In September 1987, Dr. Kaushal Saran, a 30-year-old physician, was brutally attacked near this intersection during a wave of anti-Asian violence in Jersey City. He was left in a coma for weeks and became one of the most prominent victims of a hate group known as the "Dot Busters."

During the late 1980s, the South Asian community in Jersey City faced targeted harassment and violence. The perpetrators, who took their name from the bindi worn by Hindu women, aimed to intimidate and drive out Indian immigrants through physical assaults and acts of vandalism. Dr. Saran's attack occurred just days before the fatal beating of Navroze Mody, which galvanized a local and national civil rights movement.

The violence at Central Avenue and Ferry Street sparked a historic mobilization. Jersey City’s South Asian residents, joined by a diverse group of allies, organized marches and demanded increased police protection as well as the passage of hate crime legislation. These efforts compelled the city and the nation to confront systemic xenophobia and led to strengthened protections for immigrant communities. 

In 2026, our fragile sense of belonging is reflected in current events. Recent data indicate a significant increase in anxiety among both naturalized citizens and lawfully present immigrants.

The individuals responsible for the assaults were acquitted of their crimes in 1993. As Saran stated, "This is frustrating. Kozak admitted to kicking me and left me there to die. In his own words, Kozak said, 'Asian Indians are not Americans.' What more does the jury need?"

The "Dot Busters" were fueled by the industrial decline of the 1980s. Today, global economic shifts continue to create a "nativist" backlash, where newcomers are blamed for the struggles.

We live with the understanding that the ground beneath your feet can shift at any moment. 

• https://www.nytimes.com/1993/05/29/nyregion/man-acquitted-in-1987-beating-of-indian-doctor.html?unlocked_article_code=1.J1A.4JZc.nrIw2DxfKsYC&smid=url-share 

• https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/social-sciences-and-humanities/dot-busting 

• https://www.instagram.com/p/DOXnx6ZgJIG/?img_index=11