As an organization that is committed to implementing and elevating the values and principles of self-reliance and dignity across generations, it important for us to celebrate the extraordinary diversity and traditions that enrich us and give us strength, and to be relentless in our efforts to confront and dismantle racism and to combat and defeat xenophobia. These are urgent matters because our City and our country are experiencing a surge in anti-Asian hate and violence including vicious attacks on elders. A recent report from The Asian American Bar Association notes that there have been more than 2,500 reports of anti-Asian hate incidents related to COVID-19 between March and September 2020 alone – and that “this number understates the actual number of anti-Asian hate incidents because most incidents are not reported.” We know that our elected officials have taken actions to respond to this growing crisis of anti-Asian violence, and we join them in condemning hate incidents and racist attacks. While there is no shortage of steps that have been and will be taken by our representatives to protect our neighbors, the truest difference is made when we, as individual New Yorkers, take it as our individual and personal responsibility to stand up and speak out, to raise awareness and demand action when any person or group of people in our community are threatened, harmed, or in need.
Read this New York Times article on these recent attacks on Asian-Americans.