Greater Asian-American representation in leadership ranks needed to stem hate crimes in the US, says report
- The report urges Vice-President Kamala Harris to chair an initiative against racism
- Since January the US has experienced a new and disturbing wave of hostility against elderly Asians
“We were often scapegoated simply because of the colour of our skin,” said New York Representative Grace Meng, a Democrat serving the borough of Queens, at an online event introducing the report. “This is a really sad moment for our community, our city and our country. And even before the virus struck our nation, virulent hate and bigotry was directed at our community.”
The report focused primarily on the situation in New York City, host to the largest community of ethnic Chinese outside Asia, but draws on broader social factors fuelling the rise in harassment, violence and racial slurs.
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Asian-Americans, harassed over coronavirus, push back on streets and social media
More than 2,800 reports of anti-Asian hate incidents were reported nationwide linked to Covid-19 between March and December of last year, according to data compiled by Stop AAPI Hate, a coalition of Asian-American community groups.