Vincent Chin
Vincent Chin was beaten to death because his attackers, Ronald Ebens and his stepson Michael Nitz, thought he was Japanese and was there to “take their jobs”. Wrong. Vincent Chin was a Chinese-American and draftsman. Yes, Vincent also fought these guys and may have even egged them on, while they were at the strip club. However, when they all went to McDonald’s (Ebens searched for Chin and finally found him there), Ebens and Nitz beat him to death with a baseball bat. But there was no justice for Vincent Chin. From the Judge, Prosecuting Attorney and even the Defense Attorney, Chin’s life was not worth much. Even the Judge said that it was not a brutal murder. What??!! I a overwhelmed with anger at that. Set aside the racial issues, Vincent Chin was beaten to death with a bat. Even on his head. But that is apparently “not brutal”. If it had been the Judge’s or Prosecuting Attorney’s child, I am betting it would have been said to be brutal. But Vincent Chin’s final words should haunt everyone, and I do mean everyone, “It’s not fair.”
The Murder of Vincent Chin – 30 Years Later
Guest commentary: 30 years after Vincent Chin’s killing, the challenge to fight bigotry remains
White House: Remembering Vincent Chin
Why Vincent Chin Matters
Vincent Chin’s murderer still sorry, but 30 years of freedom haven’t changed his view of the crime
Ronald Ebens, the man who killed Vincent Chin, apologizes 30 years later
Wikipedia: Murder of Vincent Chin
Movies/Documentaries
Fatal Encounters: Killer Swing
Who Killed Vincent Chin?
Vincent Who?
Defendants
Ronald Ebens – pled guilty, sentenced to 3 years probation and fined; convicted of civil rights violations and sentenced to 25 years in federal prison, acquitted on retrial – civil suit- ordered to pay $1.5 million at $200 a month for the fist 2 years, then 25% of his income or $200, whichever was greater
Michael Nitz – pled guilty, sentenced to 3 years probation and fined; acquitted on federal civil rights trial; civil suit – $50,000 with $30 weekly payments
