Woman knocked out at rally against China’s Covid crackdown mistaken for counterprotester by attacker

The man who cold-clocked a woman protesting China’s draconian COVID-19 restrictions appeared to mistake his victim for a counterprotester when he knocked her unconscious, the Daily News has learned.

The assailant, who is believed to be in 30s, was listening to the protesters outside Columbia University’s Low Memorial Law Library on W. 116th St. Monday evening when a counterprotester asked to speak to the crowd using the megaphone.

The organizers of the protest agreed. After taking the megaphone, the counterprotester took the demonstrators to task over their choice to speak out.

“Many of you shouted, ‘Freedom or death.’ Are you really willing to die?” she said.

The assailant became angry at the counterprotester, who he may have intended to attack, but mistakenly ran toward his 21-year-old victim instead and punched her, witnesses told the Daily News.

Urumqi is the capital city in China’s Xinjiang region, where protests against the country’s COVID-19 policies first occurred. Capital residents cried out against the COVID-19 restrictions after the city’s lockdown policies impeded rescue efforts at an apartment complex fire that left 10 dead.

The man repeatedly struck the woman in the head during the blitzkrieg 7:50 p.m. attack before running off, cops said. The assailant was still being sought by police on Saturday.

“The man popped out of nowhere from the crowd,” said a protest co-organizer. The organizer declined to be named, fearing retaliation. “He hit her three or four times.”

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A video of the attack shown to the Daily News shows the protesters standing together in a line, holding up signs before the man stepped forward and attacked.

Before the attack, the man had been present for much of the protest and claimed to be a Columbia alum. He also made statements supporting the protesters before he suddenly became violent, the organizer said.

He may have meant to attack a counter-protester, but mistook his victim for the heckler, the organizer speculated.

“We don’t want these incidents to happen again,” the organizer said. “It further encouraged people to stand up against similar violence. They united against animosity.”

University medics responded to the attack and took the woman to St. Luke’s Hospital, where she was treated and released.

The protest was run by university undergraduates, was not sponsored by Columbia, a university spokeswoman said.

Anyone with information about the assailant is urged to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS.