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Asian Americans and U.S. Law

University of Cincinnati student blamed for Covid attacked (August 2021)

Cincinnati man pleads guilty to committing federal hate crime by physically assaulting Asian American student based on race - United States Department of Justice release, Feb. 28, 2024

According to a complaint filed in federal court, the victim was a University of Cincinnati student.... 

Johnson approached the student on a Cincinnati sidewalk in August 2021 as the student prepared to go on a run, the complaint reads.

Johnson told the student to “go back to your country,” used a derogatory term for Covid-19 and accused him of having “brought (it) here,” and threatened to kill him, according to the complaint’s account from the student.

A witness said Johnson used an anti-Asian slur and said, “Thanks for Covid,” according to the complaint.

Johnson asked the student if he wanted to fight and, when the student said no, punched him on the side of the head, according to the complaint, citing the student.

The student fell and hit his head on a parked car’s bumper, the complaint reads. 

Surveillance video taken from a nearby building shows Johnson striking the student, the complaint reads.