Sisters in the US speak out against hate incidents

“I feel upset and angry at the violence against Chinese people in New York and other places around the country,” said Felician Sr. Dong Hong Marie Zhang, the liaison to the Chinese community for the Archdiocese of Newark, New Jersey.

“I am not afraid for my life,” she added, “but the Chinese people to whom I minister told me that they are afraid, especially in public areas.”

She had not personally experienced an attack, but some people in the community have told her they “were spat on.”

The sister said that during prayer and online meetings in April and May, she brought up hate crime experiences and discussed proactive defenses. One example: Many told her that they lean against a wall of a bus or subway car facing people who might attack them by surprise.