Demonstrators, Elected Officials Rally After Surge In Anti-Asian Hate And Violence

Hundreds of demonstrators and elected officials gathered in Federal Plaza in lower Manhattan on Saturday afternoon for a Rise Up Against Asian Hate rally.

The rally, organized by the Asian American Federation, came in response to a recent spate of anti-Asian bias incidents and attacks. These included the stabbing on Thursday of a 36-year-old Asian man in Chinatown, just blocks from the site of the demonstration. The alleged assailant, Salman Muflihi, was charged Saturday with attempted murder. According to the arresting officer, Muflihi said of the victim, “If he dies, he dies. I don’t give a fuck.”

Among the most powerful moments at the rally were remarks by Noel Quintana, a Filipino American who was slashed across the face in early February while riding the subway.

“I called for help but nobody came for help,” said Quintana, who pulled down his mask to speak, revealing the deep scar his attacker left, stretching from ear to ear, across his face.  “There were a lot of New Yorkers there. And I never knew that nobody would help me in this kind of instance.”

The incident prompted a furious speech from New York Attorney General Letitia James, who told the crowd that other commuters “should’ve joined together and taken that individual down.”

“Speak up! Do something! Do not be a silent individual, someone who does absolutely nothing,” said James.

The Asian American Federation has estimated that at least 500 anti-Asian bias incidents  have occurred in New York City since early 2020, but cautions that the actual number is likely much higher because many people do not report incidents. A report for the Asian American Bar Association of New York estimated that more than 2,500 anti-Asian hate incidents had occurred nationally between March and September of 2020, largely a result of xenophobia unleashed during the pandemic by then-President Donald Trump and others, who exploited the news that COVID-19 first appeared in China,  calling it the “Chinese coronavirus” and the “kung flu.”

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Increasingly, however, elected officials are expressing alarm at the uptick in violence and bias incidents. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer addressed the crowd, as did Rep. Grace Meng and Mayor Bill de Blasio, who said, “Anyone who commits an act of hatred against the Asian American community will be found, will be arrested, will be prosecuted.”

Andrew Yang, who is running to succeed de Blasio, stood in the crowd wearing a ‘Yang for New York’ mask.  He said in an interview that the ongoing attacks were “painful and heartbreaking.”

“As an Asian American and son of immigrants myself, and as a parent to children in the city, it really hurts.”

Yang said he supported the recent creation of the NYPD’s Asian Hate Crime Task Force, but said “it’s not a good idea for that task force to be made of volunteers who are doing it in addition to their other responsibilities.” 

The task force is made up of 25 Asian American detectives across the department who “volunteer” to  help with cases affecting the community. Deputy Inspector Stewart Loo, who leads the task force, even said he wishes they were better resourced.

But some are denouncing increased police enforcement.

“We can’t police our way out of this,” said Murad Awawdeh, the co-executive director of the New York Immigration Coalition. “We keep us safe. Support the community organizations that are already doing the work.”

“By supporting the organizations already working in these communities, providing language-appropriate mental health services, and providing resources for community-led healing, our city leaders can start to undo the damage of the last year,” he added.

Nearby, a demonstrator, Jessica Ng held a sign that called for “Black, Brown and Asian solidarity.”

“It’s time for us to come together,” said Ng. “White supremacy cannot exist without communities of color fighting each other.”

Many Asian Americans attending the rally said they no longer felt safe in their neighborhoods. Others said they’d altered their behavior to minimize the risk of being assaulted.

“I am less likely to go out late at night,” said Julie Won, a City Council candidate in Queens who said she tried to find non-Asian companions to accompany her on outings. “I don’t feel safe, so I personally have to make sure I’m with people who are going to protect me, who will stand up for me.”

Won said she’d also resumed the jiu-jitsu classes she once took as a child. 

Another woman at the rally, Renee Lau, said she and other family members had experienced verbal assaults. She held up the large metal flask she now carries around with her and which now doubles as a weapon.

“I mean, it looks pretty innocent because it looks like a water bottle,” said Lau, “but it is a sizable water bottle and it would hurt someone if I hit them with it.”

This story was reported by Arun Venugopal, Senior Reporter for WNYC’s Race & Justice Unit where he leads our coverage of bias and hate crimes for Gothamist/WNYC.