Esmeralda Upton from Plano, Texas, was arrested Wednesday for racially motivated bodily and verbal assault of 4 South Asian girls in a car parking zone.
“The recent reports of four Indian-origin women being harassed and abused with racial slurs in Plano, TX have sent shock waves to the Indian-American community,” mentioned Sanjeev Joshipura of IndiaSpora.
“The viral video depicts the unrealistic encounter of 4 associates going through an assault after their quiet dinner meet-up in a suburban car parking zone. At Indiaspora, we strongly condemn this racial assault and reiterate our dedication to combating discrimination and prejudice in all its varieties.
The assault is one other in a string of anti-Asian hate crimes which have occurred over the previous two years and comes on the heels of the same incident involving Pramila Jaya, the primary Indian-American lady in Congress, within the Indian American Impact.
It’s a wake-up name to all human beings and coloration is sweet for all – do not throw racism… it is a studying curve. #stop #Casteism Look on the outcomes..Racism nonetheless occurs on a regular basis – I want it stopped. https://t.co/l1OeAczx3J
— Miss Roshni (@MissRoshni) 25 August 2022
“Esmeralda Upton’s harmful and violent emotions in direction of the South-Asian group are to not be taken calmly. For authorized functions, we’re lucky that the racist condemnation was caught on digital camera, however her brazen expression of hatred in direction of members of our group The efficiency is worrying and, sadly, not unusual,” mentioned Neil Makhija, govt director of Indian-American Impact.
“We are very grateful that the 4 victims of the assault weren’t severely harmed bodily, however it’s crucial that we start to handle the psychological results of continued assaults on minority communities. The State of Texas must eradicate racism. requires greater than only a reactive method. Leadership should prioritize increasing multicultural schooling and imposing security protocols to make sure the welfare of weak individuals of coloration, immigrants and girls.
Joshipura mentioned the contributions of Indian Americans as immigrants to the US have been widely known, however within the face of such incidents, they discover the appreciation much less gratifying.
“As most of us acknowledge, systemic racism is in opposition to the values of this nice nation. At Indiaspora we ask our group to be vigilant and rise up in opposition to any type of intimidation and aggression. Information ought to be given to authorities and group leaders to make sure that no abuser escapes with out worry.
UPDATE: The attacker within the video above Esmeralda Upton of Plano Texas has been arrested by police detectives this afternoon. He faces 2 fees of bodily harm and terroristic assault. Held on a bond of $10,000.
Hate and racism comes with a value: https://t.co/VxCwG6u1Ip
— Joyce Karam (@Joyce_Karam) 25 August 2022
In a press release, The Hindupact condemned the rising hatred and protests in opposition to a thriving and thriving migrant group that proudly varieties a part of America’s civil society and material.
Hindupact govt director Rakhi Israni mentioned that together with irrational hatred in opposition to Asian Americans typically, hate crimes in opposition to Hindu Americans and Indian Americans are on the rise throughout the nation.
“From the recent vicious incident at a Taco Bell in Fremont, California to the attack on four Indian-American women in Plano, Texas, it is unfortunately very common in our daily society to verbally or worse, physically assault being. Individuals because of their skin color, religion, or national origin. We urge law enforcement in these cities to aggressively pursue these acts as hate crimes as a deterrent to others who choose to act on their irrational hatred for other people who differ from them in any way,” she mentioned.
With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS