People Are Changing Their Profile Photos to Drawing of Thai Man Pushed to His Death in SF
By Carl Samson
In a show of solidarity, social media users have started changing their profile photos to an illustration of Vicha Ratanapakdee, an 84-year-old Thai man who
The attack, which was caught on surveillance video, occurred as Ratanapakdee was walking along Anza Vista and Fortuna Avenues at 8:30 a.m. on Jan. 28.
For no apparent reason, Antoine Watson, 19, darted from the right side of the camera frame to push Ratanapakdee to the ground, leaving him with life-threatening injuries.
Ratanapakdee was brought to San Francisco General Hospital, but he eventually died on Saturday.
On the same day, Watson was apprehended at his home in Daly City along with 20-year-old Maylasia Goo, who allegedly fled the scene with him.
Watson was arrested on suspicion of murder, elder abuse and assault with a deadly weapon, while Goo was arrested for being an accessory to the crimes.
Family members believe Ratanapakdee was attacked for being Asian, a recurring incidence in the ongoing pandemic.
“Racism has once again proven deadly. Anti-Asian racism has become a very serious danger to all Asian Americans, particularly in San Francisco. It’s time the authorities took serious action to combat it,” wrote Eric Lawson, Ratanapakdee’s stepson.
On Monday, Los Angeles-based designer and illustrator Jonathan D. Chang paid tribute to Ratanapakdee with a drawing based on one of his photos.
“My condolences to the family of Vicha Ratanapakdee. I hope justice will be served,” Chang wrote.
The image quickly spread on Instagram, with people using it as their profile picture.
The District Attorney’s Office filed charges against Watson on Tuesday. The 19-year-old will likely face jail time.
“This was a horrific, senseless attack, and I send my deepest condolences to the Ratanapakdee family for this unthinkable pain. My heart goes out to the entire AAPI community for the harm and fear this tragedy has inflicted,” DA Chesa Boudin said.
Feature Images via Eric Lawson (left), Jonathan D. Chang (right)
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