(Above): Speakers at the webinar April 25, (l-r, top): U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY) and Dr. S.K. Lo, president, Asian American Unity Coalition; (bottom row, l-r): Anthony Le, deputy director APALI; Scott M. Stringer, New York City comptroller; Lily Chen; and Jason Tengco, CLUSA community outreach specialist. (Siliconeer/Zoom screen grab)

The novel Coronavirus pandemic has affected everyone’s daily life. From medical and essential business workers battling on the frontlines to ethnic business owners hoping for a return to normalcy. No, I am not talking about Warren G. Harding’s presidential campaign. I am talking about living without fear of coming in contact with the virus. I am talking about going anywhere and doing basic life activities without fear and harm. The point is everyone is seeking relief and everyone is in it together whether one likes it or not. Although many understand this, some rotten apples in the United States have resorted to xenophobic attacks targeting Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. While the whole world is progressing towards a better tomorrow, the uneducated crowd of the United States still manages to wreak havoc upon the innocent. In the Bay Area alone, one of the most diverse areas in the world, we witnessed hate crimes against Asian Americans and their businesses. 

Images from a video by APAPA that shows how Asian Americans have been contributing during the Covid-19 crisis. (Siliconeer/Zoom screen grab)

The prejudicial rhetoric on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders came into limelight for Siliconeer in a recent webinar presented by the Asian American Unity Coalition, Ding Ding TV, and CLUSA. With U.S. Representative Grace Meng, the webinar focuses mainly on how to steer through these unorthodox times. Representative Meng had a very clear and significant message on this issue:

“The increased use of anti-Asian rhetoric, particularly from our nation’s leaders such as the President, and their use of terms like ‘Chinese virus,’ ‘Wuhan virus,’ and ‘Kung-flu,’ is not only irresponsible, reckless, and downright disgusting, it threatens the safety of the Asian American community. Such language demeans, disparages, and scapegoats Asian Americans.” – U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY)

A slide from the webinar that shows the vandalism attacks on Asian businesses in San Jose, Calif. (Siliconeer/Zoom screen grab)

What she is describing is the disturbing truth. The safety of the Asian American community is already at risk in some parts of the nation. Participants in the Webinar pointed out a few events of hate crime throughout different parts of the nation. In the Bay Area alone, glass was deliberately shattered in Asian-owned businesses last week in San Jose. In Seattle and New York, we are witnessing cases of Anti-Chinese movements and racial attacks on Asian Americans in general. Although these are unprecedented times for the current generation of Asian Americans, there are many resources for the APIA community outlined by the CLUSA:

Asian Americans Advancing Justice |AAJC –  Coronavirus/COVID-19 Resources to Stand Against Racism
Act to Change –  COVID-19 Resources To Fight Bullying And Hate
APIA Health Forum – AA and NHPI In-Language Resources for Coronavirus (COVID-19)
National CAPACD – Resources for AAPI Small Businesses Impacted by COVID-19

More resources outlined on the Ding Ding TV Website:

Report incidents of hate at standagainsthatred.org

Become a partner organization for Act to Change’s AAPI Day Against Bullying and Hatred on May 18

Sign up for a Bystander Intervention Training at https://advancingjustice-aajc.org/events

Original Source: http://www.dingdingtv.com/?p=56624