As reported by CBS Philly, on Thursday night, leaders within Philadelphia’s Asian-American community gathered for a virtual town hall to share recent experiences of violence and racism.

The mayor’s Commission on Asian American Affairs hosted the event which takes place during the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. “As a city, we take these attacks very seriously,” Mayor Jim Kenney said. And he added that the city needs to diversify the police department. “We need more Asian-Americans in uniform, in our police department.”

Panelists discussed the changes needed in the short and long term, including legal measures, increased information tools and more personnel in the area.

You can read: Hundreds marched to City Hall to support Asian-Americans

The meeting was developed around the central idea that hate is not a victimless crime. It causes generational trauma and can only be solved by conversation and coming together. The urgency of the situation calls for immediate measures to curb it.

“We feel like we are second-class citizens here in America,” said John Chin with the Chinatown Development Corporation.

Let´s call it hate crime

Naroen Chhin with the 1 Love Movement emphasized the need to pinpoint the issue beyond political speculation. “Let’s take the politics out of this. Let’s call it what it is, that is a hate crime.”

Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw underlined the need to increase police surveillance in key areas of the city. “In the short term, we enhanced our patrol in the Asian-American business corridors and residential areas throughout the city where we saw these upticks.”

If the town hall made one thing clear, it is that only the participation of diverse actors in a coherent line of action can reduce the threat of hate crimes.

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As stated by The Register Citizen, Krasner had asked the police commissioner that video or photo evidence in the investigation be withheld “until we have received input from the families of the deceased and the survivor on what, if any, images or footage can be released publicly.”

District Attorney, Krasner said he was waiting for “important pieces of forensic evidence” that would allow the release of more information within several weeks.

“Out of respect for all parties involved, I urge the press and the public to allow our investigation to be completed before drawing conclusions,” Krasner said, adding that some early reporting “has unfortunately contained incomplete information or inaccuracies.”

Police officials reported they responded to a disturbance in northeast Philadelphia’s Port Richmond neighborhood shortly before 12:30 a.m. Friday and were trying to defuse matters when additional family members came out of their homes and formed a crowd outside and fights broke out.

You can read: Philly 911 dispatchers ask for better treatment from the Police Department

Authorities said Jesus Perez, 43, pulled a gun and fired, hitting his son, 15-year-old Jeremy Perez and striking a 17-year-old youth who is also related to him. Two officers then fired, hitting Jesus Perez. He and his son were both pronounced dead at Temple University Hospital. The other youth has been in stable condition.

An objective investigation

It was determined that the gun used by Jesus Perez, a .9mm Smith & Wesson handgun Jesus had been reported stolen out of Virginia. Police said there were two officers involved in the shooting, a 39-year-old officer who has been on the force for six years and a 45-year-old officer who has been with the force for nine months.

According to Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw it is necessary “a thorough, complete and objective investigation.” Outlaw added that “the decision to utilize deadly force is the most serious action a police officer can undertake.”

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The main motivation for the action was the right to peaceful protest. The reference was the excessive police action that took place in June when protesters were tear-gassed along I-676.

Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw apologized for the show of force. “I was disgusted on that day, I’m as disgusted as I am today,” she said.

You can read: Fourteen Council Members ask to reform the Philadelphia Police Department

But this time police acted in a different way. They created a perimeter around demonstrators while keeping a safe distance.

Protestors hopped a barricade and ended up on I-676. Streets had already been cleared by police. They marched from Vine Street to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway exit, roughly 8/10ths of a mile, shutting down the main artery in the city.

Organizers were from the Party for Socialism and Liberation and focused on police brutality.

“The things they’re getting away with is not right,” Chris Devoe, a protester, said. “You can’t do people like they’re dogs. You can’t treat people like that.”

“We think it’s important to use your voices,” Corie Thuma, of Boyertown, said. “We teach kids to use your voices, use your words. This is an extension of that.”

“We live under a system where this oppression is perpetuated and there’s no material basis for it to ever stop,” Zeb, with Socialist Alternative, said.

Zeb, made emphasis on the protest symbolic character. “A little bit symbolic because we keep saying, ‘Whose streets? Our streets.’ These are the streets of the working class,” Zeb said.

“We’re the ones who built them, we’re the ones who paid for them and we should be able to use them how we see fit. And if we see fit to use them in a demonstration, a peaceful demonstration, for the lives of African-American and Brown people, then we should be able to do that,” he said.

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