Hate crime charges in San Francisco have been filed against the suspect in an attack on three social workers from Self Help for the Elderly.
The non-profit began in San Francisco Chinatown in 1966 and has for decades provided social services to senior citizens in the city and its surrounding area.
Video posted by Sky Link, a Chinese language television station, shows a man screaming at the three and grabbing or striking one of them on the shoulder.
The District Attorney’s office announced Monday it had filed assault and hate crime enhancements against Anell Medrano, 35.
The victims accuse him of screaming “go back to your country” and “Chinese are useless,” reported the San Francisco Standard.
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One of the victims who identified himself only as Marcus said Medrano threw a bucket at him, injuring him in the face.
“All of a sudden, the person threw a stone at us,” said Kifer Lu to Sky Link, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. “When we turned around and looked over, we saw the suspect. Then he kept scolding us. He said ‘hate Chinese.’ That’s what we heard.”
“Mr. Medrano has denied these allegations, which we believe are based on a misunderstanding,” Deputy Public Defender Everett Hewlett said in a statement to the Standard. “This case has been overly charged, and the hate crime allegations are inappropriate.”
The DA’s office, however, says such conduct will not be tolerated in the city.
“Anti-Asian hate crimes are unacceptable. and these baseless attacks have absolutely no place on our streets in San Francisco,” said a statement by District Attorney Brooke Jenkins. “Hate crimes shake our communities and have reverberating effects felt in neighborhoods across the City. My office stays committed to prosecuting hate crimes against all races, religions and groups when we have the evidence necessary to prove a case beyond a reasonable doubt.”
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