A 70-year-old woman was severely beaten by a 23-year-old racist bus passenger who thought she was an Asian-American, her heartbroken son said.
Becky suffered a broken nose, swollen eyes, concussion, and had her hair pulled out while she was on her way to a grocery store in Los Angeles’ Eagle Rock neighborhood.
Yasmine Beasley got arrested within the day on suspicion of the brutal attack, according to KTLA 5.
The 23-year-old allegedly dragged the elderly woman from the back to the front of the bus as horrified passengers watched but did not try to stop her.
Becky’s son, Pete, told The Eastsider: “Nobody would help. Not even the bus driver.”
Pete identified the attacker as black and said that the attack ended when his mother called 911.
Beasley was charged with battery as authorities continue to investigate the incident.
Pete said that his family are often mistaken for being Asian-American. The mistaken-identity attack against the 70-year-old woman is just one of the rising hate crimes against Asian-American people, reports say.
Becky was rushed to a hospital where it was revealed that the attack worsened her pre-existing condition of lupus arthritis and other conditions, according to the Eastsider.
Increased awareness of such hate crimes in the US has resulted in the ‘Stop Asian Hate’ rallies across the country.
One person commented: “Don’t understand these cowardly attacks on Asian people in particular the elderly. Can some one explain what is happening.”
Another wrote: “The bus driver needs to be sacked! And the passengers should hang their heads in shame!”
A third added: “It is frightening that the bystanders who filmed the attack feel powerless to intervene due to ray-shully based implications that may befall them simply for doing the right thing and stepping up to aid the victim.”
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Replaced!