Name: Hundreds Attend Union Square Vigil For Peace And Against Anti-Asian Racism
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Hundreds Attend Union Square Vigil For Peace And Against Anti-Asian Racism

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AdvertisementHundreds of New Yorkers gathered in Union Square Friday night for a vigil mourning the eight victims, including six Asian women, of the Tuesday massacre , amid a national crisis concerning and across the country.The vigil, organized by the Asian American Federation, saw numerous elected officials and advocates speak to the anxiety Asian New Yorkers, and Asian-Americans nationwide, have faced over the past year, and especially in the last few months. Speakers included U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, and City Comptroller and mayoral candidate Scott Stringer; others, such as mayoral were in attendance but did not speak. The roster also included leaders of several Asian-American civic organizations and other community groups.Perhaps the most well-received speech came from Queens State Senator John Liu, who recounted in vivid detail both the ceaseless racism he has experienced throughout his life as an Asian-American, and the raw emotion he has felt in the wake of both the Atlanta massacre and a substantial uptick in hate crimes against Asians in New York City.“I really hope this is the culmination of the hate and bigotry that Asian-Americans have faced,” Liu, who was the first City Council Member and citywide elected official of Asian descent, said. “I pray that there will not have to be another vigil in this seemingly never-ending spate of hate against Asian-Americans.”Liu recounted an from this past week at Bowne Park in his district, where a 13-year-old boy was shoved, had basketballs thrown at him, and was told “go back to your country.” He also made note of the in the East Village where Maura Moynihan, daughter of the late U.S. Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, told an Asian-American woman to “go back to communist China,” and then defended herself by invoking Tibet. And he noted the constant refrain of people saying “don’t give me COVID,” or avoiding Asian-Americans on the street.“We are not COVID, and we are not a virus,” Liu said. “We are human beings.”Most elected officials who spoke were received warmly, but there was one notable exception: , in which he asked for the victims of anti-Asian hate crimes to come forward to authorities; many attendees shouted at him to “defund the police,” for instance, reflecting a notion at the event identified by several speakers that deploying the police to address the increase in violence was neither effective nor desired by communities.The mayor arrived midway through the event and approached the podium, and after his short remarks, which lasted for about 90 seconds, , to shouts of “what are you gonna do.”The mayor’s chilly reception underscored the degree of anxiety Asian New Yorkers have faced throughout the pandemic, as they’re subjected to a litany of abuse by those who bigotedly blame them for the COVID-19 pandemic, and the urgency with which the problem needs to be addressed.Police in Atlanta have charged Robert Aaron Long in the killings of the who were identified by the Fulton County medical examiner’s office as Soon Chung Park, 74; Hyun Jung Grant, 51; Suncha Kim, 69; Yong Yue, 63; Delaina Ashley Yaun, 33; Paul Andre Michels, 54; Xiaojie Tan, 49; and Daoyou Feng 44.Hate crimes and instances of bias against Asian-Americans, in New York City and nationwide, have seen a since the pandemic began. The incidents against Asians frequently relate to the virus, which was first detected in China, and the notion that Asians are somehow responsible for it. Women and elders ; incidents range from being told to “go back to China,” to being spat on, to full-on physical assault.These incidents were egged on, if not endorsed, by numerous prominent most notably former President Donald Trump, who made—and continues to make—a Sam Sue, an Upper West Sider attending the vigil, told Gothamist that he’s been jumped at the 96th Street subway station numerous times.“Some folks, they see me coming, and then they block my direction. And then they jump and yell at me,” Sue said. “It probably has something to do about thinking somehow I caused the virus, the pandemic.”Sue said that he thinks the problem is getting worse even as restrictions are lifted and life slowly returns to normal.“It’s gotten progressively worse,” Sue said. “Now, it’s gotten even more worse because people are now out and about, with the pandemic starting to subside a bit.”The NYPD’s lists 27 incidents with 21 arrests in 2020 of hate crimes against Asians, compared with just one incident and one arrest in 2019. But, as many speakers at the event noted, most such incidents go unreported.The NYPD’s number also doesn’t include instances of bias against Asian-Americans. State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, who was at the vigil, told the crowd there had been over 700 reported “anti-Asian incidents” in New York City over the past several months. And that’s just what is being reported.“How many multiples of that 700, in fact, are happening in our streets each and every day,” DiNapoli said.These incidents have left many of the city’s Asian-Americans fearing whether they could be next, and is negatively impacting community businesses. Many Asian restaurants, for instance, are at night to allow employees to get home safely. The fear has only heightened in the wake of the Atlanta massacre, and made the need for solidarity among community members and allies that much more pressing.“We’re here because we all know that our community deserves better. Our workers deserve better, our mothers, sisters, aunts, and daughters deserve better,” said Jo-Ann Yoo, executive director of the Asian American Federation, the main event organizer. “We are here standing together because we are sad, we are angry, and we are exhausted.” Do you know the scoop?below orWe rely on your support to make local news available to all."It puts more of a burden on New York — puts more of a burden on 49 other states."Read More In:

AdvertisementHundreds of New Yorkers gathered in Union Square Friday night for a vigil mourning the eight victims, including six Asian women, of the Tuesday massacre , amid a national crisis concerning and across the country.The vigil, organized by the Asian American Federation, saw numerous elected officials and advocates speak to the anxiety Asian New Yorkers, and Asian-Americans nationwide, have faced over the past year, and especially in the last few months. Speakers included U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, and City Comptroller and mayoral candidate Scott...

Hundreds Attend Union Square Vigil For Peace And Against Anti-Asian Racism

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