Hundreds march Uptown to condemn anti-Asian hate
BY DEAN MOSES
New Yorkers who rallied Uptown on
Sunday said enough is enough—no
more Asian hate.
Despite mounting activism and the
NYPD’S implementation of a task force
and civilian panel to combat anti-Asian
violence, the AAPI community are still being
targeted in unprovoked hate crimes, the
latest of which occurred on 125th Street
and Third Avenue, leaving a 61-year-old
man hospitalized after repeated punts to
the head. These continued and seemingly
random attacks have enraged the city.
Organized by activists and the Rainbow
Coalition, a group consisting of all races
and creeds congregated at Mitchel Square
Park on 168th Street Sunday afternoon to
stand in solidarity with Asian Americans.
The event began with the creation of a
shrine at the roots of a tree where incense
was spread, and prayers were said. And
then, as more people poured into the
park clinging to protest signs, speakers
addressed the ongoing fi ght to prevent
turmoil between cultures.
Johanna Fernández is an assistant professor
of history at Baruch College and is
a part of a movement to free Mumia Abu-
Jamal, an activist and journalist who helped
create the Philadelphia branch of the
Black Panther Party and was convicted of
Hundreds gathered in Mitchel Square Park to call for unity amid further Asian
hate crimes.
murdering offi cer Daniel Faulkner in 1981.
On Saturday, protesters celebrated his 67th
birthday at City Hall and continued to
declare his innocence in the incident and
demanding that he be freed from prison.
“We are here in the heart of the Dominican
community; we are marching to East
Harlem and we are here to say an injury
to one is an injury to all. Not too long ago
PHOTO BY DEAN MOSES
we had a person in the White House who
was blaming China and the Chinese for the
coronavirus and spewing anti-Asian hate,
spewing white supremacy, and jingoism in
this country and that is what we have to
blame,” Fernández said to a roaring, jampacked
crowd.
Those preparing to march were also excited
to hear from Mumia Abu-Jamal, who
spoke to the large gathering via a cell phone
from a hospital bed in a Pennsylvania correctional
facility, where he is recovering
from heart surgery and COVID-19.
“This country has a long and distinguished
history of anti-Asian violence and
one of the most oppressed communities.
We came over here and were exploited by
their labor, not just as people who labored
on the land, but people who labored
in mines and they were treated as nonhumans,”
Abu-Jamal said.
After the speech, like a stampede about
200 demonstrators fi led out of the park and
into the street, chanting “Stop Asian hate!”
Waving signs, banging drums, and holding
fi sts to the sky marchers walked in solidarity
with one another as they made their
way to East Harlem. Among the marchers,
were nurses who exhibited signs reading,
“Racism is a public health crisis,” Asians
wearing “Black Lives Matter” masks and
Black and Brown individuals brandishing,
“I stand with Asian lives!” posters.
This was a message intended to spread
unity, which appeared to be successful as
passing motorists stopped to give protesters
a fi st bump or horn honk. Local store
owners also emerged from their place of
business to record the commotion.
The march culminated in the People’s
Church in East Harlem, near the site where
the last attack was committed.
Homeless man charged in hateful East Harlem beating
BY ROBERT POZARYCKI
A homeless man faces attempted
murder and hate crimes charges
Tuesday nearly a week after he
allegedly brutalized a 61-year-old man at
an East Harlem intersection.
Jarrod Powell, 49, last resided at a homeless
shelter on Wards Island, according to
police. Sources familiar with the investigation
said that peace offi cers working with
the Department of Homeless Services
recognized Powell’s picture from published
reports about the attack, apprehended him
and brought him to the 25th Precinct for
further questioning.
During the interrogation, police sources
said, Powell allegedly fessed up to kicking
and stomping on the 61-year-old male
victim at the corner of 3rd Avenue and
East 125th Street at about 8:20 p.m. on
April 23.
The victim suffered “signifi cant injury”
and is in serious but stable condition at
Harlem Hospital, authorities said.
Police said Powell allegedly approached
the 61-year-old man from behind and
The suspect in the April 23 assault in East Harlem, identified as Jarrod
Powell, is shown in a nearby bodega.
struck him in the back, knocking him to
the sidewalk. Once fallen, police reported,
COURTESY OF NYPD
the attacker continued kicking and stomping
on the man — with part of the violent
attack caught on tape by a nearby security
camera.
Following the beating, the suspect fl ed
in an unknown direction.
Not long after learning of the incident,
police referred the case to the NYPD Hate
Crimes Task Force. Police sources said
this is due to recent, ongoing attacks on
members of the Asian community.
For weeks, the NYPD has been battling
a surge of hate crimes against Asian New
Yorkers. Thirty-one cases were reported in
March 2021; there had been no reported
bias crimes against Asian New Yorkers
reported in March 2020.
During questioning Tuesday, sources
familiar with the investigation said, Powell
allegedly claimed he attacked the man
believing that he was part of a group of
people who had robbed him previously.
Police indicated that Powell has a “signifi
cant number of arrests” since 2006.
After making a statement to detectives,
law enforcement sources said, Powell was
offi cially charged with attempted murder
and assault as a hate crime. The investigation
remains ongoing.
Schneps Media April 29, 2021 3