It was billed as a protest, but it might be more accurate to call it a plea for help.
More than 100 Chinese American families and small businesses in Philadelphia have been victims of armed robberies in 2016, according to rally organizer Steven Zhu, president of the Greater Philadelphia Fujian Association and general secretary of the Greater Philadelphia Chinese Restaurant Association.
In July and August of this year, 12 families were victims of home invasions.
So on Saturday, an estimated crowd of 700 protested in Thomas Paine Plaza across from City Hall demanding more police protection, reported Philly.com.
They also protested rapper YG who performed in Philadelphia Saturday night. His song Meet The Flockers details how burglars can scope out homes of Chinese.
Rev. Robert Shine of Berachah Baptist Church and who is African American joined the protestors.
“All of us together, in the city of Philadelphia, must stand arm-in-arm, hand-in-hand to oppose any act of violence,” he said. “Reprehensible” is how he described the lyrics of hardcore rappers “that advocated violence.”
Shine linked arms with Han Pan of the National Council of Chinese Americans as Pan spoke.
“Crime targeting one particular race is not right,” he said.
A similar protest was also held in Houston.
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