Displays of hate in the pandemic
A Letter by the Civil Rights Team ~ March 19, 2021
In our effort to engage the school community in thinking and talking about issues related to race and skin color, national origin and ancestry, religion, disabilities, gender (including gender identity and expression), and sexual orientation, we wanted to make you aware that the Asian-American community is being attacked and staying silent is unacceptable.
Violence against Asian-Americans has skyrocketed in our country, with the NYPD reporting a 1,900% increase in racially charged hate crimes against members of the Asian community since the start of the pandemic in 2019. The displays of violence against victims such as Vicha Ratanapakdee, Hellen Oh, Angelo Quinto, the victims of the recent shooting where a white supremacist killed 8 Asian women, and so many other members of the Asian American and Pacific Islander community prove the negative effects of the Anti-Asian rhetoric plaguing our country. However, these hate crimes, like many others, are being underreported by the media and remain unrecognized on a national level.
The recent rise in anti-Asian sentiment stems from harmful speculation and misinformation about the Coronavirus’ origins. These racist theories lack any substantial evidence. What started as hurtful and untruthful rhetoric has since evolved into something far more detrimental.
The U.S is no stranger to racist and discriminatory actions and behavior to people from the Asian community. Our country has a cynical history of Anti-Asian acts, specifically Anti-Chinese sentiments and even policies, such as the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act, which prevented individuals from China from immigrating to the United States. Recently, Americans have been participating in calling Chinese (and Asian) Americans CCP spies; this derives from racially charged undertones that date back to the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. History has played a critical role in painting Asian Americans as inherently evil and untrustworthy. These explanations have been the main reasons that Asian Americans have been being murdered, set on fire alive, stabbed, slashed across the face and more.
Asians have to be included in anti-racist activism. A hate crime against one community is a hate crime against all of our communities. Praciting apathy towards hate crimes upholds white supremacy which is extremely detrimental to the safety of all communities, as of right now, especially the Asian community.
Please continue to educate yourself, contribute to causes supporting equality and equity, and maintain your personal journeys toward anti-racism. Say it with us, “We do not condone violence against Asians from my community or any others. Stop the hate.”
Here are a list of resources and petitions to help support the cause.
Thank you,
Yarmouth Civil Rights Team
Violence against Asian-Americans has skyrocketed in our country, with the NYPD reporting a 1,900% increase in racially charged hate crimes against members of the Asian community since the start of the pandemic in 2019. The displays of violence against victims such as Vicha Ratanapakdee, Hellen Oh, Angelo Quinto, the victims of the recent shooting where a white supremacist killed 8 Asian women, and so many other members of the Asian American and Pacific Islander community prove the negative effects of the Anti-Asian rhetoric plaguing our country. However, these hate crimes, like many others, are being underreported by the media and remain unrecognized on a national level.
The recent rise in anti-Asian sentiment stems from harmful speculation and misinformation about the Coronavirus’ origins. These racist theories lack any substantial evidence. What started as hurtful and untruthful rhetoric has since evolved into something far more detrimental.
The U.S is no stranger to racist and discriminatory actions and behavior to people from the Asian community. Our country has a cynical history of Anti-Asian acts, specifically Anti-Chinese sentiments and even policies, such as the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act, which prevented individuals from China from immigrating to the United States. Recently, Americans have been participating in calling Chinese (and Asian) Americans CCP spies; this derives from racially charged undertones that date back to the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. History has played a critical role in painting Asian Americans as inherently evil and untrustworthy. These explanations have been the main reasons that Asian Americans have been being murdered, set on fire alive, stabbed, slashed across the face and more.
Asians have to be included in anti-racist activism. A hate crime against one community is a hate crime against all of our communities. Praciting apathy towards hate crimes upholds white supremacy which is extremely detrimental to the safety of all communities, as of right now, especially the Asian community.
Please continue to educate yourself, contribute to causes supporting equality and equity, and maintain your personal journeys toward anti-racism. Say it with us, “We do not condone violence against Asians from my community or any others. Stop the hate.”
Here are a list of resources and petitions to help support the cause.
Thank you,
Yarmouth Civil Rights Team