Tag Archives: Narrative

Mobilizing Against Anti-AAPI Hate and Racism

As hate and discrimination against the AAPI community has dramatically risen during the COVID-19 pandemic, many of our network partners have called on community members to report hate incidents, condemn anti-AAPI sentiments, and attend workshops and bystander intervention trainings. Here are some examples on how you can take action:

Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Chicago: With numerous reports of anti-Asian verbal and physical attacks and Illinois being the fourth ranked state with the highest number of reported incidents, Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Chicago and other local organizations have joined together and launched a virtual bystander intervention training program for community members to learn how to take action against hate and racism. Read more about this program here.

STOP AAPI HATE: “In response to the alarming escalation in xenophobia and bigotry resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Asian Pacific Planning and Policy Council (A3PCON), Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA), and the Asian American Studies Department of San Francisco State University launched the Stop AAPI Hate reporting center on March 19. The center tracks and responds to incidents of hate, violence, harassment, discrimination, shunning, and child bullying against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in California and where possible throughout the United States.” Visit https://stopaapihate.org/ to report a hate incident, read their reports, find safety tips, and how you can act now to stand against anti-AAPI hate and racism today.

Cia Siab Inc. created this Hate Incident Report Form, specific to the state of Wisconsin, with the purpose of giving individuals in the Hmoob community an outlet to report hate incidents in a confidential manner, while also encouraging individuals outside of the community to report any hate incidents that has occurred to them as well. Examples may include, but are not limited to, the use of degrading language or slurs (spoken or written) and physical harm suffered based on identity or perceived identity.

Anti-Racism Workshops: By following the Prophetic model, Reviving the Islamic Sisterhood for Empowerment is rooted in the Sunnah and reminded of the diversity of identities and how they show up. These workshops provide language, examples, tools, techniques and most importantly sisterhood in order to change a system. If your organization or group would like to receive training, contact the organization for more information related to pricing, timing and details about each workshop. Learn more about their Anti-Racism workshops here.

DACA Program Reinstated

On December 4, 2020, a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to fully reinstate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, allowing eligible immigrants to file new applications for protection from deportation under the program. Read more about the DACA program, who is eligible, how to apply, and resources in multiple languages at https://homeishere.us/.

 

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Calling for AAPI Representation in Biden-Harris Administration

With record breaking-numbers of AAPI voter turnout in the 2020 election, it is evident that AAPI communities are an increasingly powerful electorate and our unique needs must be heard and addressed in the upcoming administration. With calls for inclusion of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders in all levels of government and advocating for community policy priorities, the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans has released statements raising questions over why there have been no Asian American, Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander nominees for Cabinet Secretary positions and calling for inclusion of the AAPI community in the Biden-Harris policy agenda. 

NCAPA: “AAPI communities this year have faced a two-fold pandemic of COVID-19 and racism—both scapegoated for the spread of the virus and disproportionately vulnerable to its economic and health impacts. This dual pandemic has exposed and exacerbated inequities that have impacted our communities for decades and that will likely continue to impact us even after the public health crisis ends. This moment requires bold leadership and decisive action. The Biden-Harris Administration has promised to be—and has the mandate to be—the leaders for this moment, and the Administration has committed to making racial equity a day one priority.”

In a letter addressed to the Biden-Harris Administration, NCAPA and their coalition members detailed top policy priorities for the AAPI community and urge the incoming administration to adopt the suggested policy priorities in order to support and uplift Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. 

Read NCAPA’s Full Statement Here

 

 

Action Alert: Save Your NOLA Library Campaign

Help protect public libraries in New Orleans from a 40% budget cut by voting in Louisiana’s runoff election on December 5, 2020! 

VAYLA New Orleans has joined the Save Your NOLA Library coalition and a growing number of diverse organizations, library workers, and citizens in supporting libraries by voting NO on Proposition #2 on the December ballot. Proposition #2 would dramatically reduce library funding for services and resources, disproportionately impacting low income communities of color. Stand with VAYLA to vote NO on #2 and save NOLA libraries.

“We live in a world where children’s success means access to a library. The fifteen libraries in New Orleans serve over a million individuals and families every year–for communities of color, New Orleans public libraries are an extension of home, a means of access, and sacred space of possibilities.” – says Jacqueline Thanh, Executive Director

Read VAYLA’s press release here http://www.vayla-no.org/blog/save-our-nola-libraries and learn more about the Save Your NOLA Library campaign at https://www.saveyournolalibrary.com/

 

Action Alert: Drop the Charges Against SEAA Organizers

VietLead’s Executive Director, Nancy Nguyen, and a group of Freedom Fighters were targeted for speaking out publicly against ICE Director Tony Pham for using his Viet refugee status to spearhead their terror campaign against Black and Brown immigrant and refugee communities. As the government frequently criminalizes Freedom Fighters like Nancy Nguyen who speak out against human rights abuses and imprisons them with bogus charges, take action today and stand with movement leaders and groups who are fighting for justice by signing the Nat’l Statement Demanding Commonwealth Atty. Shannon Taylor to Drop the Charges. We call on all who are against injustice to sign on to this Drop the Charges Demand letter. To join the movement to demand to drop ALL charges, use the action tool kit.

Read Nancy Nguyen’s Op-Ed in The Philadelphia Inquirer

 

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Learn and Grow as Anti-Racist Activists, Advocates, and Allies

In the wake of the murders of George Floyd and so many others, we have been reminded of the anti-Blackness that exists in our community. As an organization of Muslim women committed to building sisterhood and advancing social equity, Reviving Sisterhood is opening space for our community to learn and grow as anti-racist activists, advocates, and allies. Please visit our anti-Blackness resource page to learn about places to begin or continue your anti-racism journey.

 

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Justice for George Floyd

APACE demands Justice for George Floyd and Urges all Asian Americans to stand with the African American community – We want to be intentional in centering Black voices and Black organizers during this movement. Please find resources below that are centering their work. Please also find resources to talk to your families and friends from an AAPI perspective.

 

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We sent this letter to around 500 of our community members on Tuesday and decided to share it on social media as well. Words will never be enough and statements like these are insufficient and performative without action. We’ve included some action items that you can find in the link in our bio. Our letter: The recent murder of George Floyd by Minnesota law enforcement was an unconscionable act that demands the ongoing need for police accountability and the end of police brutality. One of the officers is Asian American and this cannot be overlooked–Asian Americans continue to be actively complicit in the anti-Black racism that results in the death of Black and Brown lives. When the Asian American community was targeted with anti-Asian racism during COVID-19, we were quickly reminded of our status as a perpetual foreigner. We cannot forget our history in the fight for civil rights and we must stand with our Black brothers, sisters, and siblings who fight for collective liberation. Asian American silence against white supremacy and anti-Blackness is violence. We must speak out against the Model Minority Myth, which has and is still used as a harmful wedge against other BIPOC communities. Without addressing the internalization of anti-Blackness and colorism within Asian American culture, there cannot be the collective liberation from the injustices of police brutality that we strive to achieve. We urge any person involved in physical protesting to take precautions in practicing social distancing and wear masks. Nonetheless, we stand with those demanding justice for George Floyd and with Black Lives Matter. We want to be intentional in centering Black voices and Black organizers during this movement. Please find resources below that are centering their work. Please also find resources to talk to your families and friends from an AAPI perspective.

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