#StopAsianHate

It’s been difficult to find words that describe the emotions from violence towards Asian Americans. Our hearts are hardening as we hear things like “Kung Flu” or blamed for the “China Virus”.  Like many in the community, we stay silent. We don’t cause waves. We remain invisible. But behind the silence, there is fear, anger, and sadness. The common enemy here is the pandemic. Our country needs unity, not division. Love, not hate. 

Fear-driven hatred, fueled by Asian American scapegoating, is infectious. It is harmful and dangerous, especially when discrimination turns violent. 

Attacks targeting Asian Americans have undeniably risen since the pandemic started: An 84-year-old elder died days after being shoved to the ground on his morning walk in San Francisco. A 91-year-old elder was thrown to the ground in Oakland Chinatown in broad daylight. An 89-year-old New York City woman was slapped in the face, and her shirt was set on fire. A man was slashed with a box cutter on a New York City train. A Los Angeles man was beaten with his own cane at a bus stop. 

And not all attacks are reported—or caught on camera. @stopaapihate launched last March to encourage those who experience or witness acts of hate to report the incident.

It is during challenging times when you see where compassion lives. On the bright side, it’s not just coalitions acting. People are also standing up to acts of hate: Communities are banding together to stop attacks on their Asian American neighbors. Neighbors who signed up for all-night shifts to stop aggressors from further targeting Asian American families’ homes. Volunteer patrols pass out bilingual fliers on how to report crimes to the police in neighborhoods where language barriers and fear prevent crimes from reporting.

We share these stories and use our voice to speak for those who are too afraid and for those who have trouble finding the words. We raise awareness to encourage community activism. Asian Americans are not a flu. We are human.

—TADASHI SHOJI