A man has been charged with hate crimes after allegedly harassing a 65-year-old Asian woman with racial insults in Midtown, in the latest biased crime against the vulnerable community.
Bobby Eli, a 48-year-old East Harlem resident, allegedly addressed the victim on West 40th Street near the port authority on Friday afternoon and began teasing the woman for her blue hairstyle. , according to sources.
When the victim turned to confront the tormentor, Eli’s attacks became racial, according to sources.
“You stupid Chinese blue hair. Stupid Chinese fool, “the man said, according to sources.
“Why do you have blue hair, eh?” the man asked, as he continued to report her, sources said.
The bald-bearded suspect also waved an unidentified object at the victim as he pushed a stroller full of “unknown objects,” police said.
Eli was arrested after the woman took a picture of him with the phone, according to authorities.
He is charged with aggravated second-degree harassment as a hate crime and threatening third-degree as a hate crime, police said.
The NYPD has seen a 1,300 percent increase in hate crimes against Asian Americans since the coronavirus pandemic began.