CAIR-NY Condemns More Anti-Asian Coronavirus-Related Hate Crimes, Welcomes NY Attorney General's Launch of Hate Crimes Hotline
CAIR-NY Condemns More Anti-Asian Coronavirus-Related Hate Crimes,
Welcomes NY Attorney General's Launch of Hate Crimes Hotline
(NEW YORK, NY, 3/26/2020) – The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned two coronavirus-related hate crimes, this time an alleged theft and assault on an Asian-American woman and an alleged assault of an Asian-American man. Both incidents occurred on subway platforms in Brooklyn.
Police say an Asian-American woman was assaulted on Thursday evening, March 19, when an older man, Oswald Jones, 60, allegedly yelled “Go back to China” and “You are dirty, get your temperature checked,” before he attempted to punch the victim. Jones reportedly stole the young woman’s cellphone.
Additionally, on Tuesday, March 24, a young Asian-American male was threatened and blamed for the coronavirus. Police report that the assailant, 19-year-old Nicholas Theodore, approached the victim and stated, “You f---ing Chinese, spreading the coronavirus” and “You people got the virus.” Theodore proceeded to spit in the victim’s face and mimicked having a gun.
These two assaults follow a string of bias incidents targeting Asian-Americans, and has prompted the New York State Attorney General to launch a hate crime hotline.
See: “This is why there’s coronavirus!”: Asian woman spat on, assaulted in Manhattan hate crime
Asian woman assaulted in Manhattan, blamed for coronavirus: cops
https://nypost.com/2020/03/17/asian-woman-assaulted-in-manhattan-blamed-for-coronavirus-cops/
Coronavirus Hate Crime Hotline Aims To Stop NY Bias Incidents
https://patch.com/new-york/new-york-city/coronavirus-hate-crime-hotline-aims-stop-ny-bias-incidents
In a statement, CAIR-NY Litigation Director Ahmed Mohamed said:
“The rise of anti-Asian attacks is disgusting and must be condemned by all officials at every level. Words matter. Right now, we have certain leaders that are stoking the flames of anti-Asian sentiment for political gain placing the lives of Asian communities at risk. Like we have witnessed in other areas such as Anti-Muslim attacks, when our political leaders use their bully pulpit to spread hate within our communities, there is always a corresponding increase in hate incidents. CAIR-NY continues to urge New Yorkers to follow public health guidelines instead of succumbing to irrational and xenophobic actions.
“CAIR-New York applauds New York Attorney General James for launching a hotline for New Yorkers to report hate crimes and discrimination so that victims can receive resources and appropriate civil investigations are conducted. We encourage all New Yorkers to report hate incidents and discrimination to the Attorney General’s office.”
To report a hate crime or bias-incident/discrimination to the Attorney General’s office, New Yorkers may call the AG’s hotline at 1-800-771-7755 or email civil.rights@ag.ny.gov.
Last week, on March 17th, CAIR condemned the President’s racist “Chinese virus” tweets.
SEE: CAIR Condemns Trump’s Use of Racist Dog Whistle ‘Chinese Virus’
https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-condemns-trumps-use-of-racist-dog-whistle-chinese-virus/
In past weeks, CAIR-NY condemned several coronavirus related hate incidents.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: Ahmed Mohamed, CAIR-NY Litigation Director, 646-481-2103, ahmedmohamed@cair.com; Afaf Nasher, Esq. Executive Director, CAIR-NY, 917-669-4006, anasher@cair.com