Weeks after an unprovoked assault on her elderly father in Portland, Oregon, Jie Liang suspects he is struggling with trauma.
Key points:
- Xinmin Liang, 73, was viciously assaulted on the Eastbank Esplanade on the morning of March 12, leading to multiple injuries.
- Asian Americans in Portland rallied on Saturday to denounce anti-Asian violence and demand justice and better protection.
- The Multnomah County District Attorney has allocated additional resources to address hate crimes, notably the hiring of a dedicated prosecutor and investigator.
The details:
- Xinmin is physically healing nearly a month after the attack, but his mental health has deteriorated. Speaking to reporters, Jie said she suspects her father has developed PTSD and that he fears going out without wearing a mask or a hat.
- The incident saw an unidentified white man repeatedly hit Xinmin with a “fat wood stick.” The senior was fishing on his usual spot on the esplanade when the attack took place.
- The Chinese Friendship Association of Portland, along with more than a dozen other Asian American community organizations and local leaders, convened at Tom McCall Waterfront Park in a show of solidarity on Saturday. The gathering aimed to denounce the recent spate of anti-Asian violence and reaffirm “that Asian Americans are not easy targets and that we too are stakeholders in this splendid city.”
- The suspect, described as wearing a blue Willamette Week beanie and a gray shirt and pants, has not been arrested. Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt stressed his commitment to fight hate crimes, noting that his office recently hired a full-time hate crimes prosecutor and full-time hate crimes investigator.
- Jie, who attended the rally, expressed gratitude toward the community for their support. She hopes the evidence found at the scene — the blue beanie — will lead to the suspect’s arrest.
