Yi (Andy) Chen and Ebony Young at “Soccer Against AAPI Hate” event at Queensbridge Park Saturday.
Young is pictured on the far right, standing next to Chen (Photo: Courtesy of Young)
May 25, 2021 By Ryan Songalia
Two city council candidates joined forces in Long Island City Saturday to talk about hate crimes and discuss how they can be stamped out.
Ebony Young and Yi (Andy) Chen, who are running for city council seats in districts 26 and 25 respectively, came together for an event dubbed “Soccer Against AAPI Hate” at Queensbridge Park.
The event, which also featured a pickup game of soccer, was a follow-up to a community conversation about racial justice held by the two candidates earlier this month in Woodside.
Chen, an immigrant from China, said the main aim of the event was to promote unity.
“We both know how important it is to take action,” said Chen, who is seeking to replace the term-limited Daniel Dromm. “Let’s stand in solidarity with our communities to combat all hate … because attacking one is attacking all.”
The message is one that Young is also promoting.
“As a woman of color, I understand the pain the AAPI community is going through. We must stand together to help educate and unite against hate,” said Young, who is running for the seat being vacated by the term-limited Jimmy Van Bramer.
The event was free but donations were being accepted to support Stop AAPI Hate, Asian American Federation and Asian Americans Advancing Justice.
YMCA and college soccer coaches led youth skill drills, before an adult pickup game took place. About 135 people attended, Chen said, with youth players largely consisting of kids from the Long Island City YMCA and western Queens.
Ebony Young, pictured, with children at the “Soccer Against AAPI Hate” event at Queensbridge Park on Saturday
