Since the start of the COVID-19 lockdown in the US, over 3,000 attacks on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) have been reported – with many targeting the Bay Area’s elderly population. Misinformation, fear, and politicians’ racist rhetoric tied to COVID’s origins in China have only fueled the sometimes fatal violence against AAPI communities across the country. Cynthia Choi of Stop AAPI Hate and Chinese For Affirmative Action joins us to talk about scapegoating, the data collected on these verbal and physical attacks, and the pressing need for community-led, intersectional public safety initiatives. 

 

Keep up with Julián on twitter @JulianCastro and Instagram @JulianCastroTX. 

 

Resources from the episode:

 

• Keep up with Chinese For Affirmative Action and Stop AAPI Hate action items and data collection.

 

• Report an incident to Stop AAPI Hate. 

 

 

• February press release on hate crimes against AAPI elderly.
• August report on AAPI attacks nationwide.
• AAPI hate crime resources courtesy of National Asian Pacific American Bar Association. 

 

• Volunteer with the Oakland Chinatown Coalition to assist elderly community members with daily activities.

 

• Request a chaperone or volunteer to chaperone with Compassion In Oakland.
• Support the GoFundMe to cover funeral costs for 84-year-old Vicha Ratanapakdee who died in late January after a brutal beating.
• Contribute to the Asian Pacific Fund’s Solidarity Fund to address anti-Asian sentiment in the Bay Area.

 

Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows.

 

To follow along with a transcript and/or take notes for friends and family, go to https://www.lemonadamedia.com/show/our-america shortly after the air date.

 

Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia.

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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.