At a rally in Queens, local leaders and residents showed their support for the Asian American community, which has been targeted in a series of bias attacks in recent weeks.

“We are feeling a lot of frustration, anger, fear. Traditionally, we have been taught keep your head down and don’t cause trouble,” said Linda Lee, the president and CEO of the Korean Community Services of Metropolitan New York. “I think now is a real moment to step up and speak out.”

What You Need To Know

  • So far in 2021, the NYPD has investigated or solved 12 bias assaults against Asians. There were no such reported attacks by this time last year

  • There has been a surge in anti-Asian attacks in the U.S. since the pandemic began

  • The NYPD is taking strides to deter and prevent bias attacks in New York City with it a special task force, plain clothes officers and community outreach

The NYPD is increasing its enforcement and outreach to prevent such attacks, which have not just been occurring in New York, but around the country.

“I'll say this, so the message is very clear to everyone: the next person you target, whether it's through speech, menacing activity, or anything else, walking along a sidewalk or a train platform, may be a plainclothes New York City police officer — so think twice,” said New York City Police Commissioner Dermot Shea.

Earlier this week, the NYPD said it would deploy undercover officers to deter anti-Asian assaults.

On Thursday, The NYPD said it is adding two detectives to its year-old Asian Hate Crimes Task Force, and holding community forums in neighborhoods with large Asian populations, like Flushing, Queens, and Sunset Park, Brooklyn.

Officers also are are handing out flyers and posters in Mandarin, Korean and other languages to encourage Asian Americans to speak out.

"People want to know, 'what do I do? What are the rules? Who do I contact? How do I come forth,’” explained Chief of Detectives Rodney Harrison. 

At the Queens rally, leaders of the African American and Asian American communities stood side-by-side to send a message that racial discrimination is a long-standing problem in the U.S. 

“We understand what it’s like to have a conditional existence and the only way that we can have an unconditional as Americans and as human beings is if we work together,” said Sharon Lee, the former interim Queens Borough President.

Lee says that unity is crucial. So far in 2021, the NYPD has investigated or solved 12 bias assaults against Asians. There were no such attacks by this time last year.