Asian grandmother who fought attacker to donate nearly $1 million raised for her
An Asian grandmother who has received nearly $1 million on GoFundMe to cover her medical expenses after she fought back against an attacker in San Francisco now wants to donate all of the money to help combat racism.
Xiao Zhen Xie was reportedly attacked by Steven Jenkins, a 39-year old white man, as she was crossing the street.
The 76-year-old Xie then picked up a wood and smacked the assailant, who ended up on a stretcher. Xie could be seen on the video holding an ice pack to her bruised face as the attacker was being hauled away.
The suspect allegedly also attacked another Asian, 83-year-old Ngoc Pham, before punching Xie.
After the incident, which was caught on video and shared on Twitter, Xie’s grandson John Chen put up the GoFundMe page to help pay for her grandmother’s medical expenses.
Just came upon an attack on an elderly Asian woman on Market Street San Francisco. Effort I got more details pic.twitter.com/5o8r0eeHE2
— Dennis O'Donnell (@DennisKPIX) March 17, 2021
Xie sustained two black eyes, swollen wrist, and severe mental and emotional trauma.
In his update, Chen said that his grandmother’s “mental and physical health has improved.”
“Her eye is no longer swollen to the point of not being able to open it. She is now starting to feel optimistic again and is in better spirits. She said we must not submit to racism and we must fight to the death if necessary,” Chen wrote.
Xie has also maintained to donate all of her donation proceeds.
“She also stated multiple times to donate all the funds generated in this GoFundMe back to the Asian American community to combat racism. She insists on making this decision saying this issue is bigger than Her. This is my grandma, grandpa, and our family’s decision. We hope everyone can understand our decision,” said Chen.
The suspect is now facing charges of assault, battery, and elderly abuse
The incident forms just a part of a growing trend of Anti-Asian Violence in the United States.
Widespread protests have been going on in the US in response to the violence against Asians. Last week, six Asian women and two others were killed in Atlanta.