New York Chinatown stages march against hate

SCREEN CAPTURE / CBS

Asian Americans stage  a march against hate in New York City.

ASAM NEWS

Scores of demonstrators took part in a march in New York City's Chinatown protesting the anti-Asian hate that has spurred attacks against AAPI since the coronavirus hit the U.S.

Community activists say people of Asian descent are being blamed for the spread of the coronavirus.

Since the start of the pandemic, there have been more than 2,000 reported hate crimes against Asian Americans nationwide.

“There’s been reports of Asians being attacked or verbally harassed,” community activist Shirley Ng said. “People are judging us by our skin. They think we’re the virus or we brought it here, but we have nothing to do with it.”

The “Stop the Hate” campaign includes posters in several languages explaining how to report an attack.

Volunteers also formed a group called Chinatown Block Watch. Members patrol the streets to report any hate incidents that might occur.

“Pretty much everybody on the Block Watch knows somebody who has experienced some kind of racial abuse,” said Greyson Chin, one of the volunteers. “Some people have been spit on, just kind of racial bullying passing by on the streets.”

The Chinatown Block Watch patrols three time a week, checking in on local businesses and making sure the neighborhood’s most vulnerable – seniors and children – are safe.