RIDGEWOOD — A rally against anti-Asian racism attracted hundreds of supporters on Saturday but turned tense when a protester challenged the right of the village's white mayor to speak.
The Ridgewood Chinese American Association organized the gathering at Van Neste Square Memorial Park after a series of violent attacks against Asian Americans across the U.S. in recent months. The group wanted "to show the world that hate has no place in our community," according to its Facebook page.
"The first Asian Americans came 250 years ago, and 250 years later, many of us have succeeded; however, we still suffer from racism, aggression, xenophobia and hate every single day," co-organizer Julia Ding told the crowd. "There is no more time to wait, not even weeks to waste. Minding our own business is simply no longer acceptable."