Against Hate: A Hongbao from NY Governor Hochul in the Year of the Dragon
/The pledge was announced on February 12 during a Lunar New Year parade in Queens borough in New York City, the initiative inviting comparison to the red Hongbao envelopes given during Lunar New Year as a gesture of generosity.
Filipino American community leaders welcomed the pledge, calling it “a beacon of hope and a call to action.”
Said Brendan Flores, board chair of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA): “Governor Kathy Hochul's recent announcement is a commendable and significant step toward addressing the surge of hate crimes against the AAPI community.
Brendan Flores: “A powerful message of solidarity” (Photo Courtesy of Brendan Flores)
He said her pledge of $30 million “marks a substantial financial commitment and also sends a powerful message of solidarity and recognition of the challenges faced by the AAPI community, including the Filipino community and broader Asian American groups.”
Attorney Lara Gregory, who founded Filipino Americans for Racial Action (FARA), said, “The $30 million pledge, when fulfilled, will definitely be beneficial in combating hate and in affirming diversity as a cherished American value.”
Lara Gregory: “The pledge will definitely be beneficial” (Photo by Cesar Loverita)
“It does require an innovative approach in reaching out to specific smaller and distinct AAPI communities to receive funding for programs that increase awareness, foster acceptance and combat hate,” said Gregory. “Unless we actively open up silos, we will limit the real change that can happen with the kind of resources that can be available."
Flores and Gregory spoke exclusively to Positively Filipino.
Gregory recalled the 2021 story of Vilma Kari, the Filipino woman who was on her way to church when she was assaulted, while her attacker continued to kick her yelling, "You don't belong here!" The attacker, Brandon Elliot, has pleaded guilty to first-degree assault as a hate crime and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and was recently sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Survivor Vilma Kari addresses supporters after confronting his attacker in court on February 22. Daughter Elizabeth is to her left. (Photo by Cindy Trinh)
This is a case, she said, “where one can say that justice is done but there are many incidents that were not prosecuted as a hate crime or were not even reported at all.” The $30 million pledge would help other survivors with legal representation, medical bills, and other forms of support, said Gregory and other leaders. Gregory was part of the NaFFAA Hate Crimes Task Force at the height of the pandemic.
In her remarks, Hochul said, “It's the Year of the Dragon–tenacity and courage, all the traits that we embrace here in the State of New York. And also, continuing our pledge to protect the AAPI community from hate crimes, protecting our streets, protecting our shop owners, and making sure they know that our number one job here in the State of New York is their safety.”
She said the $30 million “we're allocating this year” will make sure the state continues to “protect the AAPI community from hate crimes, protecting our streets, protecting our shop owners, and making sure they know that our number one job here in the State of New York is their safety.”
After joining the march, Hochul said there was no better place to celebrate Lunar New Year than Flushing, Queens, “one of the most diverse places on our planet.
In September 2023, she signed legislation to declare Lunar New Year a public school holiday across the state. This is in recognition, she said, of “the importance of New York’s AAPI community and the rich diversity that makes New York so great.”
This is the first year the state is observing the Lunar New Year holiday. “I signed that into law back in September. It is now statewide, and everyone is so enthusiastic that families do not have to be separated on this very special holiday,” she said.
“She said the $30 million 'we're allocating this year' will make sure the state continues to 'protect the AAPI community from hate crimes, protecting our streets, protecting our shop owners.'”
Flores of NaFFAA said he would like to see other states follow Hochul’s initiative. He emphasized the fight against hate crimes “requires not just financial support, but also the enforcement of laws” to protect communities effectively.
“This initiative is a beacon of hope and a call to action for other states to follow,” he said.
“Governor Hochul's efforts are a testament to her dedication to creating a safer and more inclusive environment for all,” he said. “It's heartening to see such leadership in these challenging times, and it gives us hope for a future where everyone is respected and protected.”
Cristina DC Pastor is the founding editor of The FilAm newspaper published out of New York City. She co-founded Makilala TV, the first and longest running (10 years) FilAm television talk show in the New York area.
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