Statement by Deputy Director James Fitzgerald on March 14, 2021:

NYC Veterans Alliance unequivocally condemns hate of all types. The increase in hate and violence against our Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community is unacceptable. This is a New York City problem, and we ask our NYC veteran community to be part of the solution. We ask that you stand with us as we eradicate hate wherever it resides. 

Today we're here at Pvt. Danny Chen Way located in the Chinatown neighborhood in lower Manhattan. Danny Chen grew up here and joined the United States Army to serve his country. While serving his country, Danny Chen was faced with racist, bigoted harassment from those that he served with, those that he trained with, and those that he ultimately deployed to Afghanistan with. While deployed to Afghanistan, these racist and bigoted attacks continued. On October 3, 2011, Pvt. Danny Chen died by suicide. NYC Veterans Alliance unequivocally condemns hate of all types. In memory of Pvt. Danny Chen, we call on our NYC veteran community to root out and eradicate hate throughout New York City. We stand with our Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community and ask that you stand with them as well. We support all of our communities and this is the first step we can take to eradicate hate of all types within NYC and across our country.