Dear friend,

The shootings that took place in Atlanta this week were a horrific tragedy. I grieve for those whose lives were lost. It is undeniable that this attack, in which six of the victims were Asian, will only magnify the fear that many of our Asian-American friends and neighbors are living every single day as hate and bias crimes against them continue to soar across the nation and right here in New York City.

As New Yorkers, we celebrate our diversity. It’s part of what makes us so unique. Over the last year, New York City had the largest spike in anti-Asian hate crimes among major cities in 2020. These vicious hate crimes being committed against the Asian-American Pacific Islander community should be a wake up call. This violence affects us all - it places a stain on our humanity. People have been attacked, harassed, spat on, and scapegoated, and the people who commit these crimes deserve to be prosecuted.

We must stand up to bullies, stand up to hate, and call it out when we see it. We all have a responsibility to speak out against these injustices when they occur. It is up to each of us to raise our voices, condemn hate in all forms, and stand together. While there are those that have stoked fear and blamed certain segments, and created toxic and xenophobic rhetoric here, there are more of us who are willing to stand against them.

The Asian-American community makes our neighborhoods and our city stronger. Many Asian American New Yorkers are working on the front lines, from combating the disease in hospitals to providing meals to delivering groceries. As someone who represents a district with a large Asian-American population, I know firsthand that this community is a pillar of our city and vital to what makes this such a great place to live.

I am committed to bringing all of our tools to bear in supporting AAPI communities as we address the rise in hate and bias incidents in the city. That's why last year I hosted a round table on Asian Hate Crimes with the Brooklyn District Attorney to highlight the issue and educate those on how to come forward. I will do everything in my power, and with every moral fiber of my being, to support our AAPI neighbors and bring an end to this hatred and senseless violence.

We have the opportunity to take action. We can create better ways of tracking hate crimes statistics and treat hate crimes as one of our top priorities. We can work with crime prevention officers and partner with community leaders and organizations to protect those at risk. We can invest in meaningful strategies to bring marginalized communities together to build and heal during and after COVID-19. And most of all, we can look out for our fellow New Yorkers.

This is everyone's home.

With hope and love,

Andrew

PAID FOR BY ANDREW FOR NEW YORK

Andrew For New York
c/o Weir & Co.
321 Broadway, Sixth Floor
New York, NY 10007

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