Some Filipinos no longer taking subway due to fear of hate crimes in New York

Some Filipinos are no longer taking the subway due to fears of being victimized by hate crimes in New York City, according to JP Soriano’s “24 Oras” report on Wednesday.

Consul General Elmer Cato, Philippine Consulate General in New York, said some Filipinos are now afraid to walk alone and ride on subways where harassment and assaults were reported.

Two Filipinos were recently attacked in separate incidents in Midtown Manhattan.

The first victim was a 73-year-old Filipino who was beaten on 8th Avenue on Sunday.

The second victim was a 53-year-old Filipino who was kicked and punched last Monday at a fast food chain.

The incidents are among the six case of attacks against Filipinos in New York this year.

The Philippine Consulate General said it is still gathering information if these are considered hate crimes.

“Yung sa first incident involving the 73-year-old kababayan (The first incident involving the 73-year-old Filipino), he was saying he heard the suspect shout something but hindi niya maintindihan (he cannot understand) so we could not say at this point if those were racial slurs,” Cato said.

At least 34 Filipinos have been victims of assault in New York since last year.

“Kahit mahal, hindi na sila nagsusubway nag-uuber na lang. Yung iba nagdadala na lang ng sasakyan kahit mahal yung parking dito sa city just to avoid getting in situations like that,” Cato said.

(Even though it is expensive, they don't ride the subway anymore and instead they ride Uber. Other people just bring a car even though the parking is expensive here in the city just to avoid getting in situations like that.)

Apart from self-defense webinars, several “Stop Asian Hate” posters have been placed at the consular office in New York.

The Filipino and Asian community will also hold a rally in Manhattan to condemn the attacks against the community, which were reported since the COVID-19 surge.—Richa Noriega/LDF, GMA News