The first time it happened was March 7, shortly after New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced a state of emergency. Eddie Song and his wife were shopping at a Costco in New York City when a man told him that Asians caused COVID-19 and that Song didn’t deserve a shopping cart.
“If you don’t give it to me, I will punch you in the face,” the man said. Song refused loudly, and the man backed off.
About a week later, Song was riding in a Manhattan office elevator when another stranger told him that people didn’t want “your kind” in there.