![NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 10: New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio speaks to the media at the opening of the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination site at Citi Field on February 10, 2021 in the Queens borough of New York City. The inoculation site will focus on providing vaccinations to Queens residents, food service workers, and taxi drivers. (Photo by David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)](https://freeamericanetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/n-y-rally-calls-for-end-to-asian-american-hate-violence.jpg)
New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio speaks to the media at the opening of the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination site at Citi Field on February 10, 2021 in the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)
OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 2:15 PM PT – Sunday, February 28, 2021
Hundreds gathered in New York City in protest of the recent spike in violence against Asian Americans. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio spoke at the rally on Saturday and called for an end to anti-Asian sentiments.
![Tracy Wong wearing a face mask and holding a sign takes part in a rally to raise awareness of anti-Asian violence, near Chinatown in Los Angeles, California, on February 20, 2021. - The rally was organized in response to last month's fatal assault of Vicha Ratanapakdee, an 84-year-old immigrant from Thailand, in San Francisco. (Photo by RINGO CHIU / AFP) (Photo by RINGO CHIU/AFP via Getty Images)](https://freeamericanetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/n-y-rally-calls-for-end-to-asian-american-hate-violence-1.jpg)
Tracy Wong wearing a face mask and holding a sign takes part in a rally to raise awareness of anti-Asian violence, near Chinatown in Los Angeles, California, on February 20, 2021. (Photo by RINGO CHIU/AFP via Getty Images)
Asian Americans in the Big Apple and across the nation have been victims of random attacks in recent weeks.
I joined @AAFederation’s #RiseUpRally to send a clear message: hatred has no home in our city. We stand with our Asian communities and against racism. Go to https://t.co/5gK3lipJUp for more.#StopAsianHate pic.twitter.com/kjPT4neFNV
— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) February 27, 2021
“We will not accept hatred in New York City,” de Blasio said. “Stop Asian hate. This is the message we have to get out not just in New York City but all over this country. Stop Asian hate, stop it now.”
“There’s no place for hate in New York City. Hate against one of us is hate against all of us.” @NYCMayor #RiseUpRally #StopAsianHate pic.twitter.com/WJmlKi8nuw
— Asian American Federation (@AAFederation) February 27, 2021
Authorities said the pandemic is driving the increase in violence as the coronavirus is believed to have originated in China.