Asian-American boy targeted with a racial slur and attacked

An Asian American teenage boy was targeted with a racial slur and sustained a concussion when punched in a weekend basketball tournament against a San Francisco-based team, the boys’ parents told KPIX5.

The boy, identified only as Evan, was playing Saturday for the South Bay Snipers in a game at the Battle of the Bay tournament organized by Grassroots 365 at Oakland’s Soldiertown gym.

“Not one single parent stood up to go protect my son. I ran across the gym to get him,” his mother, Lennie, told KPIX’s Maria Medina. “They did use the ‘C’ word.”

The boy’s father said two-thirds of the Snipers team is Asian. Another parent said her son heard multiple instances of anti-Asian slurs from the Generals.

The interaction was captured on video and aired by KPIX.

Evan dove for a loose ball with a San Francisco Generals player. A second Generals player pushed Evan over the first General. After Evan stood up, he exchanged words with the second player, who then punched him in the face. That player was banned from Sunday’s tournament games.

The boy’s parents told KPIX they plan to file a report with the Oakland Police Department. It’s not yet clear if OPD has processed a report on the matter.

The altercation comes against the backdrop of an increase in racist attacks on Asian people in the Bay Area and nationwide over recent months.

A statement posted Monday to the Snipers’ Instagram account, in conjunction with PrimeTime Basketball Academy, read in part: “We strongly condemn any and all forms of violence or acts of hate against all racial backgrounds. Any form of violence will not be tolerated.” The Snipers’ statement also noted that they’re in contact with the Generals and tournament organizers to “provide a fun, safe and competitive league while embracing the diversity and culture that the sport of basketball is meant to encompass.”