“Slurs, vandalism, ice thrown on us, and threats. Even our dog was kicked. While my school was still open, some 9th and 10th graders cornered my friend and me, gut-punched us, kicked us, spit on us, slapped us, and then ran. I was pretty hurt, but my friend was stronger than I was and sucked it up pretty quickly. All the school did was to ask whether I knew who did it, and then just made an announcement, saying racism is wrong, and that’s that. I’ve also had death threats made at me, water thrown on me, and have been spat on — a LOT. Luckily, I always washed it thoroughly with hot water and soap.”
Asian teenagers worldwide are facing rampant racism in these difficult times of COVID-19 pandemic. The above account is just one among many teens frustrated. Violence is escalating rapidly. In America alone, there have been 1,100 reports within a span of two weeks on Stop AAPI Hate Forum, which was set up on March 18, as a confidential forum for hate crimes to report. This escalation in violence is simply sickening. A sharp increase in rhetoric is fueling this hate further. Don Luskin, an economist, alluding to China not being part of “the civilized world” on Fox News (16:09 min mark), is one example out of many. The FBI has warned of a potential surge in hate crimes against Asian-Americans, but same is true for Asians worldwide.
As the founder of Teens for Vaccines, I am honored to have co-signed the letter from the OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates, to President Trump for setting up a task force against anti-AAPI hate, to the FBI for more data collection, and to the DOJ for prioritizing anti-Asian hate crimes. There are 188+ organizations demanding action.
If you live outside the U.S., I encourage you to join Asian advocacy groups in your country who may be pushing for stronger government action against hate crimes.
- “Anti-Asian Attacks over Coronavirus Surge in NYC: NYPD.” NBCNewYork.com, NBC, 2 Apr. 2020, www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/anti-asian-attacks-over-coronavirus-surge-in-nyc-nypd/2356988/. Accessed 4 Apr. 2020.
- Coronavirus. Narrated by John Oliver, HBO, 2020. Youtube, www.youtube.com/watch?v=c09m5f7Gnic. Accessed 4 Apr. 2020.
- “FBI Warns of Potential Surge in Hate Crimes against Asian Americans amid Coronavirus.” ABC News, abcnews.go.com/US/fbi-warns-potential-surge-hate-crimes-asian-americans/story?id=69831920. Accessed 4 Apr. 2020.
- Stop AAPI Hate. AP3CON – Asian Pacific Policy & Planning Council, www.asianpacificpolicyandplanningcouncil.org/stop-aapi-hate/. Accessed 4 Apr. 2020.
- United Nations Human Rights. United Nations, 30 Mar. 2020, www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=25757&LangID=E. Accessed 5 Apr. 2020.