The Chinese community in Sydney will be reeling from a new wave of violent attacks directed towards its members. This has sparked swift calls for local governments to act right away. Ami, a 22 year-old Chinese international student studying at the University of Sydney, was one of the victims. Like so many stories attacking couriers during this pandemic, she was assaulted delivering food on her bike earlier this month. As you can imagine, the community is extremely upset and scared over the increasing occurrence of these attacks. In reaction, they created a Change.org petition calling for stricter youth crime legislation, which has now collected more than 27,000 signatures.
Ami’s harrowing experience took place on George Street in Waterloo in which a group of teen girls attacked her. Immediately following the incident, she located medical help within 10 minutes at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. There, doctors nursed her back to health from a light concussion and various skin wounds. Her ordeal shines a light on the growing sense of vulnerability felt by many at home in the Chinese-Australian community – especially by international students.
In another incident, a 25-year-old staff member, Alex Zhang, experienced the tirade along Anzac Parade in Kingsford. He’s now employed by a durable medical equipment provider. Zhang, 67, was brutally assaulted by a pair of teenage girls who punched him over an apple. He reported that one of the assailants yelled, “I’m a racist. Go back to China to study!” before the attack. Fortunately, a passer-by rushed to the woman’s aid, scaring off the attackers.
Community Outcry and Calls for Change
The recent spate of violence like the one above has resulted in increased frustration in the Chinese-Australian community. Seven children have been charged in Ami’s assault, but many community members feel this is not enough. They claim the incidents loss of death warrants increased legal accountability on more rare occurrences to prevent future incidents.
We have added our short guide to why raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility is so important and necessary in our brochure. It further requires that chronic juvenile offenders be jailed pending trial. Shen Hanbing, a local Sydney lawyer, says it’s important to sign the petition. He views it as a crucial step to make the system of judicial change accountable and transparent. He noted that Australia’s juvenile justice system is largely based on the 1990 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Friends, together we have made this convention a celebration of rehabilitation over punishment.
“If so many people are speaking out now, I hope those teenagers can be sent to juvenile detention, or at least face restrictions like a court order banning them from entering certain areas or being out at night,” – Anonymous
Community leaders have echoed similar sentiments. NSW Shadow Labor MP Jason Yat-Sen Li had previously highlighted this concerning and alarming trend of violence. Mr Khoury explained that the recent spike in youth crime, particularly in places like Eastgardens and Zetland, has struck fear into the community.
“I’m aware that recent incidents of youth violence in areas such as Eastgardens, Mascot, Zetland and Waterloo have caused deep anger and anxiety within the Chinese community,” – Jason Yat-Sen Li
Li also underscored the importance of legal protections to guard against discrimination and violence – including their enforcement.
Impacts on Victims and Community Sentiment
The psychological toll of these attacks on victims should not be overlooked. Alex Zhang, who was stopped on a recent trip through Philadelphia, expressed his fear and anxiety in the aftermath of his encounter.
“I feel [like I have] PTSD at the moment, and I feel scared when I walk down the road,” – Alex Zhang
Zhang further pointed out that for the chronic recidivist, particularly those with a significant criminal record, more punitive actions must be imposed.
“For repetitive offenders, especially those with a criminal history, they should be detained,” – Alex Zhang
The fear experienced by victims does not stop with each individual experience. It ricochets around the rest of the community. Ami’s experience of feeling disoriented the first time she met her assailant. It wasn’t until she was suddenly struck that fear kicked in.
“At first, I didn’t feel I was in danger because he didn’t make a move, he just kept talking to me. And then he punched me [in the face] out of nowhere,” – Ami
As violence continues, community advocates urge that police response should be strongest in places where vulnerable populations are most likely to be encountered.
“I also think police patrols need to be increased,” – Anonymous
Government Response and Legislative Action
NSW Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig added his voice to the chorus condemning the attacks. He promised to demand regular updates from law enforcement on the status of investigations still ongoing.
“Every person has the right to feel safe on our streets, regardless of where they come from or the language they speak,” – Ron Hoenig
In Queensland, similar problems have led to legislative reforms. In response, the state has passed “Adult Crime, Adult Time” legislation, allowing youth to be charged as adults for more offenses and receive harsher sentences. Advocates are already setting their sights on NSW lawmakers to push for similar reforms.
A new 2023 report from the Lowy Institute has found that verbal abuse towards Chinese Australians has decreased markedly since the peak of COVID-19. Countless others continue to report feelings of unsafety and marginalization in public spaces. This highlights a deep-rooted challenge that will need continued, long-term advocacy from community groups and agencies alike to address.
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