In California’s capital city of Sacramento, which prides itself on tolerance and diversity, violent criminals are terrorizing Asian immigrants. The city’s Democratic establishment has responded with textbook political correctness, leaving victims fearful and more vulnerable than ever.

Over the past year, according to news reports, a crime wave has swept over a largely Asian portion of south Sacramento. Muggings, robberies and home invasions have victimized 300-400 Chinese immigrants and prompted some to move out of the city. Such is the violence that some even sold their houses below cost for a quick getaway.

Those who remain, as Richard Chang noted in the September 12 Sacramento Bee, have been “terrorized,” and now “are afraid to go out after dark.” In the typical pattern, the attacks come as people exit their cars, at home or in a parking lot.

Sacramento police arrested 10 suspects in the connection with the crime wave, but did not release details or mugshots. The police, according to Chang’s report, “are considering a hate-crime enhancement in some of the cases because the suspects clearly targeted Asians.” The local authorities, however, did not officially declare any hate crime, and the attackers escalated the violence.

The Asian residents of south Sacramento demanded action from the Sacramento City Council, but police were slow to respond. The residents then began forming civilian volunteer patrols to protect themselves and their property. As Richard Chang noted, “their ranks include waitresses and construction workers, store owners and massage therapists.” They hesitated to give their full names because “they feared retaliation from police and criminals.”

Who were these criminals who were targeting Asians with violence? In the eighteenth paragraph of Chang’s story, readers learn that “police have described the suspects as African American men, ages 18 to 25.” The local police were also aware of rap songs “that advocate targeting Chinese or Asians,” including a song by the rapper YG that says, “Find a Chinese neighborhood, ’cause they don’t believe in bank accounts.”

The attacks have recently spiked, but in Richard Chang’s October 2 story of 1,164 words, readers only discover in the twenty-third paragraph that “authorities have described the suspects as African American men, ages 18 to 25.” Reports still provide no names, no mugshots, no declaration of a hate crime, and no hint that racism could be part of the criminals’ motivation.

In the current politically correct narrative, emanating from the White House on down, the police everywhere are at war with African Americans, hunting innocent civilians and gunning them down in the street. Violent African American criminals targeting Asian immigrants does not fit that narrative. So it came as no surprise that locals professing a devotion to civil rights, peace, and diversity failed to champion the cause of the Asians.

In California’s capital city, the story has become the Asians’ quest to protect themselves with voluntary civilian patrols. Former Sacramento County Sheriff John McGinness told Richard Chang the patrols were dangerous and could be “an absolute recipe for disaster.” So far the patrols have not been a disaster, but the volunteers have been able to avert several attacks.

Enter Sacramento’s mayor-elect, Darrell Steinberg, the former Democratic state Senate boss known for high taxes, nepotism and censorship. Before the 2012 election, Steinberg killed a California Channel broadcast of a key hearing, then proclaimed, “I pride myself on being open and transparent.” Steinberg’s message for the Asians is: “Armed patrols are not the answer.”

Outgoing Sacramento major Kevin Johnson, an African American, has also been in the news of late. At a recent community event, a white Occupy Wall Street re-enactor snuck up behind Johnson and struck him in the face with a pie. The former National Basketball Association star tackled the white assailant like Ronnie Lott, then punched him out like Sugar Ray Leonard.

As Johnson told reporters, “When somebody comes up from behind you and slugs you – and in my case you didn’t know what it was at the time and thought it was a punch – you have a right to defend yourself.” Though facing much more danger than a pie in the face, Sacramento’s embattled Asians agree.

As one Chinese immigrant told Richard Chang, “In America, everyone should have the ability to protect oneself.” That makes sense, but the politically correct in high places don’t think so. They would rather ignore violent hate crime and blame the victims.