RE: Memorandum Condemning and Combating Racism, Xenophobia, and Intolerance Against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States

Originally shared January 27, 2021

The Biden-Harris administration’s Memorandum condemning and combating racism, xenophobia, and intolerance against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States is a step in the right direction. As a statewide organization serving working-class Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders across the state of California, we call for further action to aid in our communities’ recovery from COVID-19.

It is essential to recognize that Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Thus, we call on the Biden-Harris administration to address these disparities and center NHPI leadership in the process.

Words are incredibly powerful, and the Biden-Harris administration’s denunciation of racism and their commitment to mitigating racialized language regarding COVID-19 sends a clear message that racism and white supremacy will not be tolerated. However, our communities are also starving, out of work, and losing their homes. We urge the administration to redouble efforts to move the federal government to issue stimulus relief immediately to protect all of our communities.

Lastly, while we support and applaud the effort to prevent hate crimes against AAPI community members, we will NOT support any proposals to increase policing and criminalization, which we know will disproportionately target and harm our Black and Brown communities.

We need community-centered policies and restorative justice approaches to recover from the many crises our communities face. We celebrate this commitment from the Biden-Harris administration as we carry on our fight for justice and liberation.