The disturbing wave of hate crimes against people of Asian descent continues to spread across the country. On Sunday, an Asian woman was walking to a protest against anti-Asian violence when a stranger approached her and started punching her in the face in an apparent hate-fueled attack, Police said.
According to investigators, the unidentified man reportedly approached the woman and asked for her protest sign. He then took the sign and stomped on it. When the woman asked why he did that, the man punched her in the face twice and then fled to a nearby subway station, Gothamist News reported.
The attack happened in full view of the woman’s young daughter, witness Rita Chan told the news outlet.
“You could see she was just numb. At one point, a woman approached her and gave her a cookie,” Chan said. “As soon she saw her mom being put on the gurney, that’s when she started crying. It was heartbreaking.”
The NYPD released a video of the suspect, showing him wearing a red Chicago Bulls sweatshirt and carrying a camouflage backpack.
WANTED for HATE CRIME ASSAULT : On Sunday March 21, 2021 @ 11:37 A.M. in the vicinity of 51 Astor Pl. @nypd9pct during an Anti-Asian Violence Protest , a protester carrying anti violence sign was approached by a male suspect and assaulted . Any info call us @ 800-577-TIPS pic.twitter.com/FBMxOdvqgd
— NYPD Crime Stoppers (@NYPDTips) March 22, 2021
