Vol.64/No.19 May 15, 2000
Rightist is held after racist killings of five in Pittsburgh
BY DIANA newberry
PITTSBURGH — Public protests were called here in response to the April 28 killings of five people and the critical wounding of a sixth person. The police have arrested Richard Baumhammers, who holds anti-immigrant and rightist views, and charged him with homicide.
Three of those killed were immigrants — Thao Pham from Vietnam, Ji-Ye Sun from China, and Anil Thakur from India. The
two other victims were Gary Lee, who is Black, and Anita Gordon, a neighbor of Baumhammers who is Jewish and who was shot six times. Sandit Patel from India was critically wounded.
Baumhammers, an immigration lawyer, also faces seven counts of "ethnic intimidation," arson, and vandalism. Police allege he started a fire at Gordon's place with a molotov cocktail, fired bullets at Beth El Congregation in South Hills — the synagogue attended by Gordon — and spray painted it with a swastika and the word "Jew."
Detectives say that files on Baumhammers's computer included a document calling for support for the "Free Market Party...dedicated to the concerns of European Americans," and advocating an end to "Third World immigration."
On May 1, a press conference and protest meeting were held at the chapter headquarters of the NAACP, attended by representatives of the Chinese and Indian communities, as well as other Asian organizations, civil rights organizations, students, a broad range of religious groups, unionists, and others.
After a couple of hours of discussion, the coalition decided to call a protest rally around the themes of "Diversity, Respect, and Peace: A United Community Response," on May 5, at 4:00 p.m. in downtown Pittsburgh. The action has been endorsed by 45 organizations.
A candlelight vigil will be held after the rally to commemorate the two Asians who were killed. The vigil will start at 8:30 p.m. at Ya Fei Chinese Cuisine, Robinson Town Centre, where both men worked. The Asian organizations have set up a fund named the 428 Victims Foundation for the date in April on which the killings occurred.
Diana Newberry is a member of Local 133H of the Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees.