An Asian American intern for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel escaped serious injury during rioting in Milwaukee perhaps due to his race, reports Journal-isms.
The rioting followed the fatal shooting of a Black man by a Black Milwaukee police officer.
Mak wrote on Facebook that he was “thrown to the ground and was punched repeatedly by a group of people” while covering the violent reaction to the police shooting.
Mak told Journal-isms’ Richard Prince that he is doing fine. His editor, George Stanley, says Aaron’s race may have saved him. According to Stanley, some of the rioters noticed another intern who was White, made comments about his race and began chasing that intern down. Aaron, in turn, also ran.
“The chasers caught Aaron, tackled him and began to punch and kick him,” Stanley wrote in an email to Prince. “Aaron rolled into a ball to protect himself. When the mob realized Aaron was Asian, they relented.”
It was the last day of Aaron’s internship. He has returned home to California before beginning his fall term at Yale.
AsAmNews is an all-volunteer effort of dedicated staff and interns. You can show your support by liking our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/asamnews, following us on Twitter, sharing our stories, interning or joining our staff.
RE: Asian American news intern attacked in Milwaukee rioting: Black lives matter