Mayor de Blasio was held by a protester on a Union Square vigil Friday night protesting against anti-Asian racism and lamenting the victims of the shooting in the massage parlor in Georgia.
A crowd gathered at 14th Street in Manhattan to demand the end of hate crimes and bias after a lone gunman killed six Asian women and two others in the attacks in Atlanta on Tuesday night.
Mourners lit candles, held signs reading “Stop Killing Us” and “Stop Asian Hate” and laid flowers in front of temporary memorials, while politicians and lawyers addressed protesters, some of whom directed their anger at Hizzoner.
“What are you going to do about it,” a chorus of people demanded when de Blasio asked the victims of anti-Asian prejudice crimes to come forward, according to social media footage.
The mayor was surrounded by about a dozen hostile protesters as his highway left the event Twitter shown.
Senate leader Chuck Schumer and hopeful mayor Andrew Yang were among the sincere speakers who called for peace and healing during the Asian American Federation.
Among those who attended the vigil was Jayne Ng, 25, a Chinese-American who said she was degenerating from the massacre in the south.
“This week has been so difficult and upsetting,” she said. ‘I therefore appreciate that tonight leaders from the Muslim, Spanish and Black communities were here to speak and stand by the Asian American community. They came out to say that they are here for us. ‘
Ng, an artist, added that she experienced anti-Asian hatred firsthand.
“As an Asian woman, I experienced harassment in the subway. I was followed on the street by strangers. I made people shout at me. I always feel unsafe. I experience harassment. It’s a sad part of an Asian woman. Hopefully, these tragic events can raise awareness. ”
Vincent Tang, 40, called on local leaders to take action to end racial violence.
“I think it helped. We do not have solidarity and support. It was good to get together to support each other. “It was very hopeful not to see other people here tonight,” said Tang.
“It simply came to our notice then. We have faced racism. We finally come together in a strong community and as a whole. It’s such a diverse city. I finally get the sense that it’s time to stand up and support each other and call out our leaders to take action. They keep shooting. It’s all talk. No action, ”Tang lamented.
The NYPD recorded a 1300 percent increase in anti-Asian hate crimes during the coronavirus pandemic and increased patrols in Asian neighborhoods following the massages at the massage parlor.
Kamala Harris, the first Asian American to hold the post of vice president, said on Friday night that 3,800 hate incidents had been recorded against the group in the past year.
Additional reporting by Nolan Hicks