A man walks the Brooklyn Bridge. (Photo by Victor J. Blue/Getty Images)
OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 1:10 PM PT – Wednesday, April 21, 2021
An elderly Filipina-American woman who was the victim of a brutal attack has spoken out about the alleged hate crime committed by a convicted murderer. 53-year old Vilma Kari is recovering from her injuries following the March 29 incident in New York City.
Kari was walking alone to church when 38-year-old Brandon Elliot kicked her to the ground and told her she “doesn’t belong here.” The unprovoked attack was caught on surveillance footage.
The American citizen hopes the attack will create public understanding about anti-Asian hate.
“I’m doing well, feeling well, getting better every day,” victim Vilma Kari said. “I am healing each day and only hope this incident will continue to bring great awareness to the racism and hate crimes against the Asian-American Pacific Islander community.”
The suspect was charged with two counts of second-degree assault as a hate crime and one count of first-degree attempted assault as a hate crime.
