On this edition of Your Call, we're discussing the rise of COVID-19-related attacks against Asian Americans and find out how communities are responding.
From March 19 to April 30, there were 1,716 reported incidents of verbal harassment and physical assault directed at Asian Americans, according to Stop AAPI Hate. Activists are organizing against the expectation that discrimination and violence will escalate after shelter in place orders are lifted. How are community groups and government officials responding?
Guests:
Helen Zia, civil rights activist, founding member of American Citizens for Justice, and author of Last Boat Out of Shanghai: The Epic Story of the Chinese Who Fled Mao's Revolution
Cynthia Choi, co-executive director of Chinese for Affirmative Action and co-creator of The Stop AAPI Hate Reporting Center
Linda Jue, editor-at-large for the investigative reporting website 100Reporters
Web Resources:
PBS: 'Asian Americans'
SF Public Press, Linda Jue: Activists Warn Anti-Asian Racism Likely to Worsen After Lockdown Lifts
Politico, Alex Isenstadt: GOP memo urges anti-China assault over coronavirus
Vox, Li Zhou: How the coronavirus is surfacing America’s deep-seated anti-Asian biases
Liberation News, Alex Au: SF Chinatown and supporters call for unity against fear of coronavirus and anti-Chinese racism