By Nico Duarte
There is no place for violence, hatred or discrimination in our community. If you are troubled by hate crimes, systematic and overt racism, you are absolutely not alone. We stand in solidarity with those affected by any form of discrimination.
Numbers don’t lie.
Anti-Asian hate crimes have increased 1,900% in the last year. Our hearts go out to the families and victims of those affected by the horrific and heartbreaking surge in violence against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) happening across the U.S.
As we continue to keep you in our thoughts, the IHC community will continue to advocate and fight for justice and equality. We must act now. Together, it is our responsibility to condemn hate and create lasting social change.
Camp IHC stands with the AAPI community and remains committed to rectifying the racial inequalities in our society. Our values compel us to stand in solidarity for those who are hurting and have been unfairly targeted. We believe in the power of inclusion, we believe in the power of diversity, we stand against every form of discrimination and racism.
#STOPASIANHATE
We want you to join us to be an ally and help Asian Americans fight anti-Asian racism. Here is how we can help:
Report hate crimes if you spot them or experience them. Where to report? (If you see something, say something)
- Stop AAPI Hate (stopaapihate.org)
- National organization for victim assistance 1–800–879–6682
- Victim connect resource center — 855–4-VICTIM (855–484–2846)
- Crisis text line: Text HOME to 741741 for free, 24/7 Crisis counseling
- 1–888-NYC-WELL (1–888–692–9355) — is a free, confidential helpline for New York City residents
- Text SIGNS to 741741 for 24/7, anonymous, free crisis counseling
- National alliance on mental illness (NAMI) — 1 (800) 273-TALK
For more AAPI information and educational material support these Instagram accounts:
- @hateisavirus
- @stopaapihate
- @aapiwomenlead
Where to donate and organizations to support:
- Go Fund ME: www.gofundme.com/f/support-aapi-community-fund (Support the AAPI Community Fund)
- Go Fund ME: https://charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/community-action-fund
- Asian American Advancing Justice (AAJC) — https://secure.donationpay.org/aajc/
- National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association (NAAPIMHA)
- Stop AAPI Hate (stopaapihate.org)
Books to read and informational resources
- Book: Minor feelings — the asian american reckoning (A ruthlessly honest, emotionally charged, and utterly original exploration of Asian American consciousness and the struggle to be human)
- Book: The woman warrior (As a girl, Kingston lives in two confounding worlds: the California to which her parents have immigrated and the China of her mother’s “talk stories)
- NAPABA hate crimes task force and pro bono legal resources
- US Department of justice — Learn about hate crimes
- Hollaback! is a global, people-powered movement to end harassment — in all its forms. https://www.ihollaback.org/bystanderintervention/
We encourage our community to:
- Start conversations with your friends, families, and colleagues
- Use your voice and platform to amplify the push for justice and equality
- Share resources with your friends and family
- Report hate crimes if you spot them
- Call your local legislators to ask about what they are doing to fight discrimination and inequality
- Support your local small asian-american businesses
- Check in with their AAPI friends
Here is useful information to keep in mind when experiencing hate and discrimination.
5 things to consider:
- Safety first
Trust your instincts and assess your surroundings. If you feel unsafe and you are able to, leave the area
- Stay calm
Take a deep breath, limit eye contact, and maintain neutral body language
- Speak out (if you can do it safely)
In a calm and firm voice establish physical boundaries, and denounce their behaviour
- Seek immediate support
Ask bystanders for support or intervention
- Seek emotional support
Once you feel safe, take time to recover and reach out to someone to talk about what happened. Remember, this is NOT your fault and you are NOT alone
Here are some mental health resources to help cope
- @asianmentalhealthcollective
- @asiansformentalhealth
- @subtleasianmentalhealth
- @laichientheraphy
“Solidarity requires us to see ourselves in each other’s struggles to imagine a better future” Julie AE Kim
