Velazquez Decries Video, Song Encouraging Robbing of Chinese Americans

Washington, DC – Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) today denounced a widely circulated video on YouTube titled, “Meet the Flockers”, which encourages the robbing of Chinese Americans. The lyrics of the song specifically suggest targeting Chinese American homes for burglary, while the video shows three individuals breaking into a house and stealing valuables.

“Glamorizing crime and theft is unacceptable, but suggesting specific ethnicities should be targeted is especially reprehensible and dangerous,” Velázquez said. “We need to speak with one voice in condemning speech like this and making clear it is wholly unacceptable.”

Velázquez’s comments come after the death of an Asian immigrant deliveryman in Virginia. Some community activists in New York City and elsewhere have linked his death to the YouTube video.

“While, it is my understanding that they are still determining the details of the Virginia case, it is clear this video suggests robbing Chinese homes,” Velázquez added. “That’s unacceptable and we must condemn it forcefully.”

Velázquez has been vocal on issues related to crimes against the Asian American community. She previously called on the New York Police Department to examine a growing trend of crimes against Asian Americans in New York City. She also asked the Department to establish a taskforce addressing “Blessings scams”, swindles that target Asian American women, particularly recent immigrants.

Velázquez’s Congressional District, New York’s 7th, includes Manhattan’s Chinatown and Brooklyn’s Chinatown in Sunset Park as well as Asian communities in parts of Queens.

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