Photo Courtesy of Rep. Meng
GuiYing Ma’s son Yang Gao, his father Zhanxin Gao, a translator, and Rep. Meng.
By Forum Staff
Congresswoman Grace Meng (D-Flushing) on Sunday joined the son of GuiYing Ma in Flushing as he talked about his mother’s death and arriving in New York from China to attend her funeral.
Ma is the borough resident who died last month after she was attacked with a rock in November while sweeping the sidewalk next to her Corona home. Last Monday, Meng and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-Jackson Heights and Bronx) helped secure a visa for her son, Yang Gao, so that he could enter the U.S. for the funeral, and provide emotional and physical support to his father. Her son arrived in Queens over the weekend. The funeral is scheduled to be held in Flushing on Saturday, March 26.
Photo Courtesy of Google
GuiYing Ma died in Elmhurst Hospital in February.
Ma, 62, died on Feb. 22. She was struck in the head with a rock on Nov. 26 while she was sweeping and had been at Elmhurst Hospital since the assault took place. She died just weeks after waking up from a coma. The suspect has been arrested and indicted for the crime. The incident is being reinvestigated as a possible hate crime, NYPD officials said.
Ma’s son’s visa application was approved after Meng and Ocasio-Cortez intervened with the U.S. State Department following the family’s request for assistance. Meng joined Ma’s husband Zhanxin Gao and the family’s pro bono attorneys on March 1 to announce her death, and also called for continued efforts to combat the rise in anti-Asian hate and violence.
“I cannot imagine the pain and agony that GuiYing Ma’s loved ones are going through,” Meng said. “This was such a horrifying and senseless crime and my heart continues to ache for them. I’m pleased to have been helpful in obtaining her son’s visa so that he and his father can be together at this difficult time. The heinous attacks that we continue to see against those of Asian descent, several of which have resulted in deaths, are despicable, unconscionable and disgusting. They must end at once.”
