1 in 5 Asian American New Yorkers faced physical assault: Report

One in two Asian American New Yorkers experienced insults, threats, or physical attacks in the last 12 months, with 1 in 5 having been physically assaulted over that same time period, according to a new survey.

Furthermore, 54% of those who experienced a hate incident did not report the experience to anyone, according to The Asian American Foundation (TAAF)’s report examining the safety of Asian American residents of New York City.

Asian Americans residing in New York are experiencing violence at an alarming rate, and are reluctant or unable to report harm, says Asian American Perspectives: NYC Safety Study.

Although the broader public may not be aware that anti-Asian hate is still rampant, Asian American New Yorkers continue to be hypervigilant, even modifying their day-to-day behaviors as a result, TAFF stated.

READ: Half of Indians in US have experienced racial discrimination: Pew (December 25, 2023)

“The anti-Asian hate rhetoric and violence that targeted the AAPI community in 2020 has not stopped,” says Norman Chen, CEO of TAAF.

“We’re seeing this in the continued hate, violence, and distrust towards Asian Americans New Yorkers. The othering of our community contributes not only to discrimination and prejudice in public spaces, but also erodes any efforts toward equity and inclusivity for AAPIs. The Asian American community is still grappling for a true sense of safety and belonging, and TAAF is determined to do more.”

Regional Director New York, Eugena Oh, added, “We hope this study will shine a light on the ever-present issue of Asian American safety in New York and provide the data necessary for city leaders to come together to meaningfully invest in our community.”
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The results of the study bring into sharp focus the urgency to create safer, more inclusive conditions for AAPIs in New York, TAAF said hoping that this research can galvanize a paradigm shift for the city, so that communities can come together to ensure that NYC is welcoming and safe for all.

Within TAAF, the findings inform programming to counter hate and promote belonging among AAPIs, TAAF said. It hopes to replicate this survey in other cities, to ignite change around the country.

READ: Young Indian Americans experience discrimination as early as preschool: Study (December 20, 2022)
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The survey is a representative study based on a sample of 1,000 NYC-based Asian American respondents, age 16 and above, conducted between Nov 30 and Dec 19, 2023 by BSP Research.
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The sample was weighted to be representative of the five boroughs of New York City’s Asian American adult population. Post-stratification weights adjust for differences in sample composition by age, gender, education, ethnicity, borough, and nativity. The overall sampling error for the survey is ±3.1%.
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Key Findings

1 in 5 Asian American New Yorkers has been physically assaulted in the last 12 months
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Lack of safety continues to be a grim reality of being Asian American in New York today

• 83% of Asian American women note public safety as a major concern in NYC; 72% of men say the same.
• 1 in 2 Asian Americans in New York City report personally experiencing either insults, harassment, threats, or a physical attack in the past 12 months because of their race or ethnicity.
• Over half of NYC’s Asian Americans feel unsafe on public transportation.

Violence hinders empowerment for the nearly 2 million Asian Americans who call New York City home

• 54% of Asian Americans who experienced a hate incident in New York did not report the experience to anyone.
• In the past 12 months, 62% of respondents witnessed an Asian American community member be insulted, harassed, threatened, or physically attacked due to their race or ethnicity.
• 75% of respondents changed their daily routines and behaviors to avoid experiencing anti-Asian hate.‍

Major barriers to reporting as shared by those who did not report when they experienced a hate incident

• Reluctance to bring additional attention to themselves (42%).
• Did not know that this was something New Yorkers could report (29%).
• Lack of understanding on how to report such incidents (27%).
• Lack of comfort reporting the incident to law enforcement or other officials (26%). ‍

This survey highlights the immediate need to address the unsafe reality of Asian American New Yorkers, while continuing to drive towards longer-term solutions that make the City safe for all residents, according to TAFF.

• TAFF recommendations include:
  Increased investment from police and public agencies including free, in-language training and resources. (67% felt that better relations with the police were very or extremely necessary.)
• Increased awareness and accessibility of mental health and legal services such as pro bono legal aid, and culturally-accessible mental health training. (62% felt that better mental health and legal services were very or extremely necessary.)
• Access to ESL (English as a Second Language) programs, citizenship classes, improved community services, and increased access to bystander/upstander, self-defense, and mutual protection training. (60% felt better senior services were very or extremely necessary.)
• Classes or programs in Asian American history, leadership, and advocacy. (58% felt more youth activities were very or extremely necessary.)