‘One less Asian to put up with’: Family receives hand-written hate letter after father’s death

‘Watch out! Pack your bags and go back to your country where you belong,’ reads the letter

The threatening letter to the Asian family has prompted investigation into the racism related incident (REUTERS)

An Asian family is in shock after it received a poison pen letter that said “it’s one less Asian we have to put up with,” celebrating the demise of one of its members.

Police in Seal Beach, California, are investigating the threatening hate latter.

Claudia Choi, daughter of Byong Choi, 83, who died of died of tuberculosis in his bone marrow on 24 February, said the letter was postmarked the same date as the funeral.

“Now that Byong is gone, it’s one less Asian we have to put up with in Leisure World… You fricken Asians are taking over our American community! It is not resting well with all and everybody who lives here – true statement!!” the letter read.

“Watch out! Pack your bags and go back to your country where you belong,” it added

The 46-year-old who saw the picture of the letter received by her mother said she was disgusted that the letter was postmarked on the day of her father’s funeral. “How cruel could you be? Shame on them,” she said, reported CBS, Los Angeles.

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Claudia believed the letter was sent by another resident of her parents’ 55-plus retirement community, Leisure World, where they lived for almost a decade.

Asians make for about 11 per cent of population in Seal Beach City with mostly White neighbourhood. However, the elder couple never had a brush with racism until the death of Byong.

Claudia said the change in attitude of people towards Asian Americans mostly occurred during the coronavirus pandemic where globally people were targeted with phrases such as “China virus” and “Kung flu.” She also blamed former president Donald Trump’s handling of the coronavirus and said pro-Trump neighbours also resided in Leisure World.

The letter came amidst rising crime against Asian Americans forced president Joe Biden to denounce “violent” attacks on the community.

It was received days after eight people, including six Asian women, were killed in deadly spa shootings in Atlanta, Georgia.

Seal Beach police Chief Philip Gonshak called the incident disgusting and said it was being investigated on priority.

“Hate directed toward any member of our community is disgusting and will not be tolerated,'' Mr Gonshak said.

Investigators are working to analyse the DNA evidence on the letter, fingerprints and handwriting to arrest the person involved in hate crime. The detectives will also be reviewing surveillance video and interrogating members of the community.

Leisure World condemned the incident by posting a statement on its website.

Claudia described her father as a well-known figure in the community who loved to sing. He arrived to US after receiving a scholarship to study accounting at Ohio's Central State University, quitting his job in the Ministry of Finance in Korea.