A man from California has been given a one-year prison sentence for driving through a crowded crosswalk of peaceful demonstrators and shouting racial slurs during a “Stop Asian Hate” rally in 2021, according to an announcement made by the Justice Department on Thursday.
58-year-old Steve Lee Dominguez, a resident of Diamond Bar, California, has been sentenced by a United States district court judge. This comes after he pleaded guilty in October 2023 to one count of bias-motivated interference with federally protected activities, as confirmed by the Justice Department.
Related posts
“This defendant’s vicious assault was aimed at suppressing the rights of peaceful protestors,” stated United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “While differing viewpoints are a vital part of a thriving democracy, we cannot tolerate individuals resorting to violence against those who hold opposing beliefs. My office remains committed to upholding civil rights for all members of our community.”
“The Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, Mehtab Syed, stated that Mr. Dominguez targeted innocent civilians who were peacefully advocating for the protection of Asian individuals in our society against hateful assaults. Syed emphasized that the sentencing today reflects the FBI’s unwavering dedication to upholding constitutionally-guaranteed rights and holding accountable those who undermine them.”
The Justice Department organized the 2021 Stop Asian Hate rally to bring attention to the rising number of hate crimes and hate incidents targeting Asian American and Pacific Islander communities.
Just five days prior to the incident in California, Atlanta witnessed the tragic murder of six Asian American women.
According to officials from the Justice Department, the suspect intentionally drove his car through the crosswalk at the intersection while the traffic light was red. He then proceeded to make an illegal U-turn into oncoming traffic, thereby obstructing the path of several rally participants who were lawfully crossing the street. The majority of those affected were women and a young child.
According to NBC, Dominguez narrowly avoided hitting several protesters and a 9-year-old child with his car. After exiting the vehicle, he proceeded to hurl racist insults at the gathered individuals.
Dominguez had been released on a $30,000 bond in May 2022 after his arrest for his involvement in the incident.
According to local media reports, in October 2023, Dominguez pleaded guilty to one count of bias-motivated interference with federally protected activities.
