‘Someone screamed to distract the attacker from my mother,’ says daughter of Fil-Am, victim of a hate crime

HATE CRIME Security video captures Monday’s assault on a Filipino woman in Manhattan and the face of the alleged attacker. A suspect was arrested Tuesday. AFP file photo

MANILA, Philippines – The 65-year-old Filipino-American’s daughter who was recently attacked in New York revealed that someone had intervened to distract the attacker from her mother.

In a recent post on a fundraising site, victim Vilma Kari’s daughter Elizabeth expressed her gratitude to a bystander who, according to her, “screamed and screamed to get the assailant’s attention.” This, however, was not captured by the security camera footage that has gone viral, according to Elizabeth.

“The security video that has gone viral has been the hardest thing to watch, apart from the crime itself. There were many times when I wish someone had stepped in. However, what this video did not capture was that there was someone who was standing on the other side of the street who witnessed my mother being attacked and screamed and screamed to get the attention of the attacker, “he said. saying.

“That’s where the video cuts out when the attacker crossed the street towards him. For this person, I understand your decision to remain anonymous during this time. I want THANK YOU for stepping in and doing the right thing. This gesture of action is what we need in our world right now. I hope that one day my mom and I can thank you personally, ”he added.

Vilma was a recent victim of the growing hate crimes directed against Asians in the United States. He was on his way to church when the assault occurred, according to the Consulate General of the Philippines in New York.

The video showed the attacker repeatedly kicking her in the head and reportedly yelling at her “you don’t belong here.”

‘Vilma belongs here’

Elizabeth said she organized the fundraiser not only to use the donations for her mother’s recovery, but also to extend support to other victims and groups that advocate against Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) hate crimes. .

“This will not eliminate the pain and trauma my mom has experienced, nor will it replace time to heal when she recovers. In addition to using the Vilma recovery fund, my mother would like to support other victims and organizations to further raise awareness in our AAPI community (so that we can continue on a path that educates everyone around us and ends these attacks). ), ”Elizabeth wrote further.

According to her, she couldn’t believe it when she received a call on March 29, informing her that her mother was the most recent target of anti-Asian violence.

“It goes without saying that we have all been watching the news and the attacks against Asian Americans since last year, especially against the elderly across the country and we think to ourselves,” Elizabeth said.

He added that his mother is “touched by the myriad of messages and the support not only from our friends and family, but also from kind souls around the world.”

Elizabeth also said that Vilma is “confident and in a good mood.”

“Although the healing process will not be easy, she has always been a resilient role model for me. We hope that in time he will make a full recovery, ”added the young Kari.

Elizabeth ended her post with the hashtags: #VilmaBelongsHere, #AAPIBelongsHere, and #StopAsianHate.

The Philippine Consulate General in New York has encouraged Filipinos who have been victims of or witnessed incidents of anti-Asian violence to get in touch so that they can provide immediate assistance to the victims.

JPV

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