Page 30 of The Note

@LAVIDADAVINA—JUNE 29

Wow! Guess that video blew up. For those asking, I started recording cuz she scolded every maskless person she saw. Man made the mistake of trying to win her over. Look at her screaming her ass off like the black man’s murdering her while giving the white racist a pass. Lol.

@LAVIDADAVINA—JUNE 30

Oh lord, y’all are NOT calling her Asian DA Karen. I’m dead. #AsianDAKaren

@JAYDENSMOM—JULY 1

@LaVidaDavina. That does look like the op-ed author. Not to make excuses for her, but is it possible she yelled at the wrong person? Maybe she thought the other guy was the one who said it?

@LAVIDADAVINA—JULY 1

@JaydensMom. Except that’s exactly what you just did—make up an excuse. And gee … I wonder why she’d just assume that of all the dudes on the platform, HE was the one she should scream at and sic the police on?

@PIXIESTICKS—JULY 2

Wonder if @Fordham knows its new law prof @MayHanover is #AsianDAKaren.

@PIXIESTICKS—JULY 3

Oh, interesting, everyone. Look what you find when you pull up the profile for #AsianDAKaren:

@mayhanover THIS ACCOUNT DOES NOT EXIST

*

The first two days after the publication of May’s guest op-ed felt heady. She was glued to her devices, soaking in the adoration from the atta-girl texts and emails pouring into her phone, retweets by former law professors she had worshipped, and an invitation fromThe Washington Postto contribute any other essays she had in mind about the Asian American or mixed-race experiences.

But as she had learned during her first year of teaching, there’s a reason some professors never read their evaluations. Seventy-eight students might love you, but it’s the words of the two critics that sting. Despite all the positive responses to her op-ed, she was offended that total strangers began to question her motives based only on her non-Asianlast name, mixed-race appearance, and the fact that she had been a prosecutor. Josh had to talk her out of replying to each individual troll.

It wasn’t until the account called LaVidaDavina posted a video from the subway platform that things really got out of control, though. The clip showed what had happened to May from a completely different point of view. It made it look like she had instigated the entire confrontation with the African American man she had described as her assailant. It made her look absolutely unhinged and insane. And worse than anything, it made it clear she had accused the wrong man.

*

It had been May’s first time riding the subway since the shutdown. All she did was ask a few people to put their masks on. The subway mandate was still in place.

Aw, you’re too fine to be wearing that mask anyway, girl … What, I’m not your type? That’s good. It’s cool … Why you looking at me like that?

Please, just stay away from me.

Seriously? You’re gonna act scared because I dared to speak to you?

Yes, you’re scaring me. Step back.

I didn’t stepfront.You’re tripping.

Stop, go away.

Oh lord, this is one crazy bitch.

She turned her back to him, began walking away—quickly. Despite the distance she was trying to put between them, she heard his next words clearly.Go back to where you came from, Chink bitch.

With those words, she pictured him charging her from behind, pushing her to the tracks, like those other Asian victims she had been reading about in the news. She was next. This was how she was going to die, all because she took the subway. She realized she was screaming, her fists clenched at her sides, yelling as loudly as she could.

HELP, SOMEBODY, PLEASE HELP!

When she turned, bracing for the incoming blow, he wasn’t as close as she had feared.

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