CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- A New York-based organization that created personal alarms in an effort to prevent violence against Asian-Americans has sent hundreds of the devices to Chicago.
There has been unease in Asian-American communities since the start of COVID and, in places, an increase in violence, including in Chicago.
"Safety's always been a discussion in Chinatown, but with recent events it's even been more of a pressing issue," Vivian Zhang, with the Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community, in Chicago told CBS 2.
In one incident late last year, a 71-year-old man was shot and killed in Chinatown. While a man was quickly arrested and charged, prosecutors couldn’t provide a motive, but they said he was targeted and executed.
"It's not an easy feeling for people to feel targeted all the time," Zhang added.
A personal alarm, about the size of a key fob, was designed to draw attention. The group Soar Over Hate, based in New York, sent hundreds of the alarms to Chicago groups.
The devices are being handed out at community events.
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