Since the start of the pandemic, violence against Asian Americans has risen by 150%, an increase often attributed to the incendiary and racist rhetoric around the origin of the coronavirus spewed by then-president Donald Trump. Yesterday, the latest incidence of violence left eight deadโsix of them Asian American womenโacross three Atlanta massage parlors by the hands of the alleged gunman, a 21-year-old white man.
Violence against Asian Americans is not new to this country; America’s history of abhorrent mistreatment of AAPI people going back at least to the mid-1800s, when some 20,000 Chinese migrants came the country to help build the Transcontinental Railroad, where they were exploited for cheap labor all the while being blamed taking jobs from their white counterparts. But recent events have shed a harsh light on what has been there all along, leaving many in the country to wonder what they can do.
To that end, we are asking folks to join Sprudge in making a donation to Hate Is A Virus (stylized #HATEISAVIRUS), a non-profit organization created “to combat the xenophobia and racism against Asian Americans fueled by COVID-19.”
Created by Michelle Hanbusa, Bryan Pham, and Tammy Cho, Hate Is A Virus has three main goals:
- Raise awareness of these issues across our Asian American community and stand in solidarity with communities beyond,
- Educate and equip our community with tactical strategies on how to respond to the hate and racism,
- And raise money to provide relief to small, Asian-led businesses that have been impacted by COVID-19
With yesterday’s events in Atlanta, Hate Is A Virus is focusing their support on the city’s AAPI community, and per a post on Instagram, is “in contact with AAPI leaders and organizations on the ground in Georgia,” whose voices they will be using their platform to amplify.
But these efforts require funding. That’s why we are asking folks to join us in making a donation to Hate Is A Virus. We know that the pandemic significantly impacted the amount of expendable capital many folks have, but if you in the fortunate position of being able to help, we ask you consider contributing to the cause. In addition to Hate Is A Virus, here is a Atlanta-specific organizations to donate to, compiled by Alice Wong:
Asian Americans Advancing Justice ATL
The National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum, Georgia Chapter
Metro Atlanta Mutual Aid Fund
For those unable to contribute, please consider sharing Hate Is A Virus’s message across your social platforms and taking the time to educate yourself on AAPI discrimination. NBC News has put together a list of AAPI anti-racism resources, which can be found here.
For more information or to donate, visit Hate Is A Virus’s official website.
Zac Cadwaladerย is the managing editor at Sprudge Media Network and a staff writer based in Dallas.ย Read more Zac Cadwaladerย on Sprudge.
