a quick post on how you can stand against anti-Asian violence + educate yourself + help AAPI communities now
a quick post on how you can stand against anti-Asian violence + educate yourself + help AAPI communities now
Wherever in the world you are, you can do your part.
Hi all,
It’s been a difficult week for Asians and Asian Americans in the United States. After eight people were killed at three massage businesses in Atlanta earlier this Tuesday, the suspect in the shootings, Robert Aaron Long, has been charged with eight counts of murder and one count of aggravated assault.
Six of the victims were of Asian descent, and two were white. Seven were women.
It’s not really important at this moment to focus on Long’s motives, or why he did what he did. Cops called it “a bad day” for him and focused on his possible “sex addiction.” This is a hate crime and an act of white supremacy, and all these are deeply intertwined in the routine fetishization and hyper-sexualization of Asian women almost everywhere in the world. So what can YOU do?
Here are some curated resources and links to learn more about A) What this means to the community, B) What you can do to help, and C) where to donate.
Reporting
The long history of targeting Asian-American sex workers, hyphen magazine
The anatomy of the massage parlor industry in the US and the 2017 death of Song Yang, a sex-worker in Queens, The New York Times
Korean-American singer Eric Nam on the call to action against anti-Asian violence, TIME Magazine
Cathy Park Hong in The Atlantic on why this wave of anti- Asian racism feels different
R.O. Kwon’s letter of resilience to her fellow Asian women in this time, Vanity Fair
"I want you to care when people are still alive": Yves Tong Nguyen of Red Canary Song
What you can do
Bystander intervention training for combating anti-Asian violence wherever you see it happen
If you can’t attend these, here’s a recorded webinar with slides.
If you want a bite-size version (highly recommend the webinar though)
Donate
AAPI Community fund to stop Asian hate
Hyun Jun Grant’s family fundraiser, one of the victims of the violence
Butterfly, an Asian and migrant sex-workers network
Red Canary Song
Make the Road, greater New York
Sex Workers Project, Urban Justice Center, New York City
Asian Americans Advancing Justice: Atlanta, Georgia
If you know someone who makes racist remarks against Asians and Asian Americans, here’s how to talk to them and address it non-violently. It doesn’t matter where you’re from - if you hear it, say something about it.
If you want to add to this list, feel free to mail me at dk3771@nyu.edu.
A new episode + issue is on your way. Sit tight.