A New York man is hospitalized in critical condition after he was the victim of what is thought to be an anti-Asian attack, USA Today reported.
The 61-year-old Chinese American man was attacked on Friday, New York City police said. The victim was collecting cans in East Harlem when the suspect attacked him from behind, knocked the him to the ground and and repeatedly stomped on his head, according to USA today.
In a Saturday tweet, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio called the attack “outrageous.”.
“This is outrageous. Make no mistake, we will find the perpetrator and they will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” De Blasio said.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) said on Sunday that he’s sending his state hate crimes task force to help with the investigation, according to USA Today.
The attack comes amid a spike in crimes targeting Asian Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic. The group Stop AAPI Hate said it has received 3,785 reports of anti-Asian attacks since the pandemic begin.
The Senate on Thursday passed the anti-Asian hate crimes bill in a 94-1 vote.
