Death of Chinese women in the New York subway shocked the Asian community Rights group called for concern for the safety of Asian women

China News Network, January 20, the American Overseas Chinese News Network reported that last Saturday (15th), Michelle Go, a Chinese-American woman, was pushed off the platform by homeless Simon Martial in New York and killed. Asian-American activist groups say that although it has not been investigated as a hate crime, the incident has shocked, saddened and panicked the Asian-American community against the backdrop of rising hate crimes in the United States.

Sung Yeon Choimorrow, executive director of the National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum, said, "Whether this case is a hate crime or not, the reality is that whenever an event like this is seen, the anxiety of Asians, especially Asian women, rises, according to NBC. Whatever the relevance, we seem to see ourselves in such a picture. ”

Wu's family said in a statement: "We want people to remember Wu's wonderful life, not just how she died. She is a beautiful, kind and intelligent woman who loves her family and friends and loves to travel the world and help others. Her life was taken in a senseless act of violence, praying that she would get the justice she deserved. ”

Because of previous psychiatric assessments, the 61-year-old suspect, Mr. Martial, is unfit to appear in court and is currently being held at Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan. Previously, experts said the term "hate crime" should only be used when a suspect is being prosecuted, because when it is used in cases that do not involve racial hostility, especially when the target is a person of color, the word itself has a dangerous meaning.

Jo-Ann Yoo, executive director of the Asian American Federation, a New York-based nonprofit, said the tragedy that happened to Michelle Wu reminded some women of "their own sisters." She also said that since the outbreak, the Asian-American community in the United States has been in a state of high tension, and many have been used as scapegoats for the virus. Data released by the New York City Police Department last December showed a 361 percent increase in attacks against Asians compared to the previous year. Ms. Yu said she had spoken to countless Asian-American New Yorkers who were concerned about potential harassment or violence at all times.

Yu added that the attack on Wu has sparked another fear, a state that Asian women especially face when riding public transportation. "I'm tired of constantly looking around and making sure there's no one behind me," she said. ”

Ms. Song said Asian-American women are particularly vulnerable to such harassment because they are perceived as timid, docile and easier to be "targeted." She said the matter should not be treated as an anomaly, but as a systemic event. She asked, "Why wait until someone dies before we discuss these issues that affect us every day?" ”

Connie Wun, co-founder of the nonprofit AAPI Women Lead, agrees, saying there is a need to include this public security issue in policy agendas, educational narratives and political movements. (End)

Source: China News Network