Coronavirus Racism: California Woman Arrested For Leaving Racist Messages On Homes Of Asian Americans

In yet another case of the ongoing prejudice linked to the coronavirus pandemic, a northern California woman was arrested on suspicion of posting racist messages on the homes of Asian Americans. Five of the handwritten messages were found taped to homes in the Oakland suburb of San Leandro.

“If you are a woman or man and was born in other country, return, go back to your land immediately, fast, with urgency,” the message read. “One American, white, brave, that serves the Nation or USA is going to live here.”

Security camera footage provided by one of the homeowners helped police find and arrest the suspect, 52-year-old Nancy Arechiga. She was found with a backpack full of copies of the racist message.

Arechiga was booked at Alameda County Jail for investigation of committing a hate crime. Due to current California protocols in place to prevent the spread of coronavirus in prisons, misdemeanors and other minor offenses currently carry a $0 bail.

This allowed Arechiga to walk with a citation only. She has been ordered to appear in court for the charge, but a date has not been set.

“We welcome people's rights to express themselves,” Police Lt. Isaac Benabou said in a statement. “But not in a manner that infringes upon a community's sense of security and well-being.”

Meanwhile, Arichega is also being investigated for a similarly discriminatory letter posted at a nearby hiking trail on Thursday.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, which originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan, racism and prejudice against Asian Americans and Asian immigrants has spiked in the U.S.

According to figures from Stop AAPI Hate, over 1,100 cases of verbal or physical harassment against Asian people have been reported in the U.S. since March.