Assemblyman Colton (D – Gravesend, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach, and Dyker Heights) is outraged with the hate crimes against our Asian - American neighbors and says that it continues to be on the rise in New York City since bail reform became law.

“On Monday at approximately 6:00 p.m. an Asian woman was walking down Bayard Street in Chinatown when she was randomly punched in the face by a homeless man. Alexander Wright who resides in the shelter on Wards Island, was arrested shortly after the attack. Mr. Wright has been arrested number of times in the past year including for assaults and arsons. On Friday, another gruesome attack took place where a homeless man pushed a 65-year-old Asian woman down a stairwell at the 34^th Street-Herald Square subway station by John Chappell, who has an extensive criminal history of 67 arrests. Due to the bail reform, all these individuals are released right back on the street. We cannot conceal the problem by placing the homeless into hotels or homeless shelters where there is no supervision. Evidently there is not enough done to stop crimes in NYC. What is going on in our society?” Colton questions.

“More than 6,600 hate incidents have been reported after the pandemic began in the USA. There is more than a 164% increase in anti-Asian hate crime in the first quarter of 2021 in 16 major cities. New York City and our entire country is facing a major problem with hate crimes. There are too many incidents of hate crimes and it’s a great concern. Hate crimes must be stopped and that is why I have introduced legislation to include hate crimes in those authorizing judges to set bail in such cases. The right message must be sent regarding all hate crimes. The bail laws must be changed to not to release those committing such crimes. There’s no room in our city for hate crimes against Asians or any other ethnicity,” Colton continued.

"Hate crimes attack not only the victim but also the very fabric that holds our society together. It is unacceptable that a person caught in the act and who faces over forty hate crime charges be released without bail. An attack on a synagogue or a mosque or a church is hate in its most hateful form. It sends a bad message for the law to classify it as not eligible for a person to be held on bail. I am determined to introduce legislation to change that," Colton added.