'Asian carp' renamed over racism concerns: 'If you say it's invasive, bad, and needs to be eradicated ... that's why there's talk about cultural insensitivity.'



The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service quietly renamed the Asian Carp to "invasive carp" due to concerns about racism, the Associated Press revealed in a Thursday report.

The carp was brought from Asia to North America in the 1970s to eat algae, parasites, and weeds in aquaculture ponds. The news agency reported, however, that the invasive species became a problem after natural flooding and inadvertent releases allowed the breed to escape into the Mississippi River and other waterways. Officials worry that the species could escape to the Great Lakes, jeopardizing their $7 billion sport fishery.

The service made the change in April.

What are the details?

Charlie Wooley, director of the Great Lakes Regional Office for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, told the outlet that the department wanted to "move away from any terms" that may "cast Asian culture and people in a negative light."

Wooley added that the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee will follow suit as of Aug. 2.

Minnesota Democratic Sen. Foung Hawj told the Associated Press that he was "never a fan of the 'Asian carp' label," and along with fellow Minnesota Democratic Sen. John Hoffman in 2014 were successfully able to change the name to "invasive carp" within Minnesota agencies.

Hawj told the news agency that he long had taken issue with the name, but "the last straw" came when a group of Asian visitors arrived at a Minneapolis airport only to be met with signs that read "Kill Asian Carp."

Song Qian, professor of environmental sciences at the University of Toledo, said that carp is valued in a wide variety of Asian countries and is a good-luck symbol in all of China.

"If you say it's invasive, bad, and needs to be eradicated, even though it's because of miscommunication, that's why there's talk about cultural insensitivity," Qian explained.

Kevin Irons, assistant fisheries chief with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, says that the word "carp" is a "four-letter word in this country."

The report added that the state of Illinois along with partner agencies hope to market the fish — typically known as bottom-feeders — as "sustainably wild, surprisingly delicious" in a campaign to market the fish to consumers. The fish, they say, is "high in protein and omega-3 fatty acids" and "low in mercury and other contaminants."

Asian Chamber of Commerce demands apology from Denver newspaper over April Fools prank they say is racist



The Asian Chamber of Commerce in Denver demanded that a local newspaper apologize over an April Fools prank column that they said was racist and could fuel anti-Asian hate crimes.

The column in the Greenwood Villager newspaper jokingly suggested that a theme park was being planned in the area but it made references to Wuhan, China, where the coronavirus is believed to have originated.

"America's Largest Amusement Park Heads to Greenwood Village," read the headline.

"The astonishing announcement of a new 13-acre amusement park coming to the vacant land adjacent to the Landmark towers is now revealed to the public," it read.

"Because if the recent Asian alleged hate crimes, the planning commission and council have moved quietly through confidential Zoom meetings with Chinese officials to complete the contract," the article continued. "Several city planners traveled to Wuhan, China to work out the details that include bringing over 1000 Chinese workers and their families to the area for the two-year construction period."

In a later part of the article, the newspaper said that hotels were preparing for the Asian workers.

"Area hotels are being contracted for lower rates for the Chinese families and adding more rice, vegetables and chopsticks to their morning breakfasts," it read.

Board member Clarence Low told KMGH-TV that the satirical article was offensive to Asians.

"Calling out Asians and calling out any race or ethnic group in in the interest of a comedy or satire is wholly inappropriate. It just continues to elevate this fear mongering and anti-Asian-phobia," said Low.

"We are not a punchline. No ethnic group should be a punchline to any satirical article," he added.

The Villager released a statement on Friday explaining that the article "was by no means intended to insult or offend anyone, especially the Asian community."

The statement added, "In light of recent events and attacks on Asians, the paper sincerely regrets any insensitivities in the April Fools spoof."

Here's more about the incident in Denver:

Asian Chamber of Commerce denounces 'dehumanizing' satire news articlewww.youtube.com

Authorities arrest suspect in connection with horrific attack on elderly woman, charge him with a felony hate crime. He was on lifetime parole.



New York City police have arrested a suspect in connection with the shocking attack on an elderly Asian woman that took place on Monday in Manhattan's Lower East Side, Newsweek reports.

What's a brief history?

Surveillance video captured the moment a suspect approached the victim, a 65-year-old Asian woman, and began beating her on the sidewalk outside an apartment building.

In the video, which quickly went viral on the internet, a suspect can be seen shoving the woman to the ground, kicking her in the stomach, and repeatedly stomping on her.

According to reports, the suspect also screamed anti-Asian slurs at her and shouted, "You don't belong here" before storming away.

The woman was taken to a local hospital for treatment of serious injuries and later released.

NYPD says 65-year-old Asian American woman was walking to church this morning when suspect assaulted her and said “… https://t.co/QEEc7OCPc9
— CeFaan Kim (@CeFaan Kim)1617065525.0

What now?

Authorities identified the suspect as 38-year-old Brandon Elliot, who was taken into custody on Wednesday morning.

He was charged with assault as a hate crime, attempted assault as a hate crime, assault, and attempted assault.

Elliot, according to reports, has been on lifetime parole after being released from prison in 2019, having been convicted of murdering his own mother in 2002.

Following Elliot's arrest, the NYPD tweeted, "Thanks to assistance from the public and excellent investigative work by @NYPDHateCrimes Detectives, the individual wanted for Monday's assault of a 65-year-old Asian female, at 360 West 43rd St, was arrested and charged with Felony Assault as a Hate Crime."

Thanks to assistance from the public and excellent investigative work by @NYPDHateCrimes Detectives, the individual… https://t.co/EdXCPaJuJA
— NYPD Hate Crimes (@NYPD Hate Crimes)1617169241.0

Anything else?

Two bystanders — apartment building employees — who witnessed the attack were suspended following criticism that they did not intervene in the attack.

The company that manages the building announced on Tuesday that two employees who witnessed the incident were suspended.

In an Instagram statement, the Brodsky Organization wrote, "The staff who witnessed the attack have been suspended pending an investigation in conjunction with their union."

Following the vicious attack, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said, "I don't care who you are, I don't care what you do, you've got to help your fellow New Yorker. ... If you see someone being attacked, do whatever you can. Make noise. Call out what's happening. Go and try and help."

De Blasio added, "An elderly Asian woman walking the streets of Hell's Kitchen could easily have been my mother, because that's where we lived. So, seeing this happen in my neighborhood hit very close to home. It also was incredibly disheartening how bystanders, in this case, personnel at the building, did nothing, and apparently didn't even go to the woman's aid after it was clear that she was in distress. And this is exactly the opposite of what we need here in New York City."