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Hundreds of people gathered in Lower Manhattan on Saturday to protest the increase in violence against Asian Americans.
The rally in Foley Square was near the site of Thursday’s attack on a 36-year-old Asian man, who was stabbed in the stomach. Police arrested Salman Muflihi, 23, originally charged with attempted murder as a hate crime and assault as a hate crime, among other counts.
“We will not accept hatred in New York! Stop Asian hatred. This is the message we need to spread not only in New York, but across the country. Stop Asian hatred, stop it now, ”Mayor de Blasio told the crowd.
Representative Grace Meng, a Taiwanese-born Democrat from Queens, said, “Too many people are living in fear right now.”
“People are literally afraid to leave their homes,” Meng said. “Our whole life has taught us to integrate. Stay silent, don’t speak, be invisible. If you are invisible enough, you will be considered American. But we are here to say that we will no longer be invisible! We’ll talk! … We are Americans too.
Attorney General Letitia James encouraged victims to report the attacks.
“Come to my office so we can do something. Come to my office so we can go after these people who hate us and shut them down, ”James said.
State Senator John Liu, a Queen’s Democrat, born in Taiwan, said, “When you attack one of us, we will all stand up and fight back. … We are going to be strong and proud.
Prosecutors on Saturday dropped hate crime charges against Muflihi during his indictment in Manhattan Criminal Court. He now faces attempted murder and attempted assault charges in this case.
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