Hundreds of people gathered in Lower Manhattan on Saturday to protest growing violence against Asian Americans.
The rally in Foley Square was near the scene of Thursday’s attack on a 36-year-old Asian man, who was stabbed in the stomach. Police arrested 23-year-old Salman Muflihi, who was initially charged with attempted murder as a hate crime and assault as a hate crime, among others.
“We will not accept hatred in New York City! Stop Asian hatred. This is the message we need to get across not only to New York City, but to this entire country. Stop the Asian hatred, stop it now, ”Blasio’s mayor told the crowd.
Representative Grace Meng, a Queens Democrat of Taiwanese descent, said, “Too many people live in fear right now.”
“People are literally afraid to leave home,” Meng said. “They’ve taught us all our lives to fit in. They just don’t talk, they’re invisible. If you’re invisible enough they’ll see you as an American. But we’re here to say we won’t be invisible anymore. We’ll talk about it! … Also we are Americans “.
Attorney General Letitia James encouraged the victims to report the attacks.
“Come to my office so we can do something. Come to my office so we can chase these people who hate us and shut them down, ”said James.
State Sen. John Liu, a Queens Democrat who was born in Taiwan, said, “When you attack any of us, we will stand up and fight…. We will be noisy and proud.”
Prosecutors on Saturday dropped charges of hate crimes against Muflihi during his complaint to Manhattan criminal court. He now faces an attempted murder and an attempted assault charge in the case.
