SF man charged with hate crime for attacking three Chinese-American nonprofit workers

A racist provocation in Russian Hill was captured on video showing three Chinese-American nonprofit workers being harassed by a passerby. The passer-by is now charged with assault and a hate crime.

A March 28 confrontation in Russian Hill did not make local news at the time. But now, as SF prosecutor Brooke Jenkins files charges, the SF Standard points us to a video released four days later by Chinese-language news outlet Sky Link TV Cantonese News. As seen below, a man can be heard shouting, “Do you want to see me bulge you?” Do you want to see me grab your ass?” He then grabbed one of the three men's backpacks and yelled, “I will get ready!” and make fun of Chinese speech patterns.

We can tell it's Van Ness Avenue and Vallejo streets because Wasabi & Ginger restaurant can be seen in the background. The three Chinese-American men approached were reportedly working for the elderly self-help nonprofit, and the Standard reports that one of the men said the suspect yelled at them, “Chinese people are useless,” “Chinese people are soft,” and ” Go back to your country.”

We now know that the man who approached her is allegedly Anell Medrano from SF, as KPIX reports that SF District Attorney Jenkins has filed hate crime charges against Medrano. He is also charged with assault with a deadly weapon.

The release from Jenkins' office says bail for Medrano has been set at $50,000, although he remains in custody, and the release from Jenkins says they will seek further detention.

If you have any information about this incident, you are asked to call the SFPD tip line at (415) 575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411 and begin the message with “SFPD.” Tipsters can remain anonymous.

Related: Seemingly racist muni egg attack sparks SFPD and SFMTA investigation [SFist]

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