Some Asian leaders decry ‘stereotypes’ in Bee headline about Sacramento DA Thien Ho | Opinion

Editor’s Note: The letter below is in response to a column I wrote about Sacramento County District Attorney Thien Ho, with a regrettable choice of words in the headline. Before we received this letter, I had already apologized to Ho and changed the headline. I apologize to anyone offended by the choice of words.

Sincerely,

Marcos Breton

California Opinion Editor

The Sacramento Bee, McClatchy

Dear Sacramento Bee Editorial Board,

It is with great disappointment and outrage that we send this letter to your office. It is beyond comprehension why The Bee originally published a headline that evokes racist Asian connotations and stereotypes against Sacramento County’s first Asian district attorney (“Who elected Sacramento DA Thien Ho to be the dictator of homeless enforcement? | Opinion”).

Asian Americans have often been stereotyped as weak and soft-spoken. When we do dare to stand up, speak out and demonstrate the courage to take on institutions, we are branded as outsiders, dictators and tyrants. The use of the word “supreme” is a dog whistle that plays upon Asian racial tropes and casts District Attorney Ho as a foreigner. It is well known that “supreme leader” has been used to describe dictators such as North Korean Dictator Kim Jong Un or Ho Chi Minh of Vietnam, who is many times referred to as “Lãnh Tụ,” a term used to address a supreme leader. The word “dictator” is often used to describe communist leaders around the world, most notably from the People’s Republic of China. The choice to combine and use these words when referencing an Asian man shocks the conscience.

DA Ho is an immigrant from Vietnam. He has very publicly shared his escape from communism and the suffering of his family at the hands of a dictator. While disagreements are expected and necessary for a functioning democracy, as an experienced journalist, Mr. Bretón should know that personal attacks are unacceptable and inappropriate. The Bee cannot tolerate or condone this type of journalism. We are requesting a public apology to DA Ho and the Sacramento Asian community for the original headline with the same publicity as the original opinion piece.

Jinky Dolar

OCA Sacramento - Asian Pacific American Advocates, President

Stephanie Nguyen

Assemblymember

Darren Suen

Elk Grove City Councilmember

Siri Pulipati

Rancho Cordova Councilmember

Phong La

Alameda County Assessor

Ed Perez

Trustee Reclamation District 1000

Jimmie Yee

Former Sacramento Mayor

Roger Fong

Former Sacramento County Assessor

Darrell Fong

Former Sacramento City Councilmember

Darrel Woo

Former Sacramento City Unified School District School Board Member

Members of Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs Association - Greater Sacramento Chapter: Tinh Nguyen, Rejie Baloyos, Romer Cristobal, Joe Johal, Shaline DeGuzman, Jeremy Hao, Frank Louie, Lorna Lee Alejandro, Linda Lui, Doug Nguyen, Mike Cao, Peter Phong, Khanh Tran, Ruby Hao, Alvin Phong, Dr. Dennis Nguyen, Kevin Fat, Linda Yip, Linda Lui, Pat Fong-Kushida, Aaron Zeff, Hach Yashmura, Thomas Quach, Anh Luu, Cynthia Aung-Lam, Jackie Huang, Kevin Tali, Anh Phoong Salcedo, Anhi Phoong, Wan Phoong, Wendy Phoong, Anthony Phoong, Son Ha, Len Thoong, Nancy Hao, Bill Wong, Curtis Namba, Julie He, Liang Han, Jas Hundal, Rachel Hoang, Randall Hom and Satsuki Ina

Members of Council of Asian Pacific Islanders Together for Advocacy & Leadership: Douglas Jaffe, Mary Liu Yin, John Yee, David Soohoo, Nikki Nguyen, Nancy Woo, Jennifer Ow, Isidore (Ed) Alejandro, CC Yin, Su Jin Cho, Kin Lam, Sam Nong, Frank Hao, Kim Hoa, Ky Nguyen, Kitt Lee, Brian Holloway, Walt Yip, Frank Sims, Bill Liu, Joe Fong, Chae Kim, Ling Quach, Johnathan Lam, Chen Kim, Richard Uno, Nenita Santiago, Anthony Salcedo, Alex Phoong, Asang Phoong, Elizabeth Unthank, Jeneatte Ha, Linh Dang, Jesus Hao, Rhea Lim, Andrew Truman Kim, Bardia Hariri, Jing Lin, Alex Eng, Gulinder Gill, Mimi Le and Ujjal Deep Singh