Asian Grandmothers Wear Masks to Prevent COVID-19 and Sunglasses to Prevent Assault

The risks are raised for this high risk group.

SEATTLE, WA – In the age of the Coronavirus, Kenneth Vu, was initially concerned about the rise of racially charged, violent attacks towards elderly East Asian-appearing Americans. However, he was later comforted by the extra effort his own grandmother was making to ensure safety for herself. 76 year-old Trinh Vu, wears a mask to block COVID19 droplets and sunglasses to hide her ethnicity. ”With my mask and sunglasses, no one will know I’m Vietnamese,” explained Trinh, however, upon a glance, her sturdy stature at 5’ 1’’ paired with an exuberant floral print button-down led us to believe otherwise.

Like most Americans, Trinh has added to her list of items necessary for leaving the house. What was once: “keys, phone, wallet,” has grown to read: “keys, phone, wallet, mask, hand sanitizer, Clorox wipes, butterfly knife, 9mm Glock 48.”

Trinh knows she is not alone, and with the help of her grandson, Kenneth, she founded her own Facebook group called 5A (Asian-Americans Armed Against Assault). Elderly members organize weekly to shop for groceries, exercise, and plot against the rival white 3K grandma Facebook group. Trinh made a point to distinguish that they weren’t a gang, even though it’s mandatory they all wear red and gold “for good luck” (solid red was taken by a similar group in Downtown LA.)

Trinh can be contacted via 5A’s Facebook page where her image is used as the group’s banner photo. The photo shows Trinh donning her signature sunglasses (homemade), mask (homemade), and AK-47 (donated). Below reads the group’s motto: “You say it, we spray it.”

Coronavirus presents an unusual problem for elderly Asian Americans. However, Kenneth rests easily at night, knowing now that his grandmother’s face, along with her waist, stays strapped.