On November 20th, the Greater Princeton Branch of AYLUS (GPA) led the “AYLUS Brave for Righteousness Scholarship” national fundraising drive to recognize a 18-year-old senior high school student at Philadelphia Central High School, Pennsylvania, Christina Lu, a young hero who stood up during an attack to protect other students.
Over 30 branches joined this initiative and raised $8790.51 within a week. GPA led the fundraising drive and contributed $2466.22, with over a hundred members participated.
On November 27th, the Board of Directors of American Youth Leadership Foundation in the United States (AYLF) and AYLUS have decided to award a scholarship check of $10,000 to Christina Lu.
On December 5th, the AYLUS National Honorary President Cassie Tammy Wang, together with a few AYLUS members, will have the Certificate of Scholarship and award check delivered to Christina Lu in person at the Philadelphia Central High School.
According to the Philadelphia News:
The District Attorney’s Office on Thursday charged four teen attackers with multiple crimes for what SEPTA Police claim was a racially motivated attack on the Broad Street Line, which was captured on video Wednesday.
SEPTA Police Chief Thomas Nestel III said Thursday authorities were able to identify the four suspects through the transit system’s network of 28,000 cameras, a slew of public tips, and a parent who reported their own child as someone involved in the incident.
Hours after the attack, the District Attorney’s Office charged each of the four teenagers, whose ages range from 13 to 16, with aggravated assault, ethnic intimidation, criminal conspiracy, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and disorderly conduct, an office spokesperson said. One of the alleged attackers was also charged with robbery for trying to steal one of the victim’s Airpods.
Nestel previously said there was no sign that the victims provoked the attackers in any way. SEPTA police have been in touch with the suspects’ families, he said.
According to the transit agency, the attack took place around 3:30 p.m. near the Erie Station on the Broad Street Line while the train was in transit.
In a video, which was later posted on social media, a group of Black girls is seen yelling at a teenager, whom the Philadelphia School District said was a Central High School student.
Nestel said the suspects were yelling at a total of three teenagers, all Asian students from Central, when a fourth teen stepped in to defend her peers.
The attackers turned their attention to the fourth teen, banging her head against the subway doors and continuing to hit her as she lay on the train floor. Nestel said she sought SEPTA police help at around 3:45.
“She was a hero, she stepped up and told the girls to stop,” said Nestel of the fourth Central teen who intervened. She suffered no serious injuries. “Then she became a target.”
According to the School District, Central High School principal Tim McKenna met with parents and community members to address concerns Thursday morning. Representatives from the Office of Student Support have also been made available to students feeling anxious because of the incident.
Philadelphia school officials say School District police are working with the Philadelphia Police, SEPTA’s transit police, and the Philadelphia Human Relations Commission, which helps investigate incidents of racial conflict.
GPA contributors to the “Brave for Righteousness Scholarship” (11/20, 2 hrs): Cassie Tammy Wang, Sarah Yan, Erick Yan, Leena Chang, Bowen Hou, Timothy Bai, Samuel Bai, Ethan Xu, Haoyu Wu, Ruofei Mao, Allen Ma, Steven Li, Cici Yang, Vivien Yang, Fangyi Chen, Kevin Zhao (add on 11/29, 1 hr), Kevin Chen, Fengqi Wen, Catherine Feng, Alissa Wu, Zhihan Zhang, Allan You, Elizabeth Ma, Melanie Chen, Winnie Chen, Dawson Lin, Shu Hon Tang, George Chen, Lina Yang, Lan Cheng, Amber Yu, Xin Chen, Grace Li, Vanessa Zhang, Terence Jiang, Claire Jiang, Jennifer Dong, Annie Miao, Donna Nagorny, Ryan Tian, Tiffany Tian, Tessa Thai, Audrey Wang, Cosner Yang, Gina Shen, Annabelle Huang, Xinyi Christine Zhang, Anthony F. Yang, Joyce Li, Edward Li, Kevin Liu, Nicole Liu, Fiona Fan, Ricky Fan, Xujing Jessie Han, Xinyan Song, Amy Chua, Max Chua, Karen Yang, Kathy Yang, Andrew Yao, Xinze Jack Guan, Amy Xu, Mingze Emma Feng, Chloe Tan, Xiangcheng Ying, Maggie Yan, Grace Liu, Kevin Song, Victor Song, Claire Cheng, Kathie Wang, Yan Fischer, Perryn Chang, Helen Chang, James Wang, Joyce Lin, William Xuan, Sarah Xuan, Daniel Shi, Larry Hu, Sophia Song, Pearl Song, Sophie Huang, Brendan Chen, Seth Liang, Isobel Liang, Xiying Fan, Ada Xiao, Coco Xiao, Evelyn Xiao, Amy Lin, Helen Tung, Sarah Liu, Shannon Liu, and more.
AYLUS Participating Branches with Donation Details:
| AYLFUS |
Total Amount of Donations Rec’d (US$)
|
8790.51 |
| No. | AYLUS Branch Name | Donations |
| 1 | Greater Princeton | 2466.22 |
| 2 | Manhasset | 998.51 |
| 3 | Houston | 600.00 |
| 4 | Columbus | 575.00 |
| 5 | Palos Verdes Peninsula | 500.00 |
| 6 | Phoenix | 470.00 |
| 7 | Pearland | 389.11 |
| 8 | Syosset | 333.91 |
| 9 | San Diego | 225.00 |
| 10 | Greater Triangle | 206.73 |
| 11 | San Francisco South Bay | 200.00 |
| 12 | Ivy Track-Wang Xiaowu & Hu Lin | 200.00 |
| 13 | Lake Washington | 150.00 |
| 14 | Greater Memphis | 150.00 |
| 15 | Scottsdale | 105.00 |
| 16 | Birmingham | 100.00 |
| 17 | Saratoga | 100.00 |
| 18 | Rancho Santa Margarita | 100.00 |
| 19 | Puget Sound | 100.00 |
| 20 | Basking Ridge | 100.00 |
| 21 | Greater Cleveland | 100.00 |
| 22 | Sugar Land | 100.00 |
| 23 | Riverside County | 97.52 |
| 24 | Williamsville | 70.00 |
| 25 | San Fernando Valley | 55.00 |
| 26 | Raleigh | 50.00 |
| 27 | Towson | 50.00 |
| 28 | Missouri City | 50.00 |
| 29 | Austin | 50.00 |
| 30 | Bellaire | 50.00 |
| 31 | Albany | 48.51 |
