Why isn't this attack being investigated as a hate crime?

And Other Things to Know From Angry Asian America.



NYPD: Classify brutal attack against 89-year old Asian woman a Hate Crime.
Last month in Brooklyn, an 89-year old Asian woman was assaulted and set on fire by two people in masks. The police are not investigating the incident as a hate crime, despite the fact that there was no provocation, the assailants didn't know the victim, and they didn't try to take anything from her. It was just a heinous, violent act. This petition is calling on the NYPD and Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez to classify the incident as a hate crime.

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James Hong Deserves a Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
With hundreds upon hundreds of credits to his name, James Hong is Hollywood's most prolific actor, hands down. If anyone deserves a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, it's Mr. Hong, who has appeared in films from Chinatown to Big Trouble in Little China to Kung Fu Panda over a seven-decade career. So fellow actor Daniel Dae Kim has launched a fundraiser to get Mr. Hong his star. [UPDATE: The GoFundMe has reached its goal of more than $55,000 in just three days. The next step is the nomination process.]

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Benson Lee Set to Direct 20th Century Studios' Untitled K-Pop Film
Seoul Searching director Benson Lee is set to direct a K-pop-themed feature film from 20th Century Fox Studios. The untitled film follows a young Asian American college student from the United States who becomes a top competitor on South Korea's toughest k-pop competition show and chases her dreams of becoming a K-Pop star, despite the disapproval of her family.

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First Look at Character Designs From 'Invicible'
Here's a first look at the character designs from the upcoming Amazon animated series Invincible, based on the comic book by Robert Kirkman and starring the voice of Steven Yeun in the title role. It's a Walking Dead reunion, of sorts. Invincible follows a teenager named Mark Grayson whose father is the most powerful superhero on the planet. The series is set to premiere later this year.

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HAYAO MIYAZAKI PIN
"Children understand intuitively that the world they have been born into is not a blessed world." This 1-inch soft enamel pin from Super Yaki pays tribute to the smiling face of master animator, filmmaker, screenwriter, author, and manga artist Hayao Miyazaki. Get it here.

89-Year-Old Woman Set On Fire in Brooklyn Assault

And Other Things to Know From Angry Asian America.



89-Year-Old Woman Slapped In Face, Set On Fire In Brooklyn
What is wrong with people? In New York, police are looking for two men accused of slapping an 89-year-old Asian woman and setting her shirt on fire. The incident happened on July 14 in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. Police said the suspects approached the victim and slapped her in the face. When she moved away, they allegedly lit her shirt on fire with a match or lighter, then ran away. Fortunately, the woman didn't suffer any serious injuries. Anyone with information about the attack is asked to call the NYPD;s Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). You can also submit a tip via their website or on Twitter, @NYPDTips.

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Did This Good Morning America Host Interviewing Kristina Wong... Think She Was Talking to Ali Wong?
Comedian and performance artist Kristina Wong was a guest on Good Morning America to talk about her incredible efforts with the "Auntie Sewing Squad," which has created and distributed thousands of masks for vulnerable communities. Awesome, right? Except... the opening moments of the interview seem to indicate that host Amy Robach thought she was talking to comedian Ali Wong. Am I tripping?

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Man arrested for incidents targeting Asians in Torrance, West Carson
Torrance again. Last week, a man was arrested on assault and vandalism charges after being accused of two attacks on an Asian man and a Japanese restaurant this month. 36-year-old Aaron Sutton Angeles allegedly approached an Asian man on the street and asked him multiple times if he was Asian before attacking him with a knife. Upon his arrest, deputies learned Angeles was also suspected of vandalizing a nearby Japanese restaurant a day before the assault, when he was seen throwing a rock through the restaurant's window. He was reportedly also overheard saying, "The Japanese caused 9-11." Yeah.

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After Lesko mispronounces Pramila Jayapal's name the first time, she butchers the pronunciation the second time and Jayapal was not having it.@RepJayapal: "Jayapal, if you're going to say my name, please say it right. It's Jayapal." pic.twitter.com/hiw0yEDbz6

— Erick Fernandez (@ErickFernandez) July 28, 2020

Rep. Jayapal Asks Colleague to Properly Pronounce Her Name
It's pronounced JYE-ah-paul. Rep. Pramila Jayapal interrupted Rep. Debbie Lesko to correct how Lesko pronounced her name during a Judiciary Committee hearing Tuesday about protests and the use of federal intervention in major cities. "Jayapal," she said. "If you're going to say my name, please say it right. It's Jayapal." You're damn right it is. Make them say your name. Make them say it right.

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The Master of Martial Arts Battles an Army in Arthur Adams' 'Shang-Chi' #1 Cover
Here's a preview of the cover of Marvel Comics' upcoming new Shang-Chi series, written by Gene Luen Yang with art by Dike Ruan. The awesome cover art for the first issue, above, is by industry legend Arthur Adams. Shang-Chi #1 hits shelves in September.

A Cartoonist Looks Inward Regarding Anti-Black Racism

And Other Things to Know From Angry Asian America.



'Black Lives Matter' to Me Because...
In the wake of protests over the murder of George Floyd, cartoonist Connie Sun has been looking inward and reckoning with her personal role in the context of anti-black racism as an Asian American. Recalling a painful memory from childhood, she drew this comic to start a dialogue. Read the rest of the comic here.

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EVERYONE I HAD BLACK LIVES MATTER WRITTEN ON MY BACK WINDSHIELD. THIS MAN CAME TO THE HOUSE AND PROCEEDED SO SCREAM ALL OF THIS RACIST SHIT. IM FUCKING TERRIFIED. WAY TO GO SCV. #blacklivesmatter pic.twitter.com/eWOKgKhgpq

— johnnie (@janaisevilla) June 4, 2020

"EVERYONE I HAD BLACK LIVES MATTER WRITTEN ON MY BACK WINDSHIELD."
Imagine being someone so offended by the sentiment that Black lives matter. This person caught an interaction with a neighbor who came knocking, incensed, because she had "Black Lives Matter" written on the back windshield of her car. Props to the friend who holds her ground. And no props to the asshole neighbor.

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BAY RIDGE DOES NOT WELCOME RACISTS
You know those racist flyers that recently popped up in Brooklyn? The neighborhood has clapped back. After flyers declaring "CHINESE ARE DESTROYING BAY RIDGE" showed up on lamp posts in Bay Ridge and Dyker Heights, someone started posting flyers declaring equally emphatic capitalization, "BAY BRIDGE DOES NOT WELCOME RACISTS. BAY RIDGE LOVES ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORS."

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Investigation Launched Into Welfare of YouTuber's Adopted Son
Authorities launched an investigation into the welfare of Myka Stauffer's adopted son, Huxley, after the YouTuber announced that she and her husband, James Stauffer, had placed him with another family. "The Delaware County Sheriff's Office has received several inquiries regarding the welfare of a local 5-year-old child, who was recently given up for adoption. This child is not missing," the Ohio-based sheriff's office said in a press release. "Our primary concern is for the well-being of this child, as well as the other children in the household." Thankfully, the kid is not missing -- and hopefully, with a better family than with these crooks.

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Wu-Tang’s RZA on the Influence of Bruce Lee
In celebration of the new 30 for 30 documentary Be Water premiering on ESPN, Wu-Tang Clan's RZA dropped a new track, "Be Like Water" -- his tribute to martial arts icon Bruce Lee.

She Was Taking Out the Trash. A Man Threw Acid On Her.

And Other Things to Know From Angry Asian America.



Asian Woman Suffers Burns in Acid Attack
In Brooklyn, an Asian woman suffered severe burns across her body when someone sneaked up on her outside her home and splashed her with a caustic substance. The attack took place on Sunday night in the Sunset Park neighborhood. Surveillance video shows the 39-year-old victim taking out the trash when the man, who is sitting on the stoop, stands up and approaches her from behind with a bottle in his hand. The woman suffered chemical burns to her face, neck, and back. The NYPD is asking for the public's help to identify the man, whose ethnicity is unknown. He was wearing a face mask, gloves, and a black hoodie.

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"When I go out, I'm afraid of people attacking me."
Anna Ng, a 51-year-old Chinese American woman who was the victim of a coronavirus-related hate crime last month, speaks out. A group of teenage girls attacked her on a Bronx bus, calling her "coronavirus" and hitting her over the head with an umbrella. Three of the attackers were arrested and charged hate crime assaults, menacing and harassment. A fourth attacker remains at large.

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Fort Smith Buddhist Temple Vandalized
In Fort Smith, Texas, a man was caught vandalizing several statues inside a Buddhist temple. Police found 21-year-old Shawn Michael Israel holding a hammer, smashing a statue. When asked if he was on something, Israel reportedly replied, "Nothing, I'm sober. Look sir, I'm not trying to be disrespectful, thou shall not lie. It's a false idol, it's a false monument." Three statues of Buddha were destroyed, with damage estimates in the thousands of dollars. Israel was charged with felony criminal mischief.

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Chinese-Americans, Facing Abuse, Unite to Aid Hospitals
"Throughout New York and New Jersey, small groups from the Chinese-American community are uniting to fight the pandemic in this country even as they face racist remarks and some physical attacks. Using mostly WeChat, they are creating vast networks and rallying their contacts here and in China to procure supplies for doctors and nurses in need."

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Andrew Yang Sets Launch of Issues-Oriented Podcast 'Yang Speaks'
Former U.S. presidential candidate Andrew Yang plans to launch a new podcast, "Yang Speaks." Slated for May 2020, the weekly show will broadly cover the future of the U.S. economy and society. It will feature in-depth discussions with "thought-leaders" on a range of topics including tech, public policy, sports, entertainment and pop culture.

Broadway star Ruthie Ann Miles injured, 4-year-old daughter killed in car crash

A car ran a red light and drove through a crowd of people in Brooklyn.



Tony Award-winning Broadway actress Ruthie Ann Miles was in critical condition Monday after she was struck by a car in Brooklyn in an accident that killed her 4-year-old daughter and another child.

Tony Award-Winning Actress Hurt in Deadly Wreck After Driver Blows Red Light in Brooklyn

Miles was walking with a friend, Lauren Lew, and their kids in Park Slope when a white Volvo reportedly ran a red light, drove through the intersection and plowed through a crowd of people in the crosswalk. Miles and Lew were both injured in the crash. Miles' 4-year-old daughter Abigail and Lew's 1-year-old son Joshua were killed. A fifth victim, a 46-year-old man, was also hit.

Miles, who is currently expecting her second child, was critically injured but listed in stable condition.

This couple ran a half marathon on their wedding day

...along with 60 of their wedding guests.



To attend this wedding, you had to be in shape. And I'm not talking about looking good in a dress or a tux. Last month, a Brooklyn couple ran a half marathon as part of their wedding day... along with 60 of their guests.

Running couple incorporates Brooklyn Half Marathon into their wedding

When Amanda Hughes and Joel Tse, who met while they were both training for the New York City Marathon in 2009, realized they had scheduled their wedding on the same day as the Brooklyn Half Marathon, they decided to incorporate the race into their nuptials. Not only would they run the half marathon, they invited their guests to run the distance with them to the finish line before they got officially tied the knot.

"We were going to organize a fun run, because without the running community, we never would have met," Hughes told Runner's World. "But the way it worked out was perfect because all of our running friends were going to be in town anyway."

They even sent out a training schedule with the wedding invitation -- with four months to train -- since many of the guests had never run a long distance race before.

Chinese restaurant workers chase off knife-wielding robber

This fool brought a knife to a soup ladle fight.



This guy messed with the wrong takeout joint. Earlier this month in Brooklyn, workers at a Chinese restaurant chased off a knife-wielding man who police say is wanted in connection with a robbery spree.

Police: Masked Robber Wielding Large Knife Targets Brooklyn Businesses

On January 4, a hooded masked man walked into Chen's Garden in East New York and pulled out a large knife from his waistband, demanding money from the restaurant's employees.

Surveillance video shows the would-be robber hopping on to the counter. That's when the workers fought back, picking up and swinging anything in arm's reach -- including a soup ladle and a stool. Everybody knows that a mere knife is no match for a Chinese guy with a soup ladle.

No doubt freaked out by the unexpected display of not-taking-your-shit and get-the-hell-out-of-here, the suspect fled the restaurant empty handed. Sometimes, you know you've already lost.

The entire 30-second incident was caught on camera:

Jeremy Lin surprises some fans. They are not cool with it.

"You're an asshole, Jeremy Lin!"



Four years after "Linsanity," is New York City ready to welcome back Jeremy Lin? In this Comedy Central video, the newest member of the Brooklyn Nets recently took to the streets to pull a few surprises on unsuspecting fans outside the Barclays Center. As you can see, they weren't thrilled about getting the crap scared out of them... even by Jeremy Lin.

This is obviously staged. But it's still funny.

AAWW Publishing Conference '16

Presented by the Asian American Writers' Workshop, Saturday, June 25



Hey writers! The Asian American Writers' Workshop invites you to the AAWW Publishing Conference, a special one-day boot camp for any writer who's ever felt left out and wants to invest in their career. Meet with publishing professionals from Penguin Random House, Catapult, Buzzfeed and more.

It's happening Saturday, June 25 at ISSUE Project Room in Brooklyn. Here are some more details:

This woman needs your help.

Police seek help identifying an elderly woman found wandering inside a Brooklyn store.



In New York, police are asking for the public's help identifying an elderly Asian woman who was found wandering inside of a downtown Brooklyn Sephora store on Saturday afternoon.

Police Seek Identity Of Woman Found Wandering In Brooklyn Municipal Building

Police say the woman was found around non wandering inside the Sephora store at 201 Joralemon St. Through an interpreter, it was determined that the woman's speech was incoherent and she could not provide a name or contact information for anyone she knew.

Brooklyn woman fights off fire escape burglar

Tiffany Chang wasn't letting this thief take her laptop without a fight.


Not the actual burglar.
When Tiffany Chang walked in on a burglar breaking into her Brooklyn apartment, and saw that he was trying to make off with her laptop and other valuables, she was like, oh hell no. She fought back -- and won.

Brooklyn Woman Catches Burglar on Fire Escape, Fights Him

On Wednesday in Williamsburg, a thief climbed a fire escape and snuck into Chang's bedroom window. She walked in from the other room to discover the man halfway out the fire escape holding her laptop.

But Tiffany wasn't letting him take it without a fight.

NYPD officer Peter Liang convicted of manslaughter

Rookie cop found guilty in fatal stairwell shooting of Akai Gurley.



In Brooklyn, jurors have found NYPD officer Peter Liang guilty of manslaughter and official misconduct in the death of Akai Gurley, an unarmed man who was fatally shot in a public housing stairwell in 2014.

Officer Peter Liang Convicted in Fatal Shooting of Akai Gurley in Brooklyn

On November 20, 2014, Liang and his partner were patrolling the Louis H. Pink Houses in Brooklyn. At one point, Liang opened a door into an unlit stairwell and his gun went off. The bullet ricocheted off a wall and hit 28-year-old Akai Gurley, who was walking down the stairs, piercing his heart.

Who the hell stabbed David Henry Hwang in the neck?

Police release photo of suspect who attacked award-winning playwright in Brooklyn.



An update on the attack on David Henry Hwang... Police investigators have released surveillance photos of the suspect who slashed the award-winning playwright in the neck in apparent random street attack.

Police Investigate Attack on Award-Winning Playwright in Brooklyn

Hwang was walking on S. Oxford Avenue near Lafayette Avenue in Brooklyn on Sunday night when the attacker walked up behind, stabbed him in the neck and ran off. Hwang felt pain in his neck and realized he was bleeding out. Fortunately, he managed to walk himself to the hospital for treatment.

NYPD released an image from surveillance footage of the alleged suspect:

David Henry Hwang slashed in the neck in street attack

Award-winning playwright attacked near his home in Brooklyn.



What the hell? This is frightening. Tony Award-winning playwright David Henry Hwang is recovering after being slashed in the neck in an apparent random street attack near his home in Brooklyn.

'M. Butterfly' playwright David Henry Hwang slashed in neck near Brooklyn home

Hwang was carrying groceries home in Fort Greene on Sunday night when an unknown attacker slashed his neck from behind. He didn't see the attacker fleeing, but he felt pain in his neck and realized he was bleeding out. Fortunately, he managed to walk himself to the hospital for treatment.

Man brutally beaten and robbed in Brooklyn

George Chen was assaulted by several attackers in Crown Heights.



Damn. Be careful out there, folks. Last week in New York, a 35-year-old man was hospitalized after being brutally beaten and robbed by several attackers while on his way to a friend's apartment in Brooklyn.

Unseen Assailants Rob & Brutally Beat Man In Crown Heights

On Friday night, George Chen was on his way to a friend's place in Crown Heights for his own going-away party -- he was set to leave New York the following week for a new job in Asia -- when he was assaulted by several attackers who beat him with a bat or metal pipe and stole his wallet.

He shared an account of his ordeal with Gothamist via email:

Missing: 7-year-old Eric Li

Last seen Tuesday morning in Brooklyn



In Brooklyn, police are asking for the public's help finding a boy who went missing Tuesday.

Police Look for Missing Brooklyn Boy Last Seen Tuesday

7-year-old Eric Li was last seen at around 9:00am Tuesday at 51st Street and Seventh Avenue in Sunset Park.

Eric is 4 feet, 7 inches tall and weighs 60 pounds.

Anyone with information on the case should contact the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS, or text CRIMES and then enter TIP577, or visit nypdcrimestoppers.com.

Missing: Brooklyn mom and 3-year-old son, last seen Saturday

NYPD is asking for help locating 27-year-old Zhao Hui Zheng and her son Aldrin He.



Have you seen this woman and her kid? In New York City, police are asking for the public's assistance in searching for a mother and her young son who have been missing for several days.

Mother and 3-year-old son missing for several days in Brooklyn

27-year-old Zhao Hui Zheng and her 3-year-old son Aldrin He were last seen at around 11:00 AM on Saturday, July 4, at 1013 72nd Street, in the Dyker Heights section of Brooklyn.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS (8477). You can also submit tips by logging onto Crime Stoppers' website or by texting your tips to CRIMES (274637), then enter TIP577.

More here: Brooklyn: Mom And Young Child Go Missing - NYPD Asking For Assistance


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Brooklyn street renamed to honor Detective Wenjian Liu

Liu and his partner Detective Rafael Ramos were fatally shot while sitting in their patrol car.



Over the weekend in New York City, a Brooklyn street was renamed to honor Wenjian Liu, the Chinese American police detective who was murdered in the line of duty last year.

Street named for Detective Wenjian Liu in Brooklyn

On Saturday, the corner of West 6th Street and Avenue T in Gravesend was named Detective Wenjian Liu Way at an emotional ceremony attended by Liu's family, dozens of police officers and city officials, including Mayor Bill de Blasio and Police Commissioner Bill Bratton.

Brooklyn kids arrested for harassing Chinese seniors

Groups of teenagers have been terrorizing Asian-owned businesses in Bensonhurst.


Photo Credit: Bensonhurst Bean
Last week in Brooklyn, not long after reports hit the news about groups of teens terrorizing Asian-owned businesses, two 13-year-old boys were arrested for throwing rocks and spitting at seniors at a nearby park.

Accused Of Harassing Seniors, 13-Year-Olds Arrested In Seth Low Park

On Friday afternoon at Seth Low Park in Bensonhurst, two middle schoolers were arrested after they were seen harassing seniors sitting at the picnic tables. According to witnesses, the boys started spitting and throwing rocks at the seniors, who are Chinese immigrants and do not speak English.

Teens terrorizing Asian-owned businesses in Brooklyn

Chinese shop owners in Bensonhurst have been repeatedly targeted by unruly youth.



In Brooklyn, a group of Asian American shopkeepers have filed a police report saying that they are being targeted by rowdy, unruly teenagers who have been repeatedly terrorizing their businesses.

Teens Terrorize Chinese-Owned Shops On Bay Parkway

In Bensonhurst, on a stretch of mostly Chinese-owned shops, a group of kids, ranging in ages from 13 to 17, have been antagonizing merchants and customers by shoplifting, pickpocketing, smoking in stores, throwing merchandise on the floor, and destroying property on a regular basis, nearly every day after school.