CKA Condemns Rise in Anti-Asian Hate Crimes
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date Published: February 22, 2021
Washington, DC —The Council of Korean Americans (CKA) strongly condemns the recent rise in anti-Asian hate incidents. We call on all people to unite in condemning these and all racially-motivated acts of violence. We are exceptionally shocked by the targeting of elderly Asians and urge everyone to take action as outlined below.
“Sadly, the spike in hate incidents against the Asian American community experienced over the summer has not abated,” said Dr. Abraham Kim, Executive Director of CKA. “These acts of violence create fear within our communities, which elected officials, community leaders, and law enforcement must come together to address. The Korean American community stands firmly against acts of hate and bias and will work with partners around the country to eliminate them.”
“We encourage the nation to reject the politics of fear and recognize that together we must be part of a movement that rejects xenophobia, racism, and dehumanization,” continued Dr. Kim. “Together, we can equip our communities to respond to acts of hate, whether they are physical or verbal, targeted at ourselves or others.”
According to Stop AAPI Hate, there were approximately 2,800 acts of hate and bias targeting Asian Americans since the national emergence of COVID-19 in March 2020. The acts of hate are not limited to Asian Americans of one particular background or ethnicity. An 84-year-old Thai grandfather, Vicha Ratanapakdee, was fatally attacked while on his morning walk in San Francisco, CA. A 91-year-old Chinese man was attacked in Oakland, CA. A 64-year-old Vietnamese man was assaulted in San Jose, CA. And a 61-year-old Filipino man was slashed on a subway in New York.
The Korean American community has not been immune to these acts. Nationally, the Korean American community reports the second-highest number of incidents to Stop AAPI Hate, and a similar result in California and Georgia. This data is in line with the results of our 2020 report, The National Korean American Community: Promises, Perils, and Paradoxes, which shows 88% of Koreans face microaggressions because of their perceived ethnicity on a monthly basis.
As reported by Juju Chang on ABC News’ Nightline, the problem of scapegoating and committing acts of bias against Asian Americans is not limited to a particular community or part of the nation, it is a problem the entire country must wrestle with. CKA recognizes the need for local and national responses to eradicate this problem and encourages all of our members and the Korean American community to work together with elected officials, law enforcement, and allies within communities of color to address this problem.
CKA will be convening online discussions over the next months to address these issues [Sign up here to receive announcements]. The following list below compiles public resources for taking immediate action.
###
- Encourage Reporting of Incidents – Unfortunately, incidents of hate and bias are not reported to community organizations and law enforcement for investigation, resulting in a severe undercount of the problem. You can assist individuals in reporting incidents to:
- Stop AAPI Hate – English and Korean
- Stand Against Hatred – English and Korean
- Local law enforcement
- U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division
- Share Information in Your Community
- Safety Tips from Stop AAPI Hate – English and Korean
- Stay Safe from Hate booklet by the Asian American Federation (English & Korean)
- Use these social media hashtags: #stopaapihate #iamnotavirus #standforasians
- Support Victims of Hate
- Participate in a bystander intervention training led by Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC and Hollaback!
- Speak out against acts of hate and bias
- Create Change in Your Community
- Call on your elected officials to speak out and take action
- Build relationships with your local government agencies to develop solutions, prevention programs, and provide culturally sensitive victim support
- Participate in cross-racial, anti-racist, and solidarity programs in your community
- Read CKA Member and UCLA Law Professor Jerry Kang’s compelling 1993 Harvard Law Review article, Racial Violence Against Asian Americans.
- Sign up to receive announcements of CKA’s upcoming online programs on race relations, diversity issues, and the Asian American community.
- Download CKA’s recent report on the current state of the national Korean American community. Learn about the progress and challenges that Korean Americans are experiencing across the country especially in the areas of microaggression and socio-economic discrimination.
###
About the Council of Korean Americans:
The Council of Korean Americans is a national nonprofit organization. Our mission is to advance the national voice, interest, and influence of the Korean American community through education, collaboration, and leadership development.
For Media Inquiries, contact:
Ruth Song, 202-660-0900, media@councilka.org
