The New York City Police Department’s hate crimes division is investigating a viral video that shows a man brutally beating an Asian man on the subway.
“We need the public’s help. The NYPD is aware of this video and is investigating,” the department’s hate crime division said on Twitter. “Anyone that has information regarding this incident is urged to call or DM @NYPDTips 1-800-577-TIPS and provide additional details including the date and time of occurrence.”
We need the public’s help. The NYPD is aware of this video and is investigating. Anyone that has information regarding this incident is urged to call or DM @NYPDTips 1-800-577-TIPS and provide additional details including the date and time of occurrence. @NYPDTransit @NYPDnews https://t.co/fJmZC1QJac
— NYPD Hate Crimes (@NYPDHateCrimes) March 29, 2021
The department attached the graphic video of the incident (first posted on the social media app TikTok) showing a physical altercation in progress between the two men that results in the Asian man being punched more than 20 times.
The assailant then puts the Asian man in a chokehold for close to 15 seconds as bystanders plead with the man to stop the attack. He finally pushes him back into his seat, where the victim slumps onto the floor and appears to be unconscious.
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The attacker then departs the train, while the condition of the victim is still unclear.
The incident comes as the country’s focus has recently turned to an apparent rise in hate crimes against Asians, which some have speculated is a response to the COVID-19 pandemic originating in China.
According to a Center for Hate & Extremism report, hate crimes against Asians rose 149% in 2020 in 16 major cities despite overall hate crimes dropping by 7%.
The report found 122 hate crimes toward Asians in the 16 researched cities in 2020, up from 49 reported incidents in 2019.
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Some have linked the shooting of eight people at Atlanta-area spas to the rise of anti-Asian hate crimes in the country, noting that six of the victims in the attack were Asian women. But officials investigating the case have said there is so far no evidence to link the case to anti-Asian bias.
