PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: March 19, 2021
Japanese American Service Committee
Statement on the Continuing Violence
Against Asian Americans
We mourn for the eight people and their families killed by a gunman in Georgia earlier this week. This senseless tragedy that included six Asian American women happens as the rate of hate crimes against Asian Americans continues to grow since the beginning of Covid pandemic in the U.S.
According to a recent national report issued by Stop AAPI Hate, 3,795 incidents of anti-Asian hate across the country have been documented between March 19, 2020 to February 28, 2021. Sadly, this is not necessarily shocking information to Asian American or BIPOC communities. What has been maddening is the difficulty in getting these stories into the mainstream and that too often it takes tragedies like what took place in Georgia this week.
In this moment of grieving, we offer the following local and national resources toward healing and positive change:
- Report: If you or someone you know experiences a hate incident, you can report it through a national database hosted by Stop AAPI Hate
- Bystander Intervention: Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Chicago is providing regular virtual Bystander Intervention Training sessions on how to intervene effectively and safely.
- Elevate Asian American History: The TEAACH Act will amend the Illinois School Code to include an Asian American History Curriculum in every public school in Illinois. It recently passed through an IL House Committee and will head to the House floor for a vote. Contact your legislators today about this important act!
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The JASC engages people of all ages to experience Japanese American history and culture and to improve their wellbeing through innovative, high quality programs and services tailored to the multicultural community.
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