Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

San Francisco park where a grandmother was fatally beaten will now have her name

The San Francisco park where a grandmother was beaten and then later died will now bear her name

Via AP news wire
Friday 14 June 2024 19:21 BST
Grandmother Killed Park Renaming
Grandmother Killed Park Renaming (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

The San Francisco park where a grandmother was beaten and then later died from her injuries will now bear her name.

Family and friends will gather Saturday for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially usher in the newly named Yik Oi Huang Peace and Friendship Park.

The park, formerly Visitacion Valley Playground, will be a “visible tribute to an Asian immigrant working-class woman,” according to a memorial website maintained by Huang's granddaughter, Sasanna Yee.

The event will feature Chinese lion dancing, West African drumming and other “cultural healing festivities.”

Huang, then 88, was on her usual morning walk in the city's Visitacion Valley neighborhood on Jan. 8, 2019 when she was attacked. She suffered a broken skull, arms and neck. Her home was burglarized minutes afterward.

Huang went on to receive long-term care at a hospital but died in January 2020 at age 89. While her assault preceded the rise of anti-Asian hate crimes during the pandemic, it nevertheless rattled the city's Asian community.

Keonte Gathron, 24, was arrested in connection with the attack within days. He remains jailed while awaiting trial on murder and other charges, according to online county jail records.

Yee has since become a proponent of addressing anti-Asian hate, racial healing and restorative justice.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in