NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – Asian Americans and their allies gathered in the heart of Manhattan’s Chinatown on Sunday to rally against a wave of anti-Asian hate crimes and show support for communities in the city and beyond.
Hundreds of people rallied in Columbus Park, holding signs that said things like, “Asian is not a virus, hate is” and “Stop Asian hate.” There were other rallies held nationwide this weekend.
The crowd came together to show concern for recent events and to send a message to politicians that anti-Asian hate is an immediate issue. Organizers also shared tips for staying safe and reporting crimes.
One of the organizers, Ben Wei, told the crowd that hate crimes against Asians in the city were up 800% in 2020.
“We are here to say to all the deniers out there, to show the world that we will not stand for injustice and that we will not be silenced,” Wei said.
Wei also reminded attendees that just weeks ago, an Asian man was stabbed in the back and wounded blocks from the park.
The rally came days after eight people were fatally shot at Atlanta-area spas. Six of the victims were women of Asian descent.
It also came hours after the NYPD announced it was investigating an attack on a 66-year-old Asian man on the Lower East Side as a hate crime.
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