After hearing about Phil Khan who was beaten up on the day of Obama's inauguration, my initial reaction was anger but I was not altogether surprised. Add Vancouver's non-white police chief Jim Chu to the inauguration of possibly the most powerful man in the world, another non-white person Barack Obama, and likely tension boils to the surface.

I had been discussing with various friends, that I believe America while still racist, is aware of its issues and is becoming less racist. Whereas Canada who some believe is immune from racism and other human rights atrocities, is becoming more racist for a number of reasons, including the role that education and media play in this country, province and city. Canadians will frequently cry out about atrocities across their border in the US or across the ocean in a far away country, while Native Indians are still being refused to be served in some remote restaurants, and some remote Native communities still lack the basic necessities such as running water, living in dire poverty.

Personally I find it difficult to pick up a newspaper or hear the news on CBC without hearing a slur towards China or Chinese people. Many times, there is no factual basis behind the claims, no historical analysis, but blanket statements. I hear my close personal friends pick up these blanket statements, and judge me on that basis, which I then have to explain after the fact that those statements are not true either for me, or others, or just plain inaccurate, period. I am a bit luckier than Evelyn Lau, a columnist who regularly is called a chink.

What bothers me more about this story is not that a brown person got beaten up because of his color, yes as disturbing as that is, I am more disturbed by the medias lack of accurate coverage, or are the police responsible for the whitewashing of this incident?

Initial reports do not mention the alleged racism at all, focusing only on a delivery driver getting beaten up by drunk cops who are now under arrest.

Sounds all fine and dandy, nicely tidied up, good spin control I must say. Until you find out that all three were allegedly involved in beating that guy until he feared for his life, using racial slurs. Then you find out that New Westminster suspended the officer with pay, while West Vancouver Police reassigned their officer to a desk job, likewise with the Delta Police. Hardly fitting justice considering their abuse of their position, by calling themselves cops (eventhough they were off-duty), and having no apparent reason other than racial motivation, though many are quick to point out that it is 'alleged', if it is not racially motivated, then what was the motivation to beat-up this regular joe after Obama's inaugaration?

There are other injustices to consider, such as Mr. Khan was originally handcuffed when the uniformed police arrived. Witnesses had to insist that the cuffs be taken off.

Community chat or other examples of police racism (in comments):
http://www.nowpublic.com/world/another-example-rcmp-racism-vancouver
http://www.rabble.ca/babble/anti-racism-news-and-initiatives/alleged-rac...
http://www.rabble.ca/babble/anti-racism-news-and-initiatives/alleged-rac...
http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?s=d5317deadd4d5b36f733...
http://www.chineseinvancouver.ca/2009/01/police-attack-was-racially-moti...