Civil Rights Teams’ Difficulty Solidarity Assertion On Wave Of Hate Crimes Towards Asians

The National Action Network,
directed by Rev. Al Sharpton,
belongs to 207 organizations that
made the anti-hate statement.

By Hazel Trice Edney

(Trice Edney Wire) – More than 207 national civil rights organizations have issued a unified statement condemning the recent wave of hate crimes against the Asian community. including last week’s Atlanta massacre that killed eight people. Six were women of Asian descent.

The March 23 declaration, signed by many black civil rights organizations including the NAACP, the National Urban League and the National Action Network, sets a new precedent for color communities to band together at a time of increasing hate crimes.

“The violence of the white supremacists against color communities continues to escalate, especially in recent years. The deadly shootings in the Atlanta area on March 16 follow an alarming 150 percent increase in violence and harassment against Asians and Asian Americans. Women have reported incidents twice as often as men since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is no accident that the horrific attack was aimed at women in color who had low-wage jobs, as women in color are the most likely to suffer the consequences of racism, misogyny and white supremacy, ”the statement said.

The statement goes on to say: “The civil and human rights community condemns these misogynist and racist attacks and, together with our local allies, calls for community-oriented measures to better support Asian women and elders who are disproportionately affected by the increase in violence. These responses must include increased culturally based support for survivors and the wider community. meaningful access to physical and mental health care, including for all immigrants; and economic support focused on those who need it most. “

Among other civil and women’s rights organizations on the list of 207 signatures in the letter is the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, the lead organization of 220 national organizations.

Other organizations that have signed the declaration are African Communities Together; American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), Anti-Defamation League; Association of the Asia Pacific Community; Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino; Chinese American Citizens Alliance; National Center for Civil and Human Rights; National Council of Negresses; National Federation of Filipino American Associations; National Organization for Women; People for the American way; Planned Parenthood Federation of America Council of Action on Poverty and Race Studies; Voice of the Vietnamese Americans; and YWCA USA.

The statement – without giving a name – speaks specifically against politicians who participate in hate speech, which is likely to have led to increased violence. An example of this could be that the former President Donald Trump calls the coronavirus under his other descriptions as the “China virus” and blames the Asian community for the pandemic.

“Our leaders must take steps to recognize and address the effects of hateful rhetoric, violence, and vitriol directed against Asian Americans, particularly over the past year. You need to ensure that Asian American communities, including local organizations, have the resources to effectively support people who target hate, ”the statement said. “When political leaders trying to deepen divisions and their enablers dehumanize color communities and sow hatred through rhetoric and politics, they encourage white supremacists to use terrible violence. This is unacceptable. We must all unite to demand accountability. Hate has no place in our country and we cannot allow this bigotry to go unaddressed. “

Among other things in the declaration on the danger of emerging hatred:

• The office of the director of the National Intelligence Service released a report on March 1 warning Congress of the growing threat from white supremacists, and particularly individual criminals.
• Homeland Security Minister Alejandro Mayorkas testified on March 17 that domestic extremism “is the deadliest and most persistent terrorist threat to the homeland today”.
• Asian Americans Promoting Justice – Atlanta and Georgia NAACP issued a collective statement: A Community-Centered Response to Violence Against Asian American Communities.
• The National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum called on President Biden to provide emergency relief and relief to Asian-American and Pacific islander communities.

Separately, Rev. Al Sharpton and his National Action Network hosted a press conference on March 18 with Asian American leaders, New York mayoral candidates and “advocates deciphering the rise in hate attacks against the Asian community.”