A message and a Request from Stop AAPI Hate

    

Dear Friends,   Earlier today, Stop AAPI Hate co-founders Cynthia Choi, and Manjusha Kulkarni spoke to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights about the federal response to anti-Asian hate.   Thirty years ago, this same Commission concluded in a report that anti-AAPI racism and discrimination at the time were being fueled by xenophobic rhetoric from U.S. political leaders, unfair and biased media coverage, and a lack of education in schools around “the histories, cultures, experiences, and contributions of Asian Americans.”    In her testimony this afternoon, Cynthia highlighted the fact that AAPIs still face the same critical issues today. Just like heightened anti-Japanese sentiment harmed our communities in the WWII era, escalating anti-Chinese rhetoric and policies are hurting us today.      She cited recent bills in Texas and elsewhere, proposing targeted bans on land ownership for Chinese noncitizens and other Asian communities, which are reminiscent of the discriminatory Alien Land Laws of the early 1900s that prohibited Asian immigrants from owning land.   “We are concerned that the increasing levels of the anti-Chinese political rhetoric we’re seeing today will not only embolden others to commit racist acts but also enshrine policies that embody institutionalized racism,” Cynthia testified.

In her remarks, Manjusha called for comprehensive solutions to anti-Asian hate. Racism involves not simply interpersonal attacks but also structural inequities, she emphasized, citing how our reporting data tells us that most hate incidents are civil rights violations and harassment in public spaces — not hate crimes.    Manjusha added that it’s therefore “critical to look beyond law enforcement and civil mechanisms that offer the possibility of redress.” This means focusing on a range of solutions, like enforcing our nondiscrimination laws, directing funding to local communities, and teaching future generations about AAPI histories and cultures.    It was such an honor to stand before the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights and share the everyday realities of AAPI communities across the nation — and to call upon the federal government to join us in our fight for racial justice.    We are able to propose data-informed policy solutions to race-based hate because of people like you who have shared their experiences with anti-Asian hate. If you have experienced a hate incident or know someone who has, please fill out our reporting form.

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In solidarity, Stop AAPI Hate History is repeating itself in front of our eyes,  say NO to Texas SB147!!! 催生美国华人的新民权运动 薛海培 我们一直在说绝不能让历史重演。可是对美国华人来讲，这重演的一天还是来到了。 一百多年前美国各州针对亚裔的“外国人土地法案”似乎早就被丢进了历史的垃圾堆里了，可是在2022/2023年，这样的限制或禁止中国人/华人拥有房地产的土地法案又在美中大冲突的背景下以“国家安全”的名义重返美国各州政治舞台，在华人社区引发了极大的惊诧和震撼。去年年底德州议会出台的SB147（同期德州还有几个类似提案）就是这样一个主要是针对中国人或华人的歧视性法案。到目前为止，据不完全统计，已有十几个州的议会提交了类似德州的禁止中国人/华人购买房地产的提案。真可谓是“欺人太甚”！ 在全国层面，美国国会以及各级政客正在忙着掀起一场又一场的“Who is tougher on China”的比赛。今天国会和州议会的许多有关中国的提案在和苏联生死决斗的冷战时期都难以想象，可是现在已是见惯不惊了。冷战最危险的年头也没有听说过国会成立过专门针对苏联的“苏联委员会”，可今天却有了这样的中国委员会。这是否令人联想起早已臭名昭著的“中国行动计划”呢？1975年在冷战顶峰时期，美苏两国的太空船阿波罗号和联合号在太空成功对接，全球为之一振。而今天，美国的NASA却不可以和中国的航天机构有哪怕是在一起喝茶的可能性。可以豪不夸张地说，新麦卡锡主义早已在美国回潮了，并且是青出于蓝。 目前德州、乔治亚州和南卡州的华人社区都在奋力阻击这三个州的新排华土地法案，让我们看到了华人社区的正能量和政治觉醒，深受鼓舞。这三州的华人眼下最大的感触和教训就是我们平时太少关心社会和政治了，太少和其他社区来往了，直到政治来“关心”我们，但这又常有为时已晚和力不从心的感叹。 如果美国华人社区在未来相当长的一段时间里想要自救自保，想要减低新麦卡锡主义对华人社区和我们下一代的冲击和伤害，想要维系我们华人的美国梦，我们只有一条路可以走，那就是行动起来，组织起来，以六十年代美国民权运动为榜样，团结和影响各界美国人民，改变华人自身的缺陷和不足，以追求宪法保护下的平等公民权益为目标，发起和催生一场全华人社区的新民权运动，浴火重生，造就一个更为平等和美好的美利坚合众国。 让我们一同发起和催生一场华人社区的新民权运动吧！我们能邀约您也参加吗？