New York City officials attends rally in support of Asian American community

Sunday, February 28, 2021

NYC officials attend rally in support of Asian American community

Mayor Bill de Blasio and other city officials attended a rally in Lower Manhattan Saturday in support of the Asian American community targeted in random acts of violence in New York City.

LOWER MANHATTAN, Manhattan (WABC) -- Mayor Bill de Blasio and other city officials attended a rally in Lower Manhattan Saturday in support of the Asian American community targeted in random acts of violence in New York City and across the country.

De Blasio called for "Asian hate" to stop now.

"We will not accept hatred in New York City," he said.

An Asian American rally was held amid targeted attacks on the Asian community in New York City and across the country.

The mayor also referenced a deadly incident that recently happened in California.

"We saw a man killed in San Francisco, killed for walking down the street because of who he was," he said.

De Blasio accused former President Donald Trump that he "built and fomented" the hatred.

"People told to hate each other in a crisis where we need each other," he said. "We need to love each other and support each other."

Other New York City officials who were in attendance included Sen. Charles Schumer, Attorney General Letitia James and more.

The latest reported incident took place Thursday night in Chinatown when a 36-year-old Asian American man was stabbed with an eight-inch kitchen knife on Worth Street.

That unprovoked attack like others before it are prompting fears among a frightened community to venture outside alone.

Police in Queens arrested a man, accused of assaulting an Asian woman waiting in line outside a bakery Tuesday afternoon.

On Tuesday, Mayor Bill de Blasio and other officials spoke out about the city's renewed effort to confront hate crimes against Asians.

"Every community suffered, but there's been a particular pain, a particular horrible challenge, faced by the Asian American community," de Blasio said. "Because on top of all the suffering from the coronavirus itself, on top of losing loved ones losing businesses, people have had to confront horrible discrimination and hatred."

The Asian Hate Crime Task Force is focusing on the entire city, but they will pay particular attention to the subways after a rash of incidents in the transit system.

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