Pamela Cruz. Peninsula 360 Press [P360P].
After two cars were consumed by flames on Saturday morning in Oakland, their owners believe it was a direct attack on them because they are members of the Asian community.
The victims are two elderly Asians - Cambodian and Chinese - in their 60s and 70s, who were awakened by flames surrounding their vehicles, and who prefer to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals.
The cars were parked on the street in front of their owners' house, one behind the other. However, no other vehicles were damaged.
The incident comes at a time when many Asian Americans have been targeted, in the Bay Area.
The two seniors told ABC 7 News not avoid feeling that they were the target of the attack.
At the same time, they detailed that along the road where they live, there are only two houses owned by Asians, the rest belong to Latinos.
"I lose everything. My job, and now my car. I need to go back for my life," said one of those affected.
"We want peace right now. We didn't do anything wrong to the people. We just want peace and to live in the United States," he added.
According to the media, Abe Santos, who lives across the street from where the incidents took place, said she was afraid because she has children and her husband's vehicle was right behind the Chinese man's car, which could have caught fire if she had not moved it just in time.
It should be noted that Saturday's incident was handled by the Oakland Fire Department, which said that, so far, there is no evidence to confirm that it was a direct attack.
For his part, California Governor Gavin Newsom wrote on his Twitter account, "This is heartbreaking and horrifying. These acts of hate and bigotry have no place in California. #StopAsianHate."
