On October 27, 2024, 71-year-old Lich Vu was brutally assaulted by police during an arrest in Oklahoma City, which resulted in severe injuries requiring hospitalization. Body camera footage released by the Oklahoma City Police Department reveals a language barrier between the officer and Vu, who is Vietnamese and speaks English as a second language. The incident brings to light dual issues of police brutality and increased violence against Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities in the wake of COVID-19.

National APAMSA strongly condemns the assault on Lich Vu and reaffirms our stance against police brutality and violence against AANHPI communities, as discussed in previous statements. Police violence is not only a criminal justice issue, it is also a public health crisis. The immediate physical harm inflicted in such incidents is accompanied by long-term psychological and emotional consequences, not only for the individuals directly affected but also for their families and communities. For elderly individuals like Vu, these effects are compounded by the vulnerability that comes with age and the challenges many immigrants face in navigating systems that often fail to protect them.

The health of our communities is deeply intertwined with how institutions like law enforcement uphold—or undermine—public safety and trust. Yet, these harms are preventable, and addressing them requires systemic change.  Accountability must be pursued at every level to ensure justice and to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Our thoughts are with Lich Vu and his loved ones as they recover from this traumatic event. We continue to urge community leaders, policymakers, and law enforcement agencies to take decisive action to ensure accountability and enact reforms that prioritize the safety and dignity of all individuals, especially the most vulnerable among us.

Written by Hugo Zhou and Nataliyah Tahir.