The Richmond Neighborhood Center stands in solidarity with our Asian American community members against anti-Asian racism and white supremacy in all its forms. More than half of the participants in our youth and community programs identify as Asian, and we are proud to be part of a diverse neighborhood that celebrates its many Asian American communities. We are heartbroken and angered by the recent incidents that have harmed our neighbors and made so many feel unsafe in their own city.
Last week’s racially motivated murders in Atlanta, GA were a tragic reminder that anti-Asian racism is rampant in the United States. We mourn the deaths of Xiaojie Tan, Delaina Yaun, Daoyou Feng, Yong Ae Yue, Hyun Jung Grant, Soon Chung Park, Suncha Kim, and Paul Andre Michels, and we offer the love and solidarity of our community to their families and loved ones.
Following an increase in anti-Asian rhetoric from the White House during the COVID-19 pandemic, incidents of physical assault, verbal and online harassment, and civil rights violations against Asian Americans have surged.
Since the start of the pandemic, 3,795 anti-Asian hate incidents were reported to the Stop AAPI Hate reporting center. Many of these were committed against young people and the elderly, and women were more than twice as likely as men to have been targeted. According to Stop AAPI Hate, these numbers represent “only a fraction of the number of hate incidents that actually occur.” Despite their prevalence, these incidents often fail to make headlines.
These statistics come as no surprise to the Asian American community here in San Francisco. Anti-Asian hate incidents have been on the rise in the Bay Area over the past year, and recent violent attacks have resulted in Asian Americans being severely injured or killed. Coupled with the countless incidents of harassment and discrimination that Asian Americans in our city face every day, it is clear that we must continue our fight against anti-Asian hate on a local level.
Anti-Asian racism and white supremacist violence have a long and shameful history in the United States. For more than two centuries, Asian American communities have been targets of systemic discrimination, mob violence, and murder.
We believe that these issues must be addressed by grassroots organizing and community action, not expanded policing and incarceration. White supremacy can only be defeated when oppressed communities stand together in solidarity, and we look forward to working with our neighbors to come up with solutions that keep everyone safer.
As part of our ongoing series of community forums on racial equity, we will be hosting a virtual panel discussion and Q&A on the topic of cross-cultural strategies for community safety on Wednesday, March 31 from 5:00 – 6:30PM. At previous forums, panelists and attendees have shared their own experiences of racist discrimination and harassment, and discussed ways we can work together to prevent them. We invite all of our community members to attend and share their thoughts and experiences.
More Resources
- Stop AAPI Hate collects reports of instances of anti-Asian hate crimes and violence
- Asian Americans Advancing Justice collects reports of instances of hate and publishes the stories of those who have been impacted by anti-Asian hatred and violence
- Hollaback!, in partnership with Asian Americans Advancing Justice, offers free bystander intervention trainings to address anti-Asian harassment
- Asian Mental Health Collective offers mental health resources for the Asian community