDY WARNS PFIZER AND MODERNA COVID-19 VACCINES COULD BE FAR LESS EFFECTIVE AGAINST SOUTH AFRICA VARIANT

1 IN 4 AMERICANS REFUSE TO GET COVID-19 VACCINE: POLL

ALASKA BECOMES FIRST STATE TO OPEN VACCINES TO ADULTS OF ANY AGE

Death wishes & racist slurs were spray painted on the windows of @Noodletreetx overnight.

Thank you to all the neighbors who showed up to help & proved that we’re better than this one hateful act.

We must work together to eradicate racism from our city.https://t.co/mk4WXI07xF

— Mayor Ron | Wear a mask! (@Ron_Nirenberg) March 15, 2021

“I definitely know 100 percent it had something to do with the interview,” Nguyen told The Washington Post. “When you first see it, you’re kind of shocked, and then you realize this is real. Then, anger took over. I was so mad I ended up pacing back and forth trying to wrap my head around this.”

Attacks on Asian Americans soared at the start of the coronavirus pandemic and have not let up as hate crimes hit a record high last year, prompting President Biden to sign an executive memorandum last month acknowledging that “inflammatory and xenophobic rhetoric has put Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) persons, families, communities, and businesses at risk.” According to recent data, nearly 2 out of every 5 incidents of discrimination occurred at businesses and 2 percent of all anti-Asian attacks involved vandalism.

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As if the pandemic’s devastating consequences on the restaurant industry weren’t enough, Nguyen is immunocompromised, putting him at higher risk of a severe case of COVID-19, he said during an interview with CNN earlier this month.

Texas Gov. Abbott’s decision to lift the mask mandate is “selfish,” says Mike Nguyen, the owner of a restaurant in San Antonio who is battling cancer.

“Dropping the mask mandate will not help the economy, will not help us open. And a lot of us feel he’s putting…us in danger.” pic.twitter.com/wDWDPtH9a4

— CNN Newsroom (@CNNnewsroom) March 10, 2021

After the interview aired, Nguyen posted from his restaurant’s Instagram account, saying, “My statement isn’t a political statement, it’s a statement on what the right thing to do is.” While many comments were supportive, others were offensive and pushed back at the statement.