Rallies across the U.S. to condemn attacks against Asian Americans, volunteers in New York patrolling parts of the city to stop racist violence, and celebrities of Asian origin coming out to support Asian Americans. All the signs point to Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities finding their voice against hate-related incidents that have sky-rocketed in the last one year.

According to a study by Stop AAPI Hate, a nonprofit organization that runs the Stop AAPI Hate Reporting Center, 3800 incidents were reported over the course of roughly a year against people of Asian descent. [https://secureservercdn.net/104.238.69.231/a1w.90d.myftpupload.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/210312-Stop-AAPI-Hate-National-Report-.pdf]

The combined outcry comes in the wake of the deadly shooting in Atlanta early last week that led to the death of eight people, including six victims of Asian origin.

In New York, volunteers in Queens are taking safety into their own hands by patrolling parts of the borough. These patrols started a few months back after repeated racist attacks. These volunteers are armed with whistles and pamphlets and they go around checking if there have been attacks or they need protection.
[https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/02/25/asian-hate-crime-attack-patrol/]

Even film stars have joined protests. Actress Sandra Oh appeared in a rally in Pittsburgh on Saturday and encouraged people to speak up against incidents of racism and violence.

The “model minority” now feels that it needs to be heard. Greater representation of Asians in law enforcement, public office, and the courts could be another way of tackling the issue in the long run, say activists.

In its elaborate paper on rising hate and violence against Asian Americans, the Asian American Bar Association of New York City has said that underrepresentation in public office and the courts have meant that racism and bias “fester” when positions of power are held “primarily by the white majority.

More presence on social media and discussing issues related to race and hate crimes are also being discussed by Asian Americans.


Read more:

News report on protests:
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/people-across-u-s-protest-anti-asian-hate-following-deadly-n1261677