There has been an exponential rise in anti-Asian crimes and racism in the United States. According to the Stop AAPI Hate coalition, there have been over 3,795 anti-Asian incidents that have occurred between March 19, 2020, and February 28, 2021.
This timing is not a coincidence, as this uptick has occurred largely due to the global Pandemic. The Washington Post has even reported that Racist anti-Asian hashtag usage had spiked after Trump first tweeted the phrase, ‘Chinese Virus’. This egregious and vile rhetoric was spurred on by former President Donald Trump, who on many occasions made racist and insensitive jokes about the name of the Coronavirus, also calling it the ‘Kung flu”.
Not only is it morally abhorrent to unjustly link a certain race with a global pandemic, but it also has led to widespread violence against the Asian community within America.
This violence has recently come to an incredibly tragic head, where 6 Asian women were amongst 8 people murdered in shootings that occurred in three spas in Atlanta. The sheriff’s department has since put out a statement, stating that the crimes were motivated by a white male with a sex-addiction, who targeted spas as he unfairly equated spa parlors with prostitution.
The victims who tragically lost their lives in the Atlanta murders are as follows: Soon Chung Park, Hyun Jung Grant, Suncha Kim, Yong Ae Yue, Delaina Ashley Yaun, Paul Andre Michels, Xiaojie Tan, and Daoyou Feng. There was also another male who was shot and injured.
We must remember this for exactly what it is- a racist act of domestic terrorism. This tragedy is yet another example of many instances of violence as of late that has impacted the Asian-American community.
In light of this, it is also incredibly important to know how non-Asian people can help support the Asian community at this time. House Democrats have held a congressional hearing on anti-Asian discrimination, demonstrating the need to support our Asian neighbors, friends, and fellow citizens.
This can be done in a variety of different ways. In the age of Instagram activism and utilizing stories to provide information to others, it is important to fact-check the sources you share. Ensure that the information you provide is indeed accurate before spreading it. You can also provide monetary donations to a number of charities, which are linked and found here: Hate is A Virus and Asian Americans Advancing Justice. Furthermore, you can check-in on those around you in the impacted community, and provide help if they may need so.
We must stand in solidarity with our fellow Asian citizens and friends, and thoroughly show the world that anti-Asian racism has no place in the United States of America.