The heartbreaking acts of violence in Atlanta on Tuesday, March 16, reflect a larger trend of discrimination and violence toward Asians and Asian Americans that has only increased since the pandemic began, fueled by anti-Asian rhetoric and a long history of anti-Asian racism in this country.
According to Stop AAPI Hate, a nonprofit organization tracking anti-Asian hate incidents nationwide, there were 2,808 reports of discrimination from March through December 2020. But these attacks are not new. They are a symptom of the misogyny, white supremacy, and systemic racism that have motivated violence against Asian American communities and other communities of color for decades.
Voice of Witness stands in solidarity against racist violence in all its forms. We stand with our Asian American staff, partners, community members, and students who are hurting. Below are resources for solidarity and healing in the wake of these horrific attacks. Please join us in taking action to support AAPI communities.
Take Action:
- Sign on to the collective community statement from Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC as they develop a community-centered response
- Anyone experiencing or witnessing violence or hate can report it here
- Donate to the victims of the violent acts and their families here
- Share the resources and services you can offer to the victims and their families, other impacted community members, and community organizations involved in crisis response
- Sign up for bystander intervention trainings to stop Asian American harassment and xenophobia
Learn:
- Learn about the long history of anti-Asian racism in the United States
- For educators, check out this important article from Learning for Justice with tools and resources for teaching about Asian American identity and history
- Learn about the model minority myth, the damage it causes, and the diversity of Asian American communities
- Tune into this event on March 23 focused on anti-Asian violence and Black-Asian solidarity
- Follow Stop AAPI Hate, a national coalition addressing anti-Asian hate amid the COVID-19 pandemic
Heal:
- Join a virtual vigil organized by the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum on March 19 at 7pm ET to mourn and honor the victims of the violence and center those who are directly impacted by these murders
- The Immigrants Rising mental health connector provides undocumented young people with free psychological support from therapists
- The Asian Mental Health Project aims to educate and empower Asian communities in seeking mental health care
