Remembering Vincent Chin
Unfortunately for Vincent Chin supporters, the charges against Ebens did not stick. In September 1986, a federal appeals court reversed Ebens’ conviction on the grounds that an attorney for the prosecution inappropriately coached witnesses. At a May 1987 retrial, Ebens was again cleared of all charges. His luck finally ran out in a civil suit that same year in which he was ordered to pay $1.5 million to Lily Chin.
Upon her death in 2002, Lily Chin had reportedly yet to receive any money from Ebens.
Vincent Chin’s death mobilized Asian Americans of all ethnic backgrounds to join together to fight for justice on his behalf. The ethnic divisions that often separated segments of the Asian American community disintegrated since Chin’s murder indicated that outsiders viewed the community as a monolith. Chin, a Chinese-American, was attacked by whites who mistook him for Japanese. This made it imperative that all Asian Americans work against the wide range of racial prejudice aimed at various branches of the Asian-American community.
The hard work of Asian American activists and other Chin supporters led to changes in Michigan law, the Free Press noted. For example, when Ebens and Nitz were sentenced, Chin’s loved ones did not have the opportunity to give victim impact statements. Now, that is standard procedure. Also, in 1983, judges arguably had too much freedom in sentencing, which led to Judge Kaufman simply giving Chin’s killers probation.
Today, Michigan law mandates that judges defend a decision to radically break from sentencing guidelines.
In recognition of Chin’s impact on the legal system, the Michigan Bar Association put up a plaque in Ferndale, Mich., on Dec. 21, 2010, to mark the site where the first protest meetings related to Chin’s murder took place. Vincent Chin has also been the subject of the documentaries “Vincent Who?” and “Who Killed Vincent Chin?”
Upon her death in 2002, Lily Chin had reportedly yet to receive any money from Ebens.
Vincent Chin’s Legacy
Vincent Chin’s death mobilized Asian Americans of all ethnic backgrounds to join together to fight for justice on his behalf. The ethnic divisions that often separated segments of the Asian American community disintegrated since Chin’s murder indicated that outsiders viewed the community as a monolith. Chin, a Chinese-American, was attacked by whites who mistook him for Japanese. This made it imperative that all Asian Americans work against the wide range of racial prejudice aimed at various branches of the Asian-American community.
The hard work of Asian American activists and other Chin supporters led to changes in Michigan law, the Free Press noted. For example, when Ebens and Nitz were sentenced, Chin’s loved ones did not have the opportunity to give victim impact statements. Now, that is standard procedure. Also, in 1983, judges arguably had too much freedom in sentencing, which led to Judge Kaufman simply giving Chin’s killers probation.
Today, Michigan law mandates that judges defend a decision to radically break from sentencing guidelines.
In recognition of Chin’s impact on the legal system, the Michigan Bar Association put up a plaque in Ferndale, Mich., on Dec. 21, 2010, to mark the site where the first protest meetings related to Chin’s murder took place. Vincent Chin has also been the subject of the documentaries “Vincent Who?” and “Who Killed Vincent Chin?”
