Hate crime surge sparks unease as Asian-American women in New York take refuge

　　China News Service, April 19. According to the US "World Journal" report, hate crimes against Asians have surged recently. The New York subway shooting in the United States has also occurred in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, where Chinese are inhabited. More and more Asians. American residents can't wait for the government and lawmakers to take action on public safety issues, and they try to protect themselves against the backdrop of hate crimes by stockpiling pepper spray and practicing martial arts to defend themselves.

　　The latest figures from the nonprofit Stop AAPI Hate show that among the 10,905 hate crimes committed between March and the end of December 2020, at the start of the outbreak, Asian-American women were victims of the highest percentage. 62%.

Another survey by the National Asian Pacific Women's Forum also found that one in five Asian women avoided public places, and 6 percent were afraid of going to work.

　　Before the government and lawmakers reacted, more and more Asian Americans were looking to protect themselves.

　　Concerned that Asian employees go home too late from get off work, Joanne Kwong, the president of Pearl River Department Store, a 50-year-old Chinatown store, has also shortened the working hours of employees recently. She also provided them with pepper spray. Kwong Yingying said, Many crimes happen very close to the store and are quite random. "The only thing you can do is to increase your vigilance and change your living habits."

　　In mid-March, the pepper spray campaign launched by the anti-Asian crime agency "Soar Over Hate" also saw long queues in Chinatown. More than 1,000 bottles of spray were distributed to the public a day, and many Asian women did not hesitate to queue for two hours to receive it.

　　In addition to stockpiling and carrying pepper spray with them, many Asians are also taking up martial arts for self-defense or organizing community patrols.

Against the backdrop of the surge in subway and racist attacks, Safe Walks NYC has also expanded to Manhattan's Chinatown, escorting or accompanying people in need to subway stations or other public places.

(Zheng Yiyan)