CAIR-NY Condemns Anti-Asian Hate Incident on NYC Subway, Welcomes NYPD Investigation as Possible Hate Crime
CAIR-NY Condemns Anti-Asian Hate Incident on NYC Subway, Welcomes NYPD Investigation as Possible Hate Crime
(NEW YORK, N.Y., 03/06/2020) – 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 an Anti-Asian hate incident perpetrated by a commuter on an N train traveling through Brooklyn on Wednesday. The NYPD has announced that it will investigate the incident as a possible hate crime, and NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio has urged others who face similar treatment to report the experience to police.
The incident, caught on video and posted on social media, shows a man angrily yelling at an Asian American to move away and spraying him with Febreeze. It is suspected that the Asian man was targeted by the perpetrator out of blame for the coronavirus.
See: https://abc7ny.com/coronavirus-fear-video-shows-suspected-hate-crime-on-subway/5989856/
CAIR-NY Litigation Director Ahmed Mohamed stated the following:
“Hateful rhetoric and actions should have no place in our city. The coronavirus is a public health safety issue, and race, ethnicity, or immigrant status should play no role in how we respond to the coronavirus. Xenophobia targeting our Asian American communities is unacceptable.”
This incident comes after a Brooklyn community board member appointee of NYC Councilman Eric Adams, ranted on social media against Asian Americans, stating, in part:
“These Chinese restaurants in our community make millions of dollars off us. They don’t hire us; don’t donate to any of our events and express racism against us. Yes I said all this now attack me!”
Since the rant, a spokesman from Councilman Adams’ office has condemned the statement and announced that the community member will not be reappointed after his current term. He also explained the City Charter does not allow him to dismiss serving board members.
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