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Today in History: Vincent Chin killed by auto workers in Michigan

6/23/2026

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Summary

Story summary

On June 23, 1982, Chinese-American draftsman Vincent Chin was fatally beaten in Highland Park, Michigan, by Chrysler supervisor Ronald Ebens and former autoworker Michael Nitz. Mistaking him for Japanese amid anti-Japanese sentiment over the auto-industry rivalry, the men assaulted Chin with racial slurs, leaving him in a coma that caused his death.

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Story summary

On June 23, 1982, Chinese-American draftsman Vincent Chin was fatally beaten in Highland Park, Michigan, by Chrysler supervisor Ronald Ebens and former autoworker Michael Nitz. Mistaking him for Japanese amid anti-Japanese sentiment over the auto-industry rivalry, the men assaulted Chin with racial slurs, leaving him in a coma that caused his death.