Elderly Chinese Man Attacked Multiple Times in San Francisco Decides to Return to China

Arewacoolmusic January 31, 2024

Rongxin Liao, an 87-year-old Chinese man, who fell victim to multiple attacks in San Francisco, including one at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, has decided to return to China, deeming the city as no longer safe.

Incidents of Attacks:

Seven years ago, Liao was first beaten unconscious in the Tenderloin District.
In February 2020, at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, he was kicked on his seated walker while waiting for a bus near Eddy and Leavenworth Streets.
On October 1, 2023, he was punched in the head in front of a Walgreens pharmacy near Market Street while pushing his wheelchair.

Previous Attacker:

In 2020, Eric Ramos-Hernandez was identified as one of the attackers. Liao appeared in court multiple times, asking for a harsher punishment, but Ramos-Hernandez spent seven months in jail before being transferred to a mental health clinic and released for at-home treatment.

Recent Attacker:

Effrim Baker, 60, was arrested for the October 2023 attack and faces 14 felonies in connection with stabbings on the same day.

Decision to Return:

Liao's son, Jing Liao, confirmed that his father had bought a one-way ticket to Guangzhou, with the flight scheduled on Sunday. The decision was made due to the worsening public safety situation in San Francisco.

Liao's Statement:

"I don’t want to be a drag to my son here. I don’t want him to worry about me all the time," Liao expressed, adding that he is willing to give up his naturalized American citizenship and restore his Chinese citizenship upon his return.

Hate Crime Statistics:

While California and the U.S. saw an uptick in hate crimes, San Francisco reported a decrease from 114 in 2021 to 36 in 2022. Anti-Asian hate crimes also decreased from 60 to six during the same period.

The incidents highlight concerns about public safety and anti-Asian attacks, prompting an elderly victim to make the decision to leave the city.

[Source]