Does another club fight signal the start of a race war in Orange County?

Police are searching for up to six suspects who attacked a group inside Sutra nightclub in Costa Mesa, this past Friday morning, and beat two victims so severely they required hospitalization. Three men were at a VIP table inside the club on Harbor Boulevard when the attackers jumped them about 12:30 a.m. Friday, Costa Mesa police Sgt. Stephanie Selinske said, according to the Daily Pilot.

This began around 3 a.m. Friday at the club in the Triangle at 1870 Harbor Blvd., when the trio was attacked by what police Sgt. S. Selinske only described as “male Asians who appeared to be in their early twenties,” according to the OC Weekly.

I was afraid this might happen.  There has been no justice in the recent killing of Kim Pham outside of The Crosby, a Santa Ana hipster bar/restaurant.  Two women have been arrested but there are several suspects still on the loose and Pham’s friends are afraid to talk to the cops.  But Asians have gotten the message – and they appear to be ready to fight back.

To make matters worse, the Santa Ana City Council and our temp Police Chief, Carlos Rojas, are denying that Pham’s death was a hate crime, even though it appears to fit the definition of a hate crime.

Are we on the cusp of  a race war between Latinos and Vietnamese here in the heart of Orange County – and are the bad feelings already spilling out into surrounding cities?

This can still be stopped.  But for that to happen we are going to need real leadership from our city leaders and I don’t see that happening.  They appear to be more interested in bar revenue than in justice – or peace.

And you have to wonder why area female elected officials like Supervisor Janet Nguyen and Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez haven’t demanded that the Pham killing be investigated as the hate crime it so obviously is.

This mess is going to boil over into more cities before long.

Art Pedroza Editor
Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.
Art Pedroza

Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

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  • The story says six Asians were the aggresssors here. Witnesses say Asians started the fight at the Crosby. Not sure how this signals the start of a race war. Sounds like it's all coming from the same side. Don't blame Santa Ana. Blame bars that serve people way past their limit and kids in their 20s with not enough sense. This time it's Costa Mesa.

    • There was no mention of who the victims were in the CM fight.

      Hard to believe that Asians were the aggressors in the Crosby murder given the outcome.

    • CORRECT YOURSELF — it was Zavela’s DEFENSE ATTORNEY who stated that Pham threw the first punch according TO HIS WITNESSES. I’m tired of this victim bashing bullshit due to bias. Don’t blame the dead woman who can’t defend herself. That’s pathetic and has no class. Be ashamed when you repeat this garbage you’re so easily or readily fooled by.

      • Lawyers Lie. Lawyers encourage their girls to lie to save the butts. Both girls lawyers are know sleazy lawyers. They are using the girls for their own greed and prestige.

    • Costa Mesa Club Fight -- your lies and bias are showing. Only Zavela's attorney stated that Pham started the fight. Given the details altogether, it seems improbably to say the least. You're a scumbag for providing such half-truths purposely because of your bias, and attacking THE VICTIM--beaten by multiple aggressors. LOSER.

      • Multiple witnesses said they saw Pham throw the first punch. No witnesses reported hearing any racial slurs. Just the facts, ma'am.

  • Since there is no mention of Latinos in this story, it's way off base to call it the start of a race war. The facts: six violent Asian men beat up three people in a bar, two so seriously they had to be hospitalized. The facts in Santa Ana: 1) Witnesses say Pham threw first punch. 2) Witnesses say there was a larger brawl involving many men, including Asians. No wonder Pham's friends are keeping quiet. They may not be only afraid of police. They may be afraid of other Asians. The outcome in Santa Ana has nothing to do with who the aggressor was. Or do you expect Latinos to stay down and be servile when they are attacked? They fought back and it went to far.

    • The police know who got beat up in CM. Why leave that out of the press release? What are they covering up?

      • Since when are Costa Mesa police interested in protecting Latinos? More likely that they don't mention victims because it would make Asians look bad. Six against three is pretty weak. Where's your outrage calling attackers cowardly, animals, etc. on this one? Two people in hospital.

        • You don't think the cops in different cities coordinate with each other? Nobody wants a race war but that could be where this is going.

          • Out of all the reporting involving the Crosby incident, this is the only website that keeps trying to push a hateful race crime. Yes the incident fits the hate crime definition but it does not seem the crime was motivated by race. Why don't you stop trying to stir up controversy and stop what looks to be a race war agenda.

          • Nobody wants to focus the investigation on the failures of the Crosby, its bouncers, Downtown Stink's "Clean & Safe" program or the family that's spending huge amounts of money to lure drunks from Irvine and unleash them on Santa Ana's streets. That should be where this is going.

            Did anybody follow up on the eyewitness report that a Crosby bouncer picked up Pham, draped her over his shoulder and put her back down on the ground after she was unconscious with a head injury?

    • CORRECT YOURSELF -- it was Zavela's DEFENSE ATTORNEY who stated that Pham threw the first punch according TO HIS WITNESSES. I'm tired of this victim bashing bullshit due to bias. Don't blame the dead woman who can't defend herself. That's pathetic and has no class. Be ashamed when you repeat this garbage you're so easily or readily fooled by.

  • The problem is that we don't have enough Negroes in Orange County.
    We have these ethnic children running rampant with no real guidance and supervision.
    White people are only good for selling the beer and collecting profits.

  • Mateo - that is the first comment that you have posted that I think is genuinely funny - well done.

  • Is this real life? Race war between Asians and Mexicans is not news worthy. Media doesn't want your story. Your in Santa Ana, the armpit in the land of Orange.

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Art Pedroza

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