On January 19, 2024, a 67-year-old Asian American woman was assaulted in an unprovoked attack in the Clinton Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. The assailant, identified as 52-year-old Mercel Jackson, allegedly approached the woman on Classon Avenue near Greene Street, shouted racist remarks, and punched her in the face three times, causing bruising and swelling. After his arrest, Jackson reportedly told police that “Chinese people are not supposed to be in this country” and made other derogatory comments about Chinese individuals. He was arraigned on charges including assault and attempted assault as hate crimes, as well as menacing as a hate crime.
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez condemned the attack, stating, “This cowardly attack against a vulnerable member of our community will not be tolerated in Brooklyn.” The incident is part of a troubling pattern of hate crimes targeting Asian Americans in New York City.
