Supporting the AAPI Community

Attacks on the Asian community are at an astounding high and growing at an exponential rate. It needs to be addressed, and it needs to be stopped.
 
Now, I know there are other communities that are targeted based on ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, and political beliefs, but to compare other acts of violence in other communities just to downplay this current situation in this specific community makes no progress. there’s a lot of things that need to be fixed, but That is why I wish to voice my support of the Asian community at this time, in hopes that maybe others will be inspired to do the same, because right now is the time that they need our attention and help.
 
Attacks against the Asian community in the US have gone up 1900 percent in the last year. That is unacceptable. Attacks by shoving and punching the elderly to the ground, slashing with knives to the face, and acid attacks. Imagine that for a minute…. Picture your own grandma, your grandpa, your uncle or aunt, you own father or mother… shoved to the ground, slashed in the face with a knife…. Just because of what they looked like. How would you feel if you found out a loved one had been killed while out walking in their own neighborhood, going to the grocery store, or riding the subway? That is the reality for the many family and friends of the victims of recent attacks.
 
These acts are sick, and although I may sound pessimistic, during these stressful times of ever growing tension and desperation, I don’t foresee things calming down anytime soon. That’s why it is so important to start looking out for one another right now. Go and be the person you would want to be there for your grandma, your grandpa, your aunt, uncle, mother or father… To keep them safe and unafraid to do their daily errands and activities.
 
There are many ways to change this tide of violence, but the first is to recognize and your own racist and stereotypical beliefs and make efforts to un-learn them. No one is more or less deserving of violence and aggression just because of their how they look or speak. Now don’t use this as an opportunity to point fingers of racial injustice elsewhere, because yes, that also needs to be addressed too. You can stop being racist to every community and ethnicity.
 
It is important to realize that anyone is capable of violence, so just because you don’t look or act like the people committing the crimes doesn’t mean you cannot step in to help stop it when it happens, including verbal confrontations.
 
Another option is to join community groups that support the Asian members of your community. Sites like www.stopaapihate.org have a number of ways to help, and make everything accessible in different languages:  like providing a platform to report incidents of targeted violence and crime, resources like safety tips, and how to deal with discrimination in businesses and restaurants, updates on news and U.S. politics, and of course accepting donations to continue to support the Asian American and Pacific Islander community and stop racism and xenophobia.
 
I also advise everyone to have a plan in case they are onsite and witness such an attack. Know your emergency service numbers, and practice finding and remembering the addresses of the places you visit. Know how to quickly open the camera on your phone and snap photos or video. Pictures are good but can blur from motion. Stills can be taken from video so it is often times better for identifying. Practice height estimations and remembering clothing and hair color in case you need to identify an attacker. If you carry any first aid like bandages or single use ice packs, be sure they are sterile, especially now during the pandemic.
 
This type of violence can’t continue. There is no excuse. Until it ends, it is up to us, it is up to everybody to stand up and do whatever is possible to support our fellow neighbors and communities, especially those who are targeted for no other reason than their skin.
 
Now I know this type of post tends to invite arguments in the comment section, but don’t prove to the world that you aren’t racist by your comments. Instead prove it through your own actions. I would however encourage anyone to share other organizations like www.stopAAPIhate.org in the comments so we can help each other help our friends in the Asian American and Pacific Islander community.

#stopasianhate #stopracism #supportAAPI