CAIR-NY Condemns Anti-Asian Hate Crime Amid Coronavirus Outbreak; Calls for Hate Crime Probe
(NEW YORK, NY, 3/12/2020) – The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned a coronavirus-related hate crime assault of an Asian-American man in Harlem. CAIR-NY called on the NYPD to investigate the assault as a hate crime.
The assault reportedly occurred on Tuesday evening in East Harlem. The 59-year-old Asian American victim was passing a group of teens when one teen kicked him in the back. The teen allegedly told the victim to go back to his country and made mention of the coronavirus. The same teen allegedly spit in the victim’s face and made anti-Chinese remarks during another incident last week.
SEE: https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2020/03/12/coronavirus-anti-asian-hate-crime/
Earlier that morning, an Asian American woman was assaulted wherein the assailant yelled “Where is your corona mask, you Asian b—h.” The assailant the punched the victim in the face.
SEE: https://wcbs880.radio.com/articles/asian-woman-assaulted-in-coronavirus-related-hate-crime
Last week, CAIR-NY condemned another coronavirus hate incident that occurred on a subway train in Brooklyn.
SEE ALSO: https://abc7ny.com/coronavirus-fear-video-shows-suspected-hate-crime-on-subway/5989856/
In a statement, CAIR-NY Litigation Director Ahmed Mohamed said:
“The increasing trend of anti-Asian hate incidents is extremely concerning. Ignorance is no excuse for bigoted and xenophobic attacks targeting Asian-Americans. We condemn all attacks targeting Asian-American communities.
“The coronavirus is a public health safety issue, and race, ethnicity or immigrant status should play no role in how we respond to the coronavirus. We stand with our Asian-American communities. We hope the NYPD will investigate this assault as a hate crime.”
Community members are encouraged to contact law enforcement if they have information that may assist police is holding the assailant accountable.
These incidents come after a Brooklyn community board member appointee of NYC Councilman Eric Adams, ranted on social media against Asian Americans, stating, in part:
“These Chinese restaurants in our community make millions of dollars off us. They don’t hire us; don’t donate to any of our events and express racism against us. Yes I said all this now attack me!”
Since the rant, a spokesman from Councilman Adams’ office has condemned the statement and announced that the community member will not be reappointed after his current term. He also explained the City Charter does not allow him to dismiss serving board members.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: Ahmed Mohamed, CAIR-NY Litigation Director, 646-481-2103, ahmedmohamed@cair.com; Afaf Nasher, Esq. Executive Director, CAIR-NY, 917-669-4006, anasher@cair.com