While data has been difficult to obtain, incomplete when available, and limited by widespread underreporting, it nonetheless clearly establishes that the problem is extensive and severe. There were 335 reported anti-Asian incidents in 1993, or one incident almost every day. Small businesses also appear to be vulnerable locations. Statistics from Los Angeles show fourteen homicides, eight aggravated assaults, and numerous other incidents in which racial animus is strongly suspected, though it is difficult to prove.
Anecdotal evidence indicates comparable levels of violence in other parts of the country.
Community distrust of and dissatisfaction with police response and reporting practices continues to hinder unified efforts to combat anti-Asian violence. Follow-up investigations by Consortium staff indicate widespread police insensitivity or inaction when victims have reported hate crimes. There were a number of instances in which the victim felt that law enforcement officers either did not care about the hate crime or treated the victim so poorly that they would not report a similar incident in the future. Anti-Asian violence is widely underreported. As of January 1994, most jurisdictions had statistics for only the first three months of 1993.