An elderly Asian woman targeted in what appeared to be another unprovoked episode of violent crime fought back on Wednesday, sending her attacker to the hospital with injuries. Now her family is speaking out about the violent attack.
The elderly woman, identified as 76-year-old Xiao Zhen Xie is home from the hospital after the violent attack. Her family spoke with KPIX-15, saying she was still "dizzy, very scared, and traumatized." She cannot see out of one eye at this time. Her grandson is working on a gofundme
The incident happened along Market St. near Charles J. Brenham Pl. and McAllister St. in downtown San Francisco at about 10:30 a.m. Wednesday. Witnesses told KPIX-5 "they saw the woman pummeling the assailant." In video taken at the scene, the woman can be seen yelling at the alleged attacker in Chinese while he laid on a stretcher with a bloody mouth.
She looks to be holding a wooden board or plank while he’s wheeled off.
The unidentified woman said she was leaning against a light pole, when the man allegedly struck her. "This bum. He bullied me," the woman told the crowd that had gathered, according to the station.
It’s not yet known if her race had anything to do with the event.
Both the victim and the alleged attacker were taken to a hospital for treatment.
The attack comes amid a wave of violence against Asian Americans, both in the Bay Area and around the country. To combat the rise in attacks, San Francisco Police announced Wednesday an increase in officer patrols in the city's predominantly Asian neighborhoods.
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