NASW Michigan is outraged by the acts of violence and murder amongst those who amongst the Asian American, Native Hawiann and Pacific Islander community (AANHPI). As well as our Middle Eastern, North African, and South/Southwest Asian peers who too continue to face extreme harm due to xenophobia and Islamophobia. We call to action our law enforcement, elected officials, and other public safety officials to respond swiftly and effectively to protect these communities.
Due to the highetened overt resurgence of white supremacy and xenophobia, cumalitive acts of ongoing violence, bigotry, discrimination, oppression, and inequitable treatment have occured
Over the past year:
Hate crimes against Asians and Asian Americans have increased by 1,900% source: NYPD in Dear Asian Youth
2,800 anti-Asian & anti-Asian American hate incidents were reported in 2020 source: Stop AAPI Hate
In recent weeks, over 20 assaults have occurred in Northern California alone source: ABC7News in Dear Asian Youth
“The surge [in hate crimes against Asian Americans] is largely indicated by “hate incidents” reported in mass media and spurred by the current social and political climate in which COVID-19 has been repeatedly labeled as ‘Chinese virus’ or ‘China virus.’” source: Hate Crimes against Asian Americans (Zhang et al., 2021)
We recognize that these acts of violence are not new, and have occurred over decades throughout american history. As a nation we have witnessed an entire Japanese population incarcerated during World War II. Anti-Asian rhetoric facilitated and supported under the guise of biowarfare and now the novel coronavirus.
Language is powerful, and we must be aware of how it can permeate into our society and cause harm. Rhetoric such as the “China Virus” used by previous President Donald Trump, has been noted to instigate anti-asian hate.
Most recently, we lost 8 lives in the Atlanta Shooting, 6 of which were Asian American Women. We denounce the false narrative that any compulsion and/or sexual addiction or “bad day” justifies the murder of any individual, but more specifically the intentional perpetration of violence against Asian women. Critical to note is the intersectional and historical hyper-sexualization, dehumanization, and dominance of Asian women situated in white supremacy must be addressed. Those amongst the AANHPI community who have been disproportionately impacted are Asian elders and Asian women who may also hold femme, disabled, LGBTQ+, immigrants, adoptees/fosterees, and non-binary identities.
We know that the only way that communities of color can have an overall sense of safety, well-being and security is if we all stand up against, white supremacy, and systemic racism. We must not hold space for belonging, trauma, grief and critical conversations; we must also engage ourselves toward eradicating white supremacy with our AANHPI community members.
As social workers, we believe in the inherent dignity and worth of all people, regardless of race, ethnicity, or occupation. Standing up for social justice is the root of our profession and we must not let that fall by the wayside. We must work together in solidarity to achieve liberation from white supremacy.
NASW Michigan mourns the lives of the victims in the Atlanta shooting and honors their names.
Xiaojie Tan, 譚小傑, age 49 Daoyou Feng, 馮道友, age 44
Sun Cha Kim, 김선 차,age 69
Yong Ae Yue, 유용애, age 63
Soon Chung Park, 박순정, age 74 Hyung Jung Grant, 김]현정, age 51
Delaina Ashley Yuan Gonzalez, age 33 Paul Andre Michels, age 54
As we reflect and mourn the lethal acts of violence AANHPI community we have provided you below with resources and organizations to educate and immerse yourselves in for the best form of advocacy.
Ways to Report Hate:
Contact the Department of the Attorney General Hate Crimes Unit if they have knowledge of, or are a victim of, a crime motivated by hate by phone at 313-456-0200 or by email at HateCrimes@michigan.gov.
To file a complaint of unlawful discrimination, contact the Michigan Department of Civil Rights by phone at 1-800-482-3604 or go online to Michigan.gov/MDCR and click on the link to File A Complaint.
The Asian Pacific Policy Planning Council
Report incidences of discrimination
Other Resources:
Michigan Asian Pacific American Affairs Council MAPAAC - Contact Ayesha Ghazi Edwin at ghaziedwina@michigan.gov for more information
A Rising Tide of Hate and Violence against Asian Americans in New York During COVID-19: Impact, Causes, Solutions
https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.aabany.org/resource/resmgr/press_releases/2021/A_Rising_Tide_of_Hate_and_Vi.pdf
https://www.kalw.org/post/stopaapihate-rise-violence-against-asian-americans-prompts-community-action#stream/0
https://www.michigan.gov/som/0,4669,7-192-47796-552278--,00.html
This statement was partially adapted from the NASW Texas Chapter
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