Yesterday (March 16), like the rest of our community, we were horrified and enraged by the domestic terrorist attack on three Asian massage parlors in the metro Atlanta area of Georgia, resulting in the deaths of eight people, six of whom were Asian women. Our hearts go out to the loved ones of those who were murdered in this senseless shooting, and we implore the media to call this tragedy what it clearly is: an anti-Asian hate crime as well as an act of domestic terrorism.

Just a year ago, TACL issued a statement regarding the impact that calling COVID-19 the “Kung Flu” and “Chinese Virus” has on the Asian American community. It is unfortunate that we have to issue a new statement one year later in response to the alarming increase in racially-motivated hate crimes targeting Asian Americans throughout the United States. We have seen an appalling rise in reports of anti-Asian hate crimes, ranging from aggressive verbal harassment to vandalism of Asian-owned businesses to assault and now mass murder. Even more heinous is the targeting of the most vulnerable in our community, including immigrants, women, and the elderly. We encourage everyone to remain on a heightened sense of alert and to continue to watch out for one another, as these hate crimes show no signs of abating. 

In the midst of all this pain, TACL calls on our communities to remain vigilant against racism and bigotry. If you are a target or a witness to such acts of hate, please report such events to your local law enforcement and Attorney General’s office. At the same time, make sure you do not yourself engage in race-based discrimination or acts of hate, as that will only continue to hurt and divide our communities instead of heal our anguish and pain. Please see below this statement for some additional resources in your area, as well as some steps you can take.

TACL programs will also be hosting various events to spread information, provide a safe space to speak about your experiences, and help everyone remain vigilant. 

Your health and safety are paramount during this difficult time – please stay safe and healthy. #stopaapihate #stopasianhate

TACL National Board

TACL Program Events:

TAP – Boston – Spill The Boba Tea Instagram Campaign 

Starting March 17, 2021 at 6:00 PM ET/3:00 PM PT

Time to SPILL THE BOBA TEA! Did you know bubble tea originated in Taiwan in the early 1980’s at a small tea stand? Boba tea is more than just a drink. Boba tea shops have become social gathering grounds and “let’s get boba” is synonymous with “let’s catch up.” Sharing food is a large part of Taiwanese culture, and our shared love for boba brings us together to share food, share about life, and share about what we hope to see in our future. 

With the increase in hate crimes against the Asian community, we want to share why we love our culture, starting with one of our most beloved foods. Hate stems from fear of the unknown. We hope you get to know more about our foods, culture, people, and community from this series.

If you’d like to join us in spilling the boba tea, please re-share, share your fun fact or story, and tag 5 friends!

TAP – Atlanta – Write to Your Congressperson

Send a letter or email to your Congressperson asking them to take action using this Letter Template as a base.

TAP – Orange County – Self Defense Workshop 

March 21, 2021 at 2:00 PM ET/11:00 AM PT

Event Link – https://fb.me/e/3I5gGHury 

TAP – San Francisco – Stopping AAPI Hate: A Conversation With Professor Russell Jeung

April 5, 2021 at 9:00 PM ET/6:00 PM PT

Event Link – https://fb.me/e/U3PV7GBk 

Resources to Report Acts of Hate:

Raise awareness, speak up, and condemn these attacks and anti-Asian racism:

Protect yourself in the face of discrimination or safely stand up for others as a bystander

Learn about the history of Asian Pacific Islander discrimination and other challenges we face 

Support, donate, and volunteer with organizations actively combating racism against the Asian Pacific Islander community

  • Stop AAPI Hate – aggregates and responds to incidents of hate and harassment against Asian American/Pacific Islanders. Stop AAPI Hate received 1,843 reports of anti-Asian discrimination due to COVID-19 in its first eight weeks of reporting (March 19 to May 13). 
  • Hate is a virus – started as a grassroots movement to combat racism and xenophobia against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) fueled by COVID-19, Hate is a virus has evolved into a sustainable organization that addresses xenophobia and hate in the AAPI and BIPOC communities.
  • Act To Change – a national nonprofit organization working to address bullying, including in the AAPI community. They published “The Racism is a Virus Toolkit” to support the community in combating racism. 
  • Asian Americans Advancing Justice – a national nonprofit organization that focuses on housing rights, immigration, civil rights, labor rights, and others for Asian Americans
  • National Council of Asian Pacific Americans – a nonprofit organization that serves to represent the interests of the greater Asian American (AA) and Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander (NHPI) communities through a coalition of 37 national Asian Pacific American organizations around the country.