Should Mark Wahlberg Receive a Pardon for 1988 Assault?

Controversy surrounds actor Mark Wahlberg's recent application for a pardon regarding a previous assault, with some Asian Americans expressing skepticism and questioning his motives due to his lack of a personal apology.

According to court documents, on April 8, 1988, in Boston, Wahlberg attacked two Vietnamese-American men.

One man, Thanh Lam, was knocked unconscious by a five-foot-long wooden stick, while another man, Hoa Trinh, was punched.

Investigators noted that Wahlberg made unsolicited racial statements, using derogatory terms such as “g–ks” and “slant-eyed g–ks.”

He was arrested, charged with attempted murder, convicted of assault, and served 45 days in prison.

Wahlberg, who was 16 years old at the time, claimed to be intoxicated and denied any racial motivation behind his actions.

However, in addition to his assault conviction, Wahlberg also faced contempt of court charges resulting from a series of attacks he committed two years prior.

These attacks involved chasing and hurling rocks and racial slurs at African-American school children.

The court prohibited Wahlberg from assaulting, threatening, or intimidating individuals based on their race or national origin.

The investigation into the 1988 incident found him in violation of this order, indicating that race did play a role in the attacks on Lam and Trinh.

In his application to have the conviction removed from his record with the Massachusetts Board of Pardons, the now 43-year-old Wahlberg claims that he was attempting to steal alcohol during the attack and expresses deep remorse for his actions.

He also mentions his philanthropic efforts over the years and his desire to work with at-risk youth as reasons why his record should be wiped clean.

Wahlberg specifically states, “I want people to remember my past so that I can serve as an example of how lives can be turned around.”

He also notes that obtaining a concessionaire's license for his restaurant businesses could be impeded without the pardon.

Many Asian Americans, however, have taken to social media to voice their opposition to Wahlberg's potential pardon.

The hashtag #NoPardonMarkWahlberg has gained traction, and a petition against the pardon has garnered nearly 3,000 signatures thus far.

Despite issuing an apology in 1993 under pressure from organizations like the Committee Against Anti-Asian Violence (CAAAV) and the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), Wahlberg's spokesperson responded to calls for his removal as the Calvin Klein spokesperson by stating that he had not reached out to his victims or made amends.

In a 2006 interview, Wahlberg reportedly acknowledged that it would be the “right thing to do” to find his victims and make amends, but he had yet to take such action.

Giles Li, an Asian-American poet and Executive Director of Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center, believes that everyone deserves the opportunity to make amends with their past.

He suggests that if Wahlberg chooses to do so, his first step should be to reach out to his victims and the affected communities.

Li sees this as an opportunity for Wahlberg to lead by example, addressing his troubling past and racial aggression.

The debate surrounding Mark Wahlberg's pardon application continues, with opinions varying among Asian Americans and the public at large.

As the decision rests with the Massachusetts Board of Pardons, the outcome will have significant implications for Wahlberg's personal and professional life.