A 52-year-old Crown Heights man has been charged with assault as a hate crime for allegedly attacking a 67-year-old Asian woman in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said Thursday.
On Jan. 19, Mercel Jackson allegedly launched the unprovoked attack on the senior citizen at Classon Ave. and Greene St., Gonzalez said.
The woman was walking to the store when she heard yelling and saw the Jackson walking towards her, according to the DA’s office. Jackson then allegedly approached the woman and punched her three times in the face, causing bruising and swelling.
Police responded and arrested Jackson after canvassing the area. He allegedly told police that Chinese people are not supposed to be in this country and that Chinese people are “a funny looking character” and “they look like the measles.”
Jackson was arraigned Thursday on an indictment charged with second-degree assault, second-degree attempted assault, third-degree assault as a hate crime, third-degree assault, third-degree attempted assault as a hate crime, third-degree attempted assault, third-degree menacing as a hate crime, third-degree menacing, second-degree aggravated harassment and second-degree harassment.
Gonzalez said the “cowardly attack against a vulnerable member of our community will not be tolerated in Brooklyn.”
“We will continue to work with our partners in communities across the borough to take a strong stand against hate crimes and pledge to bring to justice those who attack individuals based on their race, ethnicity, religion, gender or sexual orientation.” Jackson is being held on $2,000 bail and was ordered to return to court on April 5, 2022.
