TakeRoot Justice stands in solidarity with AAPI communities in New York City and nationwide, and joins our community partners in the demand to stop Asian hate.
Along with other allies we shared in mid-March how the hate crime in Atlanta highlights our country’s long history of racism toward Asian people, a history that must end. We stand with and within the AAPI community in support and care to continue dismantling white supremacy in all its forms. It is harrowing to have to add another incident this week, in our very own city, to the ongoing news of violence against Asian people, especially women. Yet we all know these incidents are far from rare or isolated. In a March report, Stop AAPI Hate said it recorded 3,795 anti-Asian hate incidents between March 19, 2020 – shortly after COVID-19 was declared a pandemic – and February 28, 2021. More than 500 of the incidents were recorded in 2021.
Our staff attorney Jane Li stated: “The recent hate crimes targeting AAPI are a devastating reminder of the consequences of allowing violent rhetoric and othering in our society to go unchallenged. We must all commit to creating a society where all Americans are treated with dignity, regardless of socioeconomic status or ethnic background.” We pledge to continue fighting alongside our partners in communities of color to dismantle these oppressive systems and advance movements for justice and liberation.
We echo the call by our AAPI allies for elected officials and community leaders to address this crisis by investing in community-centered programs and community-led interventions as alternatives to law enforcement approaches that have harmed rather than helped communities of color. We are honored to stand in community and solidarity with our AAPI partners, whose extraordinary work can be found here:
Adhikaar, Asian Americans For Equality, CAAAV Organizing Asian Communities, Chhaya Community Development Corporation, Chinese Staff and Workers’ Association, Damayan Migrant Workers Association, Desis Rising Up and Moving (DRUM) , MinKwon Center for Community Action, and Project Hajra