Asian American mother spit on, called 'Chinese virus' while holding baby
An Asian American mother allegedly was spit at while holding her baby and called "Chinese virus" in Queens, New York City, on Tuesday morning.
The woman, 25, told police the incident took place between 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. in or near Kissena Corridor Park in Fresh Meadows, ABC New York station WABC reported.
She said a man spit in her direction and called her the offensive term, police sources told ABC News.
The New York Police Department's Hate Crimes Task Force is investigating.
The incident is the latest in a string of attacks on Asian Americans during the coronavirus pandemic because of the virus' suspected origins in Wuhan, China.
There were nearly 3,000 hate incidents towards Asian Americans in 2020, according to data from the Stop AAPI Hate coalition.
The suspect was described as a man in his 30s, about 5 feet, 5 inches tall, weighting around 200 pounds, according to WABC.
Rep. Grace Meng, who represents Queens, denounced the attack, tweeting, "Coward that he was, he ran off."
Police said as of Thursday afternoon there have been no arrests in the case.
