Xenophobic disturbances in the Asian American and Pacific Islander Communities

Last week, members of our communities suffered from a series of violent attacks targeting Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI): 

• In San Francisco, Vicha Ratanpakdee, an 84-year old senior was brutally assaulted during his morning walk and died as a result of his injuries.   
• In Oakland, a 91-year-old Chinese elder was assaulted and pushed to the ground. 
• In San Jose, a 64-year-old Vietnamese grandmother was robbed in broad daylight, just days before the Lunar New Year celebrations. 
• Here in our local Portland, Oregon, community, incidents include physical assault of AAPI community members using public transit and reports of vandalism to 9 Asian-owned businesses in the Jade District. 

 These incidents are not isolated. 

Since the beginning of the pandemic, our AAPI communities have suffered from dangerous xenophobic rhetoric that has perpetuated negative stigma and violent acts based on the origin of COVID-19. Our AAPI communities continue to experience an increased wave of violence targeting many of our most vulnerable populations, particularly elderly immigrants. 

 As an organization that advances equity, inclusion, and diversity for all, including our Asian American and Pacific Islanders, Kaiser Permanente does not condone the behaviors driven by xenophobia, sinophobia, and yellow peril that plague our communities. These behaviors cause significant physical and emotional harm, stress, and trauma to AAPI families and communities. Together, we stand with our AAPI community to work towards dismantling anti-Asian racism to create safer, more equitable communities for all. Injustice anywhere and threat to any group anywhere are a threat to justice and other groups everywhere.

As an immigrant, as a Filipina-American in this country for more than four decades of my life, I know we can do better. And we must. Like Amanda Gorman, I believe “If we merge mercy with might, and might with right, then love becomes our legacy and change our children’s birthright.”