| In the past year, there
has been a significant rise in anti-Asian hate and violence. Despite
decades of progress towards acceptance and equality, in recent
years, racism in America has escalated at an alarming rate. Over a
year ago, when COVID-19 was just starting, the Asian and Pacific
Islander community suffered not just the pandemic but that of
targeted discrimination and hatred. Inexplicably, customers stopped
eating and shopping at favorite Asian businesses due to illogical
wrong association with the virus. Further, in the last year since
the pandemic started, 3800 anti-Asian incidents have been logged, a
significant increase, the majority against women according to
http://aapihatecrimes.org.
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Several weeks ago, the
incidents finally grabbed national media attention when eight
people, including six Asian women, were murdered at several
locations in Atlanta. This latest racist hate-fueled violence
spurred rallies of solidarity nation-wide. In Cleveland, outraged by
how Asian Pacific Americans are treated in their own country,
several Asian women activists and leaders organized a peaceful #StopAsianHate
rally and march through the AsiaTown neighborhood on March 28. They
wanted to provide an opportunity for the community to grieve for the
lives lost, draw attention to the escalation of anti-Asian hate
everywhere including our own city, and to show solidarity with our
allies and support to the residents and businesses in AsiaTown.
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The rally and march attracted about
1,000 supporters. The event started with a rally featuring 12
speakers, mostly women, providing moving and powerful speeches about
how they, their family, and their friends have had to suffer racial
discrimination and hate. The event was trilingual in English,
Mandarin (with a splash of Cantonese), and sign language. Regardless
if the listener understood the language or not -- the passion of the
speakers was clear as they communicated their outrage. An outrage
and sadness that transcends language barriers. The speakers also
talked about how they too-often endured discrimination in the past
in silence. But the group vowed to be silent “No More.” This is
America, this is our home.
After the speeches, the group marched in solidarity
throughout the AsiaTown neighborhood. On the route, the marchers
were greeted with applause and smiles of thankful Asian
business-owners and the residents including some of the most
vulnerable, the Asian elderly in the community. After the march,
attendees were encouraged to support the Asian businesses.
The event was organized by AsiaTown Cleveland, OCA Asian
Pacific American Advocates - Greater Cleveland Chapter, OPAWL, Asian
Services In Action, and MotivAsians and was supported by dozens of
other organizations, partners, and allies. While the event drew
attention to the growing anti-Asian hate, the organizers and other
community leaders are working on next steps. |
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