Why We Fight

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are a diverse group of peoples representing different countries, religions, beliefs, and languages. The AAPI community has been working hard to help build the United States of America and have made significant contributions in arts & culture, science, technology, healthcare, among others. Today, according to the New American Economy Research Fund, the AAPI population in the U.S. is well over 22.6 million and in 2017, earned more than $744.8 billion in income. Despite these achievements and contributions, the AAPI community is under represented.

Through the years, members of the AAPI community have also faced numerous challenges and have been denied participation in civic activities and their ability to shape the communities in which the live and work. For far too long, the AAPI community has been victim to discrimination, homelessness, Anti-Asian hate, violence, xenophobia and bias. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, hate crimes have increased dramatically in the United States and across the globe.

Increase in hate towards AAPI Citizens

Reported anti-Asian hate intendents from March 19, 2020 to February 28, 2021

Types of discrimination

68.1%

​Verbal harassment

20.5%

Shunning

11.1%

​Physical assault

8.5%

Civil rights violations

Women report hate incidents 2.3 times more than men

Site of discrimination

35.4%

​Businesses

25.3%

Public Streets

9.8%

Public Parks

10.8%

Online
Source: Stop AAPI Hate “2020-2021 National Report”

Words against hate

I’m outraged at the rise of anti-Asian violence– every Asian American deserves to feel safe on our streets, in our neighborhoods, and in our workplaces. This is all the more urgent following fatal shootings of Asian workers in Atlanta-area spas. Our Asian American neighbors are under attack, and we must do everything in our power to stop this racism and xenophobia.
Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer

Last year, the number of hate crimes reported against New York City’s Asian-American community increased by more than 900% from 2019 numbers. This disturbing rise in hateful violence is an affront to our values as New Yorkers—and we must take action to address it. I’m proud to sponsor the Hate Crimes Analysis & Review Act with Assembly Member Reyes, legislation that would impose much-needed reforms on the way our state collects and releases data on hate crimes. This data will be a crucial step towards understanding the spike in hate crimes and determining ways to stop it; as the saying goes, you can’t manage what you can’t measure. Let’s be clear: there’s no room for hate in New York State.
NY State Senator Brad Hoylman

In the past year, xenophobic rhetoric, misinformation and fear mongering have given way to outrageous words and acts of racism, violence and hate against our Asian community. These acts are abhorrent and unforgivable, but they are not new. The COVID-19 pandemic has shone an appropriately harsh light on the rampant racism and violence targeting the Asian community. Hate has no place here. We must stand resolute in our unequivocal condemnation of past, current and future anti-Asian racism and violence.
New York City Council Member Carlina Rivera

America should atone for the wrongs of the past. As Asian-Americans we need to stand together against RACISM and HATE. Hate and racism has no place in America. Let us stand together to stop this ugly violence of hate, racism and xenophobia.
Soeko Prasetyo, former President of the NY area Indonesian Christian Community

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