Open Letter Regarding Misreporting on the Trump Assassination Case to New York Post

To the Editor-in-Chief,
New York Post
1211 Avenue of the Americas,
New York, NY, 10036
July 22, 2024

Dear Editor-in-Chief,

I write on behalf of the Stop Anti-Asian Hate Crimes Advocacy Group based in British Columbia, Canada, to express our profound concern and dismay regarding an article published by your outlet on July 13th, concerning the assassination of former U.S. President Donald Trump. Initially, the article irresponsibly cited that the alleged assailant was a “Chinese man,” without any supporting evidence. Later in the day, this descriptor was silently changed to “white man.”

This change, though correcting the initial racial identifier, does not mitigate the damage caused by the original publication. In a period marked by heightened Anti-Asian sentiment, the impact of such reporting can have dangerous repercussions, inciting racism and discrimination towards the Asian community across North America. The failure to initially verify factual details exacerbates the climate of hate and fear, placing individuals at risk.

The New York Post’s decision to alter the racial descriptor without any acknowledgment of the error or formal correction is concerning. It suggests a lack of commitment to accountability, which is fundamental to ethical journalism. As such, we strongly urge the New York Post to issue a formal retraction of the initial racial descriptor and to publish a sincere apology to the Asian community for the distress and potential danger provoked by this reporting.

It is crucial for media outlets to recognize the significant responsibility they hold. Reporting must not only be accurate but handled sensitively to avoid perpetuating stereotypes and prejudice. We implore the New York Post to adhere to higher standards of fact-checking and ethical journalism to prevent the dissemination of harmful misinformation.

We look forward to your immediate action on this matter and a formal acknowledgment of this grave oversight. Thank you for addressing this critical issue that affects not only the Asian community but the integrity of our democratic society.

Sincerely,
Ivan Pak
Co-Founder of Stop Anti-Asian Hate Crimes Advocacy Group
Contact email: aahccc@gmail.co