Peskin receives threatening letter- Will not be intimidated by hatred
As the conflict between Israel and Hamas intensifies, a surge of hatred is making its way across the globe, reaching cities like San Francisco. Jewish city councilman Aaron Peskin has faced the harsh realities of this growing animosity firsthand, receiving three anti-Semitic postcards containing death threats at his home. He is not alone; four other Jewish council members have received similar alarming messages. Known for his strong stance against anti-Asian hate, Peskin now finds himself on the receiving end of hate crimes. In an exclusive interview, he declared, “I will not be intimidated by hate. I refuse to let the people in my district live in fear of hatred.”
Peskin highlighted a troubling pattern in American history, noting that waves of hate often start with irresponsible rhetoric from influential leaders. He pointed to former President Trump’s labeling of the Covid virus as the “China virus” and “Chinese plague,” which led to increased violence against the Asian community. He also recalled past injustices against minority groups in the U.S., such as the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II and the detainment of Muslims following the September 11 attacks.
Since the pandemic began, there has been a disturbing rise in anti-Asian hate crimes, particularly affecting the elderly in what is known as the oldest Chinatown in the United States. “San Francisco has many Chinese communities, but psychologically, Chinatown is the heart for Chinese residents, and they feel targeted,” Peskin explained.
He shared some particularly shocking accounts of anti-Asian violence, including a distressing event where a suspect parked at Garden Park—often referred to as the “living room of Chinatown”—and randomly assaulted several seniors before fleeing. This incident motivated him to advocate for the installation of surveillance cameras in public spaces.
In the city council, Peskin has been pushing for increased funding for the police department and has encouraged the Central Police Station to hire more Cantonese-speaking officers to support hate crime victims in reporting incidents. Additionally, he is working with local businesses to set up cameras, which would help police gather evidence. “We need to send a message that Chinatown is a place of special protection. The city government, elected officials, and the police care about the Chinese community,” he stressed.
Furthermore, he is calling on more young Asian Americans to consider joining the police force, emphasizing that a strengthened police presence requires community engagement and cannot be achieved instantly. “Becoming a police officer is a great career choice. It’s about serving the public and helping your own community, and San Francisco offers some of the highest salaries for officers in Northern California,” Peskin noted. “The challenge we face is not a budget issue, but rather a lack of applicants.”
Reflecting on the current atmosphere in Chinatown, Peskin expressed his relief that life has returned to a semblance of normality, stating, “Compared to other neighborhoods in San Francisco, I feel safer here.”
