A man was charged with hate crimes after allegedly harassing a 65-year-old Asian woman with racial slurs in Midtown, in the latest crime of prejudice against the vulnerable community.
East Harlem resident Bobby Eli, 48, allegedly approached the victim on West 40th Street, near the Port Authority, on Friday afternoon, and started mocking the woman for her blue hairstyle, sources said.
When the victim turned to face the executioner, Eli’s attacks became racial, according to sources.
“You stupid Chinese blue hair. You stupid Chinese b – h, “said the man, according to sources.
“Why do you have blue hair, ph?” the man asked, as he continued to scold her, the sources said.
The bearded and bald suspect also waved an unidentified object to the victim as she pushed a cart full of “unknown objects”, police said.
Eli was arrested after the woman took a picture of him with his phone, according to authorities.
He is accused of aggravated second-degree harassment as a hate crime and threatening third-degree harassment as a hate crime, police said.
The NYPD has seen a 1,300% increase in hate crimes against Asian Americans since the coronavirus pandemic began.