Asian American businesses in Ferguson, Mo. have faced days of looting amid protests and ongoing unrest in the St. Louis suburb, reports the Times of India.
Since the police shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown, looters have twice it the Indian American-owned market where Brown allegedly picked up a pack of cigars before being apprehended by police. Other area businesses run by Asian Americans that have been victimized by looters include a Chinese restaurant, a beauty shop and a cell phone store.
Local Asian American business owners have stated they don’t think looters are targeting them because of their race, but Jay Kanzler, attorney for the Indian American owners of the market, says he believes law enforcement authorities are allowing the looting of minority-owned businesses to go unchecked.
“It is so sad and disheartening to see this level of violence expressed toward the business owners,” said Anil Gopal, president of the St. Louis Indian Business Association. “Many minority businesses located here and helped revitalize this community. We hope and pray that the violent actions of a few outsiders do not erode any progress Ferguson and its people have been experiencing.”
You can read more about the situation in Ferguson and how Asian American businesses are being affected at the Times of India.
