• Post category:Statements
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Statement of the Consul General

During the Asian-American Federation's Press Conference in Response to Recent Anti-Asian Hate Incidents

19 August 2021

The assault on Potri Ranka Manis, a 67-year-old health frontliner while she was distributing face masks on the E train is particularly disturbing for us considering that she was assaulted while doing what other frontliners have been doing since the outbreak of the pandemic—help save lives by preventing the spread of the coronavirus.
 
The incident involving Potri Manis is heartbreaking for the Filipino-American Community especially since it involved an elderly Filipino nurse who has been among the hundreds of Filipino nurses who have been helping save people from Covid-19 in New York City and elsewhere.
 
It is heartbreaking because although Filipinos account for only 4 percent of the total number of nurses in the United States, they account for 25 percent of frontliners who have died as result of Covid-19.
 
But it is not only Potri Manis who has been at the receiving end of anti-Asian hate. One of our diplomats was harassed while on board the B train by what she described to be a mentally unstable individual who was telling her she does not belong here.
 
Just a few days before Potri was assaulted, Filipino theater actor Miguel Braganza was badly hurt in a robbery attempt with racist undertones.
 
The Philippine Consulate General has recorded at least 18 cases of hate crimes and hate incidents involving members of the Filipino-American Community since January. There are more cases but unfortunately these are not being reported.
 
We would like to take this opportunity to reiterate our calls for authorities to do what is necessary to identify, arrest, and bring to justice those responsible for the attack against Potri and other victims of anti-Asian hate.
 
We acknowledge and support the efforts of authorities of New York City in assuring everyone that steps are being taken to make them feel safe in public. We welcome the announcement of Senator Schumer that Congress is working to make several billions dollars available to address mental health issues
 
We are also in solidarity with the rest of the Asian-American Community and all others in calling for an end to hatred, intolerance and bigotry.