National

Anti-Asian hate crimes up 717% in Vancouver

A report states that since the pandemic, hate crimes in Vancouver have spiked by 97% overall. Anti-Asian hate crimes had also increased by a staggering 717% in 2020

By Vicki A. Lee

March 1, 2021
at 5:30 PM

A report presented to the Vancouver Police Department showed that hate crimes increased by 97% in the city in 2020, with 280 incidents reported last year. More shocking is the increase of Anti-Asian hate crimes, which have spiked by 717%, with 98 reported incidents in 2020 compared to 12 in 2019. According to CTV News, BC’s Solicitor General will convene with the police department to discuss how to discipline such hate crimes, which often warrant heavy penalties.

Here in Toronto, the local Chinese Canadian National Council for Social Justice had gathered 138 self-reports from February to May 2020 of racist attacks either in person or online. 80% of reports were filed from Canadians of East Asian descent.

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Vicki A. Lee

Vicki is a staff writer, anchor, and field reporter covering Culture and Lifestyle. She is interested in literature, design, film, and social justice. Vicki is a staunch proponent of the transformative power of art — as a reflection of our common humanity and as a vehicle to effect sociopolitical reform. She lives in Toronto but often daydreams of being elsewhere, which is why she's always jogging. Read her daily updates here @vickiangelalee.