Queens leaders tackle anti-Asian hate at QPL panel

U.S. Rep. Grace Meng participated in a panel on combatting anti-Asian hate hosted by the Queens Public Library Monday. Photo via U.S. House 

By David Brand

U.S. Rep. Grace Meng will join various Queens leaders Monday at 5 p.m. for a virtual forum addressing the citywide rise in anti-Asian hate crimes.

The event is hosted by the Queens Public Library, which has established various initiatives to fight back against hate crimes targeting Asian American and Pacific island New Yorkers. 

“The surge in anti-Asian hate incidents since the start of the pandemic, including violent attacks in Queens and across our city, is unacceptable,” said Queens Public Library President and CEO Dennis Walcott. “We stand in solidarity with people of Asian descent, many of whom are feeling fear and anxiety as they go about their daily lives, and we are committed to helping combat the hate.”

The 75-minute event will be livestreamed on the Library’s Facebook page facebook.com/QPLNYC/ and YouTube channel youtu.be/WPntaCkFsE4.

Additional panelists include Sapna V. Raj, deputy commissioner of the NYC Commission on Human Rights Law Enforcement Bureau;  Joyce Moy, executive director of the Asian American/Asian Research Institute at CUNY; Jennifer Sun, co-executive director of Asian Americans for Equality; and Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz.

Walcott said the event is designed to “promote understanding and awareness of the long history of and the current rise in discrimination against members of our AAPI communities and to equip people with strategies, skills and information to protect themselves and others.”

“I am extremely grateful to our panelists for joining us as Queens Public Library continues to work to stop anti-Asian violence,” he added.