New York police - and other departments throughout the U.S. - have been struggling with an increasing number of anti-Asian hate crimes and U.S. President Joe Biden has announced new actions in response.
Biden announced additional action to address the widespread attacks on Asian Americans throughout the country. Besides requiring new training for New York police, Biden also increased access to hate crime data for improved searches.
On Twitter, Biden said: "We can't be silent in the face of rising violence against Asian Americans. These attacks are wrong, un-American and must stop."
A recent attack on a 65-year-old woman from the Philippines triggered action from the U.S. Justice Department. The agency will review potential measures in handling violence against people of Asian descent within the next month.
This week's attack on the Asian American woman, which was caught on surveillance camera, has sparked a wave of calls from politicians and others.
Representative of New Jersey's third district, Andy Kim, said the "shameful video" had been on his mind. He encouraged Americans to talk about "bystanders to hate."
Founder of the Democratic Coalition, Scott Dworkin, retweeted the New York police hate crimes unit's call for information about the unidentified suspect and said the criminal must be caught.
Politician Andrew Yang believed the victim might have received a lot of help if "the men watching stepped in." Several men were seen on surveillance failing to help the woman as she was being kicked in the head by her attacker.
The video also shows a guard closing his door and failing to help or call for police.
International K-Pop group BTS took to Twitter and said it was feeling "grief and anger" over the recent attacks. The group said Asians "have the right to be respected."
Epidemiologist and health economist Eric Feigl-Ding, said he was "DISGUSTED beyond words" after seeing the video. The woman was on her way to church when the attacker approached her.
New York police commissioner Dermot Shea said the latest assault was "very disturbing." Shea said he was shocked to see the woman left on the street after the attack.
A photo of the perpetrator has been released.
The attack took place in Midtown Manhattan. Authorities say the suspect told the victim, "You don't belong here" and repeatedly struck the woman.
The victim suffered a contusion to the head and a fractured pelvis.
