The Rise of Anti-Asian Sentiments and Racism
- frontpageinitiative
- Aug 14, 2021
- 2 min read
Warnings - Racism, violence, disturbing content
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an uproar of Asian hate all over the world. Much of this hatred has been fueled by political figures and people in power who frequently and unremorsefully use racist language when referring to the coronavirus pandemic. Experts have pointed out the history of xenophobia that has prompted a lot of misinformation and misguided precautions based on harmful racial stereotypes.
*Please note that the statistics provided are given from the Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) National Report meaning they are from North America.
In a report released by the AAPI on March 16, 2021, there has been a total of 3,975 incidents of hateful speech, bullying, humiliation, and race-backed crimes against the Asian community, and a totalling uptick of Anti-Asian racism and sentiments between March 19, 2020, and February 28, 2021. This includes verbal harassment making up 68.1%, hostility against Asians at 20.5%, physical assault, making up a horrific 11.1%, civil rights violations, and cyber harassment— both of which account for a whooping 15.3 percent of crimes.
The fatal shooting in Atlanta, Georgia, has put the focus on the anti-asian racism and acts of violence throughout North America. The perpetrator, a 21-year-old white supremacist, has been charged with eight counts of murder, after committing the heinous crimes on account of Asian fetishization and misogyny. The guilty party has claimed that his shooting was not racially motivated, but instead because of his “sex addiction.” The murder of four people occured d at two different spas in Atlanta— Gold Star and Aromatherapy Spa. Another 4 people were fatally shot about 30 miles away, at Young’s Asian Massage.
The crime itself was absolutely horrifying, and compiled with a deafening silence from both the media and public servants, people from all walks of life have come together to show solidarity with the Asian community, and have created means to stay educated and up-to-date on the rise in hate-crimes against Asians. Do not stay complicit to the media portrayal of the #StopAsianHate movement. It is not the time to stay silent. Stand up, stand tall, and make a change in your community. Below, you will find outlets to educate yourself and your community, and help come together to protect the Asian community.
Some good ways to help:
Be a friend and an ally! Speak up when you hear violence, harassment, and discrimination Defend your Asian friends and community members. Participate in petitions and social advocacies. We are a community. It is time to stand undivided against the common enemy of racism.
Donate if you can:
GoFundMe: Support the Cause Against Anti-Asian Violence
GoFundMe: #StopAsianHate: Support AAF
GoFundMe: Stop Asian Hate - Hate IS Hate - Asians Do Matter
Sources:
Published March 21, 2021
Written by Fiona Xu ~ Edited by Amanda Chapa
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