During the past year, the entire nation has watched anti–Asian hate crimes rise throughout the U.S. as a result of the pandemic. Because COVID-19 was first discovered in Wuhan, China, many blamed the Asian community for the virus’s effects on their lives. San Francisco is no different, with its multiple Chinatowns and a large population of both Chinese Americans and new immigrants. Some of the more recent incidents include an attack on a 75–year–old elderly Chinese woman who fought back and an 83–year–old Vietnamese man.
On Saturday, March 20th, hundreds came to Portsmouth Square, a gathering spot in Chinatown, to rally against the hate crimes directed at the Asian community. During the rally, demonstrators painted butterflies on the ground, wrote letters, and made kites There were also counselors and support groups in place for people to grieve and relieve their feelings. Other locations for protests, vigils, and rallies this weekend around the Bay Area include Daly City, Brisbane, Oakland, and San Jose.
![Student researcher Elaine Tang (‘24) created a comic for the Fossil Fest to explain the two ways fossils are formed in a tarpit. “I chose to explain my research by comic because there are a lot of kids coming to the [Fossil] Fest,” Elaine said. “They are all very interested and even painted on my comic with their favorite colors.” Fossil Fest is one of the Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology Discovery Day events during which scientists and museum visitors are invited to celebrate paleontology.](https://webbcanyonchronicle.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/9eae070d6f5f12b684fd6d4ff457a01.jpg)
![Blue, white, and gold colored balloons surround the doorway to the new Bonnie Johnson Hall. Dr. Theresa Smith and Blake Johnson pose with large scissors, prepared to cut the ribbon as many faculty, alumni, and others watch and applaud. “I look at [the science lab] as a space where students are pursuing their own scientific questions, where they can collaborate with their other peers, and where discovery is happening,” said Lisa Nacionales, Science Department Chair.](https://webbcanyonchronicle.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Smith_and_Johnson.HEIC.jpg)
