According to reports, a woman obtained a letter suggesting that she would use weapons against Cambodian residents in Philadelphia because their fireworks would affect her sleep.
The police received a call from the Greater Philadelphia Association of Cambodia (CAGP) on Monday after the association reported that it had received a threatening letter a few days ago. They stated that on Wednesday, the police found a 79-year-old woman who claimed to be the author, although she did not meet the characteristics of the person described in the letter.
The letter claimed that the author was a former soldier and that he could use weapons and would use them if the fireworks were not stopped.The Philadelphia Police Department told Weekly newspaper She is not a former soldier and does not seem to have weapons.
Sarun Chan, executive director of CAGP, told Weekly newspaper Even if the author cannot obtain a gun, “100% is still a threat, 100% is still racial intimidation.”
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This letter to CAGP urged it to stop the fireworks display in Mifflin Square Park. The author said that if Cambodian Americans are not forced to stop, then “when I really freaked out and tried to kill these people,” the association would be blamed.
“It’s your fault that you don’t go to them and encourage them (it is in their best interest) to stop doing this and stay active!” the letter said.
Chen pointed out that there are various people using it in the park. If there is a problem with the fireworks, the author of this letter should contact people directly. Chen said the association “cannot control the lives or behavior of other people.” He likened the situation to someone who disagreed with the behavior of the white man and asked the Swedish museum to “tell their people to stop.”
In addition to serving as a meeting place for community members, the park is also used by CAGP for its summer camps. It changed the location of the camp after receiving the threat letter.
In the letter, the author claims to be a veteran who served in the Marine Corps for 6 years and has toured four times in Iraq and Afghanistan. She also claimed to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, “severe stress and anxiety”, and “flashbacks and uncontrollable thoughts”.
According to the police, given that no military service statement is true, the letter “provides weapons for mental health and the veteran community,” Chen said.
Chen also put this threat letter against the background of the current rising violence and threats against Asian communities in the United States, saying that it “100% symbolizes” what happened in the past year. An April report from the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University San Bernardino found that compared with the same period in 2020, there was a 169% increase in hate crimes in the first quarter of 2021.
Regardless of whether the allegations were made, Chen said that the author needed mental health help and community service to connect with the community and understand cultural differences.
CAGP stated in a letter to community members that it is taking this threat seriously and is investigating the letter in cooperation with law enforcement. It requires community members to report any suspicious activity.
CAGP also seeks not only the “accountability, recognition and protection” of Cambodian immigrant communities, but also the “accountability, recognition and protection of black, indigenous and other colored people (BIPOC) communities” in “underserved and underresourced communities” protection”.
