Dark Start to Lunar New Year

The Lunar New Year is headed for a sad beginning as a spate of attacks—some against elderly people—have highlighted the rise of anti-Asian racism since the first COVID-19 cases were identified in China.  
 
Bay Area activists are planning a weekend of action after an 84-year-old in San Francisco died after being pushed to the ground, AsAmNews reports.
 
Such incidents have surged across the US in the past year, topping 2,800 since last spring—from verbal abuse to violent attacks and workplace discrimination, Vox
reports.
 
Activists are urging others to join local government meetings via Zoom to push lawmakers to take action.
 
“Our community is fearful of being in public alone, simply going for a walk and living our daily lives,” says Cynthia Choi, a co-founder of Stop AAPI Hate.