“You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to desist from it.” (Pirkei Avot 2:21)
It is important to educate ourselves and our community about the issues surrounding anti-Asian hatred, to stand up to racism wherever we see it, and to work to build the safe, inclusive communities we all deserve.
In the past year, the STOP AAPI (Asian American/Pacific Islander) HATE reported over 3,795 incidents of coronavirus-related verbal harassment, shunning, and physical assault on Asian Americans across the U.S.– including the horrific murders of six Asian women in a mass shooting in Atlanta.
Racism was reinforced against Asian immigrants as early as 1854, in incidents such as People v. Hall, where it was ruled that people of Asian descent could not testify against a white person in court. And again in 1882, when Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act, which banned Chinese immigration to American for 20 years. It was extended until its repeal in 1943. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, tens of thousands of Japanese immigrants and Japanese Americans were forced into internment camps by the U.S. government. Conditions in the camps were extreme, and they were only allowed to leave once the war ended.
Acts against Chinese Americans occurred throughout history. In 1871, 17 Chinese men and boys were hanged. During the Rock Springs massacre of 1885, 28 people were killed and 80 homes burned.
The time for change is NOW. If you are tired of the hatred, there are things you can do.
Members of the House of Representatives have introduced H. Res. 151, led by Representative Grace Meng and H. Res. 153, led by Representative Michelle Steel, condemning all forms of anti-Asian sentiment related to COVID-19. ADL urges Congress to speak out against bias and hate and support Asian and Asian-American communities by adopting these measures. Visit here to send an email to your elected officials.
Check-in with your Asian American peers:
Ask the Asian Americans in your life what you can do to support them. That could be something as simple as offering to help them go to the grocery store or to run an errand.
In response to the massacre in Atlanta:
Asian American Advancing Justice – Atlanta is currently calling for local and state governments to provide “crisis intervention resources, including in-language support for mental health, legal, employment, and immigration services.” The organization also has callouts for anyone to:
- Sign their collective community statement
- Donate to the Atlanta victims and their families
- Share resources you can offer to the victims, their families, and other community members like language translation, mental health services, legal services, childcare, or food assistance.
Groups like the Asian American Resource Center in Georgia also have volunteer opportunities. That organization is also fundraising to help the victims’ families with funeral and arrangement costs.
Educate yourself:
- Do’s and don’ts for bystander intervention (AFSC)
- How to respond to coronavirus racism (Teaching Tolerance)
- Know your rights during COVID-19 (Vision Change Win)
- ADL Anti Asian Hate (ADL)
- Self-care tips for Asians dealing with COVID-19 racism (Huffington Post)
- Anti-stigma social media toolkit for public health (Seattle and King County)
- Racial Justice & Social Equity Resource List (Racial Equity Tools)
Report Instances of anti-Asian harassment:
- Stand Against Hatred website (Asian Americans Advancing Justice)
- Stop AAPI Hate reporting website (Asia Pacific Policy Planning Council)
Photo credit: Jason Leung on Unsplash