Corona Diary (April 19–25)
Like everyone, we are currently experiencing challenging times due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Regardless of our nationality, age, or cultural practices, social distancing has rapidly become the norm. The following is a weekly series of thoughts and experiences across five different cities and countries, in the hope of making connections and distinctions in a strange and uncertain time.
Mexico City, Mexico
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Brooklyn, New York, The United States
by Jon Gayomali
This week my brother and sister and law were also administered the vaccine, and we did a bit of celebrating over the weekend with a barbeque. Although we are now fully vaccined, you don’t reach peak protection until 2 weeks after. We were outside, but there is still very much a sense of hesitancy, but it was nice to not have to worry as much. It was a reminiscing time, as it was the first time I’ve seen some people in over a year.
The issues of asian hate, police brutality towards the black community, and fun violence continue to spread, as more and more headlines are still happening nearly every day. The most recent case being a 61-year-old asian man being stomped into a coma in Harlem in New York City. Yao Pan Ma had recently lost his job working in a restaurant because of the pandemic, and was assaulted as he was collecting cans to make ends meet. His wife is fearful for his life, and feels like she may be next. It’s heart breaking hearing about these cases of the elderly being attacked.
After the verdict of former officer Chauvin, at least 6 people were killed by police in the 24 hours that followed.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/six-police-killings-in-24-hours_n_6084e77ae4b0ee126f677bc4.
The events that followed is a reminder that although the verdict brought a sense of relief, the case is only one of thousands, many of which are never even acknowledged let alone brought to justice.
