Center for Asian American Media

Thien Minh Ly, eldest son, beloved brother, community leader and college graduate, was 24 years old when he was brutally murdered in 1996 on the tennis courts of Tustin High School in California. He is memorialized through anecdotes, tributes and letters from his family and friends who address him one year after his death. A letter commencing with the boast, “Oh, I killed a jap [sic] a while ago,” led to the arrest of Thien’s young murderers and to the community’s struggle to have the murder declared a hate crime. This video offers a dynamic tool for discussing hate crimes, racially motivated conflicts and violence on school campuses.

Recognition
Finalist, Cascadia Moving Images Festival, Canada

Additional Resources
Letters To Thien Website »

College/Institution

K-12/Public Library/Community Group