Holding leaders accountable other June 2024 updates

This month, we stayed committed to holding our political leaders accountable for anti-Asian scapegoating. In every chapter of U.S. history, many of those in power have unfairly blamed immigrants and people of color for our nation’s economic problems and societal ills.

From the alien land laws of the 1800s and 1900s to the warrantless surveillance of Muslim and South Asian communities post-9/11, leaders have scapegoated us in order to control public opinion against a manufactured “enemy,” create a false sense of fear, and consolidate political power.?

Today, sensationalized rhetoric and fearmongering around China has led to discriminatory laws and hate acts targeting everyday Asian people in the U.S. In fact, our research shows that many perpetrators of hate acts toward Asian people have repeated racist rhetoric from politicians.

We need your help to hold elected officials accountable for attempting to normalize racist, xenophobic rhetoric and policies. If you see or hear anti-Asian political rhetoric from your elected leaders, take a few minutes to report it to our reporting center.

Keep scrolling to learn more about how we're combatting anti-Asian scapegoating — and how else our communities are mobilizing this June.

KEEPING UP WITH THE COALITION

Holding our leaders accountable

We launched our first edition of Offenders and Defenders: This Month in Anti-Asian Scapegoating , a monthly roundup where we hold our leaders accountable for anti-Asian scapegoating and uplift leaders who are calling it out.?

Anti-Asian scapegoating is a political tactic that’s been used by people in power for centuries to deflect attention away from their own faults and towards a manufactured “enemy” instead — all at the expense of Asian communities. We know from our data that when public officials use scapegoating rhetoric, they stoke violence against our communities. That’s why it's critical to hold elected officials accountable for trying to normalize racist policies and rhetoric.

Remembering Vincent Chin

In 1982, Chinese American Vincent Chin died after two autoworkers mistook him for Japanese and bludgeoned him to death. At the time, anti-Japanese sentiment was peaking as politicians recklessly blamed Japan for the economic recession — leading to a rise in anti-Asian racism that fueled the death of Vincent Chin. His murder galvanized nationwide protests and brought attention to the dangers of anti-Asian scapegoating. Watch the video below to learn more:

We continue to see this today as political leaders promote rhetoric and policies that villainize and discriminate against entire populations, like Chinese immigrants and Arab, Middle Eastern, Muslim, and South Asian (AMEMSA) communities.

Gun Violence Prevention Roundtable Discussion

We attended a roundtable discussion hosted by the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention with AAPI survivors, researchers, and advocates. Gun violence is a public health crisis and AAPI communities must be a part of the solution to ending it.

Collaborating with local businesses

This month, we had our first New York in-person event with the owners of 5ive Spice in New York City, where they prepared a special menu themed after our Spread AAPI Love campaign! Owner Alex Chow is a second-generation immigrant born in Hong Kong who opened 5ive Spice to spread love for his culture through food.

DONOR SPOTLIGHT

Justina Chen

“With the rise of anti-Asian violence, I knew I had to do more than write about it. Deciding to become a major donor and make a leadership gift to Stop AAPI Hate was easy: I have been consistently impressed with the clear and courageous way this organization tackles both daily and systemic ways our community has been targeted.” - Justina Chen

Thank you Justina for sustaining our movement for racial justice. Click here to follow her lead and make a one-time gift to Stop AAPI Hate.

KEEPING UP WITH THE COMMUNITY

?? Preserving indigenous Pacific Island culture

This month marks the 13th Festival of Pacific Island Arts and Culture, which celebrates Pacific Islander cultures and raises awareness about climate change and anti-colonial struggles. Held in Hawai?i, the festival emphasizes the deep connections between climate justice and indigenous sovereignty, highlighting how climate change disproportionately affects Pacific Island nations.

“We did nothing to cause global warming, but suffer from it. Our nation is slowly becoming extinct. People were happy. Now they’re worried the culture will become extinct.” - Lapua Lasifo, Pacific Islander Festival Uplifts Anti-Colonial Solidarity Amid Climate Crisis, Truthout

??? New models for healing from hate

A new program in Los Angeles from AAPI Equity Alliance (a founding member of the Stop AAPI Hate coalition) addresses the mental health impacts of racism among AAPIs affected by hate. Using a “Radical Healing Framework” to foster collective healing, participants engage in community organizing to address issues like microaggressions, cultural loss, and gentrification to help them feel supported and empowered. Watch the video below to learn more:

? Confronting the China Initiative

A forum held at Rice University aimed to rebuild trust between the FBI and Asian American communities after the controversial China Initiative. The event, supported by several advocacy groups, addressed issues of racial profiling and discrimination against Chinese scholars.

"[Transparency is] not only sitting down at a table and having a dialogue, although it’s very important, it’s also having meaningful policies in place that are rigorous and clear. and easy to understand. And these policies should be subject to scrutiny.” - David Donatti, ACLU

?? Celebrating Pride

Bailey Anne Kennedy is the first Asian American woman to become Miss Maryland and the first transgender woman to win the title, in the 10 years since transgender women were first allowed in the Miss USA pageant. Kennedy hopes her achievement will inspire young LGBTQ+ people across the country.?

Nymphia Wind , winner of Season 16 of RuPaul’s Drag Race, uses drag to embrace and celebrate her Asian identity. She combines elements of Taiwanese culture into her performances – which has helped her connect with her roots and gain confidence in her identity. She also advocates for AAPI mental health awareness, emphasizing the importance of supportive communities.

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