NYC mayor weighs in on alleged racist harassment of journalist
New York City mayor Bill de Blasio has weighed in after a journalist alleged he and his family were the victims of racist harassment on Sunday.
Michael Luo, a reporter for The New York Times, had tweeted earlier Sunday that a woman verbally accosted him in the Upper East Side neighborhood of Manhattan. “Well dressed woman on Upper East Side, annoyed by our stroller, yells: ‘Go back to China…go back to your f---ing country.’ #This is 2016”
Luo added that his child had been disturbed by the confrontation, and said that when he ran up to confront the woman, she threatened to call the police.
Now my 7 year old, distressed by what happened, keeps asking, "Why did she say, 'Go back to China?' We're not from China."
— Michael Luo (@michaelluo) October 9, 2016
Uh no. She pulled out her iPhone 6 Plus and threatened to call the cops. https://t.co/K4iPmyDKIZ
— Michael Luo (@michaelluo) October 9, 2016
De Blasio, a progressive Democrat, then responded on Twitter that “EVERYONE belongs in NYC” and that racist harassment it unacceptable.
@michaelluo - Shouldn't have to affirm it, but EVERYONE belongs in NYC. What doesn't belong here are comments like you heard today. pic.twitter.com/8DvdLgdwhv
— Bill de Blasio (@BilldeBlasio) October 9, 2016
Luo then thanked the mayor for his response.
Whoa. Thank you Mr. Mayor. https://t.co/gNP7x3lY3u
— Michael Luo (@michaelluo) October 9, 2016