Sanger Unified Board Trustee speaks out against racist verbal harassment in Fresno IHOP

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SANGER, Calif. (KFSN) – A normal breakfast for a Sanger Unified Board Trustee and his wife turned into something far different after becoming the target of racial harassment.

Brandon Vang and May Lee were sitting at a booth at an IHOP in downtown Fresno in early August when a group of three white adults sat down at a table behind them and asked each other a question.

“We didn’t pay attention to them until one of them asked the question very loudly so that we could hear it, and we heard it. ‘How do you speak Chinese?’ And the other person replied, ‘ching chang chong.’ and another person joined in making similar sounds, ”Vang said.

After scanning the room, the couple realized that they were the only Asian Americans in the restaurant.

“I knew right away that this was directed at us and no one else,” Vang said.

In shock and fearing that a confrontation would make the situation worse, Vang informed the restaurant manager twice of what had happened. He said they promised to convey his concerns to the district director both times.

“About a week later, I wrote a letter to IHOP headquarters in Glendale. And it’s been over 30 days since that letter,” he said. But according to Vang, IHOP never responded.

“I hope American businesses take racism seriously. It’s complicit when you are silent and I think they’re sweeping this issue under the rug,” Vang said.

Vang and Lee believe the remarks were motivated by anti-Asian hatred and come as hate incidents against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders continue to skyrocket during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Stop AAPI Hate coalition is tracking reports of racism and discrimination against Asian Americans and says it has received 9,801 first-hand complaints since March 2020. 68% were cases of verbal harassment.

“Since the rise of anti-Asian hatred, many Asian Americans have really felt like they are walking on eggshells,” said Chong Yang, president of the Fresno section of US public affairs in the Asian Pacific Islands. “Seniors don’t want to go to the store alone or go out alone. Even young people are afraid that their mother or grandmother will be beaten.

Capturing incidents on camera has become a popular tool for accountability. Vang and his wife attempted to do so, but the racist remarks stopped before the recording.

“Our kids are both in high school now and this year alone we bought them cell phones just so that if anything happened to them they could pull out their cell phones and record,” said May Lee.

The couple say tackling violence and hate against the AAPI community requires keeping this conversation front and center.

While they never imagined they would encounter racist remarks directly, they say it won’t deter them from continuing to build their home in central California.

A spokesperson for IHOP sent a statement in response to the incident: “IHOP does not condone these statements and our franchisee is currently investigating this incident. IHOP and its franchisees do not and will not tolerate racism, fanaticism or harassment of any kind. For 60 years, we have strived to create a warm and hospitable dining experience for all guests, and this isolated incident does not reflect that continued commitment. ”

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