Mask-Wearing Kids Accosted; Great Neck Chinese Group 'Concerned'

GREAT NECK, NY — A Great Neck nonprofit dedicated to serving the area's Chinese community is "extremely concerned" over what it called a rising number of incidents committed against the Asian community in the area after two children were accosted for, among other things, wearing masks.

In a letter dated Friday, the board of the Great Neck Chinese Association said it was informed that three middle-schoolers last week approached two children of Chinese-American families, mocked them for wearing masks, then grabbed them to prevent them from leaving. One of the children's bicycles was damaged in the Sept. 8 attack, the association said.

The nonprofit urged Great Neck schools to strengthen its teaching on diversity and tolerance, and urged elected officials to pass stronger laws to protect Chinese-Americans.

"We ask everyone to unite and to work with all racial and ethnic groups in Great Neck to fight for equality and justice," the association said.

Additionally, the group commended the community's commitment to social distancing and wearing masks, which health officials have said help curb the spread of the coronavirus, which causes the COVID-19 disease.

"It is of utmost importance for all of us to continue doing so to protect not only ourselves but our neighbors and fellow residents," the association's board said. "We encourage everyone to continue to be part of the positive influence that move our country and community forward."

New York state Sen. Anna Kaplan called the incident just the latest in a "string of hate-fueled attacks targeting members of the Asian-American community." She said the community must "speak out loudly and forcefully to say that this is not okay, and we will NEVER accept hate like this in Nassau County."

Kaplan said she is working with Nassau County police, community leaders and the Great Neck Chinese Association on a plan to deal with the situation "because we simply can't allow our neighbors to live in fear for another day."