WEST CHESTER, Ohio — A local leader in a small town outside of Cincinnati is gaining a lot of attention after sharing a powerful message on discrimination against Asian-Americans. Lee Wong had seen enough after the shootings in Atlanta that killed eight people, including six of Asian descent.

“I don’t feel safe for the first time in my life,” said Wong. 

What You Need To Know

  • Lee Wong, 69, is the president of the West Chester Township Board of Trustees

  • Wong spoke about the prejudice Asian Americans face during the first meeting since the Atlanta shootings, saying "they are hard-working Americans"

  • He shared a personal memory of him at 18, getting beaten up because of his descent

Lee Wong, 69, is the West Chester Township Board of Trustees president. He’s been a proud servant of his community and has been on the board since 2005. Just recently, he went viral after a video was shared from a board meeting on March 23.

Wong was fired up as he shared his life story and touched on a personal encounter with a racist attack. It happened in 1970 after moving to America at the age of 18. He said he was minding his business outside one evening.

“All of a sudden, he just came straight over to my throat, grabbed my throat and punched me in my face so hard that I fell to the ground and he was on top of me and just continued, and said, 'I will kill you,'” recalled Wong.

Wong said Asian-Americans are constantly subjected to prejudice. 

“They are hard-working Americans,” he said. “Some even served in the U.S. Armed Forces — not Chinese army. U.S. Army.”

His attacker was found, but in Wong’s opinion, the judge let the man off easy. He was sentenced to one year of probation. 

“It was disappointing because the system (and) the court failed me, and it took me a few years of searching,” he said. 

Those years of searching led to him enlisting in the Army. He spent 20 years in the service where he earned several medals and worked his way up to special agent for the criminal investigation division. And it was during basic training that he got those scars he proudly displayed in the meeting.

“Fearing if I speak up, there will be more abuse and discrimination,” said Wong. “But I said this doesn’t work; I need to speak up to say something so I spoke up.”

And Wong said he hopes more people will have the courage to speak up on what’s right. Ultimately, he hopes his story will encourage people to stop the discrimination and love one another. 

“I hope to see change — civility with love, respect each other, and be kinder,” he said.

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