APAPA Condemns Racially Motivated Attack on Indiana University Student and Calls for Hate Crime Reform

Published for Immediate Press Release on January 19th, 2023

APAPA Condemns Racially Motivated Attack on Indiana University Student and Calls for Hate Crime Reform

SACRAMENTO — The Asian Pacific American Public Affairs Association (APAPA) condemns the

hate crime perpetrated against an 18-year-old Indiana University student who was stabbed in the head

multiple times on a public bus. This incident is yet another reminder of the need for comprehensive hate

crime laws in all U.S. states.

“This horrific racially-motivated stabbing of an 18 year old Indiana University student has once again

shaken our community to the core,” said Henry Chang, National Executive Director of APAPA. “Our

hearts go out to this student and her family. As a nation, we are becoming too familiar with Anti-Asian

Hate Crimes, and this is yet another reminder that more needs to be done.”

Billie Davis, 56, has been charged with attempted murder and battery causing serious bodily injury in

relation to this attack. The attacker told police that she targeted the victim because "it would be one

less person to blow up our country." Unfortunately, Davis was not charged with a hate crime due to

Indiana's lack of comprehensive hate crime laws; Indiana is one of four states without such legislation.

Sadly, this is not the first time that Asian Americans have felt threatened in Indiana. In 2016, an 18-year-

old student Yue Zhang was attacked with a hatchet by a man who wanted to bring about “an ethnic

cleansing” in Nashville, Indiana. In 1999, graduate student Won Joon Yoon was shot to death outside a

church by a self-proclaimed white supremacist.

Beginning in 2021, APAPA mobilized a nationwide “Unity Against Hate” movement in response to the

alarming rise in hate crimes against AAPIs taking place across the country. We organized a collaboration

of over 185 diverse organizations nationwide and have held over 20 rallies across the country to date,

including in Indiana.

As such attacks continue to occur throughout the country, APAPA urges all states across America to pass

comprehensive hate crime laws immediately.

The Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs Association (APAPA) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit headquartered in Sacramento with 53+ chapters throughout the U.S. with a mission of advancing the AANHPI communities through leadership development and increasing civic engagement.