Protest draws 100s of people from LW and beyond

GLOBAL SUPPORT

By Ruth Osborn

rutho_news@lwsb.com

Leisure World is a crazy quilt kind of place. Overall it’s blanketing, cozy and warm. On the outside, it looks abstractly arranged, whimsically unpredictable and beautifully busy.

But most people who live here know that—like the crazy quilt—LW is not a random batch of people. It has its own unique pattern excellently stitched together so that, on the whole, residents feel included and protected.

“Community Unity” is not just a motto; it’s real.

That’s why news of an anonymous hate letter sent to a grieving Mutual 1 Korean-American widow came as a shock to this community.

The outpouring of support has been overwhelming since March 22, the day the letter arrived.

It was postmarked on March 19. That day was already the saddest of days for the family of Byong Choi, who died Feb. 24. It was the day of his memorial service at Holy Family Catholic Church.

Three days later, the letter arrived. “Watch out! Pack your bags and go back to your country where you belong!”

It was devastating.

The letter, which police believe was most likely written by a LW resident, was intercepted by a daughter, who sent it to her three sisters, including Claudia Choi, who has become the family spokesperson.

“I wanted to let the media know,” said Claudia, “because Asian Americans receive these kind of insults all the time. We are told to ‘go home’ and made to feel like we are not Americans, even though most are business owners and professionals who have contributed to their communities for years. “We have endured these insults and just kept working harder. But recent violent attacks have made it clear we can no longer be silent,” said Choi, 46.

“When people dehumanize, insult and threaten a group, and there is no pushback, it makes it easier to attack them on a deeper level—whether it’s cruelly sending a hate letter to a elderly woman during the most vulnerable time in her life or physically attacking an Asian American on the street or murdering women in their place of work. The racism needs to stop before it escalates. We need to speak up now.”

And she did.

She called the Seal Beach Police Department and GRF officials. An investigation was immediately launched. The GRF condemned the letter and has launched an anonymous tip line at (562) 472-1273. People can also leave information at reporthate@ lwsb.com. The GRF has authorized a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrator.

Leisure World, Seal Beach, has become the focus of local and national media not only for the hate exposed here, but also for the tsunami of residents rising up against it.

By the hundreds they began posting on social media expressing unbridled support for the Choi family. Columns and letters to the editor began pouring in to the LW Weekly ( see page 4, 18, 22). Letters of support and flowers started arriving at the Chois’ LW home.

A Raise Your Hands in Unity rally is set for today; tomorrow, April 2; and Saturday, April 3, at the Clubhouse 6 parking lot between 10 a.m.-2 p.m. LWers can add their handprints to the Unity Banner that will be displayed as a call to stamp out racism in LW.

The Korean American Association sponsored a rally Monday at Veterans Plaza, featuring Claudia Choi, U.S. Representative Michelle Park Steel, 48th congressional district; and Harley Rouda, former U.S. Representative for California’s 48th congressional district; and representatives from the Republican and Democratic clubs, among other luminaries (see story, page 1).

On March 24, hundreds of sign-carrying LWers were joined by people who drove from as far away as Los Angeles to show support. The Senior Patriots for Peace and Democratic Club hosted the protest near the Main Gate.

Jean Grier of Mutual 9 was there. She said she was so angry when she saw the news report that she had to do something, so she posted an offer to forward cards of support and flowers to the Choi family. Hundreds of people from inside LW and beyond the walls responded.

“I was overwhelmed with anger and felt I had no place to put it,” said Grier, an 11-year resident of Mutual 9. “How could this be happening in my America, in my Leisure World. And while we see it on the news daily, I was dumbfounded that it is right here under my nose. My objective in posting it online was to raise awareness and also the share the burden of my outrage.”

She speaks for many in Leisure World who say they are brokenhearted that this has happened in what has been a refuge for most.

“We were proud that (the Chois) were active members of our Karaoke Club since about 2013,” said Karoke Club hosts Margie Thompson and Walk Bier.

Byong was well-known here. In addition to karaoke, he loved the elaborate parties hosted by the Filipino Association of LW. He was an avid golfer, hanging out with buddies Ned Sprow and Reggie Johnson. He especially loved to sing and found many outlets here, including the church choir, Community Sing and Community Karaoke Club.

Karaoke leaders Thompson and Bier decried the horrific turn of events and remembered Byong as a man with a smile and a greeting for everyone.

“Over the years, the Chois celebrated their birthdays and anniversaries on karaoke night,” said Thompson. “Several times, their four lovely daughters and fine sons-in-law came, and even the young grandkids from the East Coast had fun taking the stage and singing with Grandpa. He is greatly missed.”

Ethel Carter, president of Community Sing, agreed, saying she and Byong shared a love of singing. She remembers him as a great asset to the group. She said the always-helpful singer often brought his talented family members and friends in the LW Korean community to perform at the half-time shows.

Seal Beach police are investigating the letter, which was processed at a USPS facility in Los Angeles, as a hate crime. It is being tested for fingerprints and DNA, said Lt. Nick Nicholas of the SBPD. Investigators are also analyzing the letter’s handwriting, canvassing LW mutuals and reviewing surveillance video, said Seal Beach Chief of Police Philip L. Gonshak.

“Hate directed toward any member of our community is disgusting and will not be tolerated,” Gonshak said in a written statement. “Across the county, we are seeing more and more violence committed against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. We will not allow this to happen in Seal Beach.”

Or in Leisure World, says GRF Executive Director Randy Ankeny: “Our core purpose is to provide a welcoming, safe and inclusive community where every resident experiences a true sense of belonging. The Golden Rain Foundation categorically states that acts of hate speech/bias crime will not be tolerated here.”

Last week, Claudia’s sister Sue Choi, 52, appealed to the letter writer. On Nextdoor, she wrote that the author must be dealing with something “deeply disturbing.” And she offered to open a dialogue with the person in the hope of reconciliation.

“I believe racism is often a mix of ignorance and lack of experience,” she wrote. “If you, the author of that letter, might want to expand your world and yourself, I am happy to meet you.”

She also noted that “overt racism is not something new to me and my family.”

But not here. According to Claudia, the Chois never before experienced racism in Leisure World.

Originally from Busan, South Korea, Byong moved to Indianapolis with his wife in 1970. He, his wife, Yong, and three of their four daughters were naturalized in 1982. Claudia was born in the U.S.

Choi and his wife owned and operated a Chinese restaurant.

Nine years ago, the couple moved to Southern California to be closer to their daughters. A Korean friend recommended Leisure World, saying it was safe.

An estimated 25 percent of Leisure World residents are of Asian descent.

Despite the turmoil and pain caused by the letter, Sue Choi issued the following statement last week: “We are deeply moved by the outpouring of support, from both the GRF and the residents, for our mother during her time of grieving.

“The immediate and generous responses by so many have touched our entire family. Byong and Yong moved here in 2013 and were delighted to share in the collective joy of living a dynamic and active life in their golden years.”

“From our hearts to yours, we thank you for being a part of their lives, in good times and bad.”

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Byong Choi’s name to the Korean American Scholarship Fund at KASF.org.

SB Police Detective Jon Ainley is the lead investigator and can be contacted at (562) 799-4100, ext. 1113, or jainley@sealbeachca.gov.

People clap as Claudia Choi takes the podium to speak.