People from various races rally on February 27, 2021 at Foley Square in New York City's Lower Manhattan in protest against violence and crimes targeting Asian Americans. Photo: CFP

Hundreds of people from various races rallied Saturday at Foley Square in New York City's Lower Manhattan in protest against violence and crimes targeting Asian Americans.

Protesters held signs saying, "Rise up against Asian hate. We deserve to be safe."

The rally was joined by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Democratic Congresswoman Grace Meng, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio as well as victims of violence against Asian Americans.

Schumer said, "Bigotry against any of us is bigotry against all of us ... We must redouble our fight. We must stand strong."

"New York, we love diversity. We know the more of us who are together from every different background in race, creed, color, orientation and gender, the stronger we are. We love immigrants," added Schumer.

De Blasio urged people to get out the message of stopping Asian hate not just in New York City, but all over the United States.

"Anyone who commits an act of hatred against the Asian-American community will be found, will be arrested, will be prosecuted," said de Blasio.

De Blasio asked every community to stand with the Asian community right now because "if Asian-Americans are being attacked, every single one of us is vulnerable."

Meng encouraged people to be visible and speak up as people are literally scared to leave their homes.

New York Attorney General Letitia James also encouraged victims to come to her office so as to "go after these individuals who hate us and shut them down."

"We need to make sure that we are not fighting racism with more racism, that we are fighting racism with solidarity, that we are not ever, ever pitting one group against the other. It is everyone against racism, too," said Meng.

New York City documented as many as 259 anti-Asian incidents in 2020 mostly involving verbal harassment, according to a report by the Asian American Bar Association of New York.