Twenty-five years after the death of Vincent Chin, a Chinese American killed by two Detroit auto workers because he was mistaken for Japanese, a panel of Chinese-American rights advocates said that Asian-Americans need to raise their political and social profile to protect their rights. They contend that while hate crimes are decreasing because of globalization, they have not completely disappeared.

At a panel discussion held at the Museum of Chinese in the Americas (MoCA) on June 19 – “Who Killed Vincent Chin: 25 Years Later,” moderated by Andy Hsiao, executive director of New Press – Charlie Lai, executive director of the MoCA, and Ron Kim, of Asian Pacific Americans for Progress, both stated that Vincent Chin’s murder was not an isolated incident. His death, they said, revealed a great deal about the position of minority communities in U.S. society. The panelists admonished the Chinese-American community to strengthen their political impact and not forget this historical tragedy as the immigration reform debate is heating up in Congress.

Hiaoan Ouyang, vice president of the Organization of Chinese Americans, said that compared to 25 years ago, hate crimes, although not completely eliminated, have certainly decreased. “It is a direct result of the growing political awareness of the Asian-American community. Back then, very few people knew the truth about any crime. When something happens today, the community immediately mobilizes to advocate for its protection. The quick reaction effectively deters certain agitators from targeting Asians.”

Ouyang reminded the audience that the two defendants in the Chin murder trial were acquitted in two separate trials. Although Chin’s mother won $1 million in a civil lawsuit, the two defendants have avoided paying anything, by declaring bankruptcy and moving constantly. Even the court has lost track of them, and, as a result, Chin’s mother had not seen a dime by the time she passed away a few years ago.

Councilman John Liu (D-20) said he has no sympathy for hate crimes. “The Asian community needs to increase its political power. After any incident, a swift reaction and increased pressure on the authorities to bring justice to victims are vital. That is why it is so important to participate in elections.”

Darwin Davis, chairman of New York Urban League, said that Asian-Americans need to be on the alert so that such tragedies will not be repeated. “Prevention is better than indignation afterwards,” Davis said. “Different minority groups can no long live in isolation from one another; they have to work together.”

Jeff Yang, a columnist for the San Francisco Gate, said that based on his experience as a journalist, he has learned that visibility is the key to understanding. “People learn about ethnic groups through their most public faces. Asians are still seen as dangerous by many people. The image of Asian-Americans was further damaged by the Virginia Tech shooting. To establish a positive image is the first step to prevent hate crimes.”

The Oscar-nominated documentary, “Who Killed Vincent Chin,” was shown before the panel discussion.