Actions
in 60 cities stand with Asian community against racism and
war
On March 27, activists in over 60 cities and
towns across the United States held actions in solidarity with the
Asian community in the midst of the horrific,
racist and misogynist massacre that took place in Atlanta on
March 16. The actions were organized by the ANSWER Coalition
and took place across the country, from big cities like New York City
to small towns like Sequim, Washington. The demonstrations drew
significant coverage from mainstream media both nationally and
locally.
The protests called attention to the alarming rise in anti-Asian
hate crimes over the past year, which correlates to an increasingly
hostile U.S. foreign policy toward China. The scapegoating of China
for the COVID-19 pandemic and the intensifying preparations for war
with the country — in the context of centuries of discrimination
against Asian people — has driven this crisis.
Here is a sampling of some of the demonstrations that
took place on March 27:
Atlanta. Approximately 100 people rallied in the
Chamblee area of Greater Atlanta . The demonstration
denounced racist, sexist terrorism and the
mainstream media’s failure to label the shooting as a hate crime.
San Francisco. Thousands took the streets of
downtown San Francisco demanding “Stop Anti-Asian Violence! Stop China
Bashing!” Gloria La Riva of the ANSWER Coalition touched on the
Chinese response to COVID-19 in her talk at the closing rally in Union
Square: “Within days they issued the genetic makeup of the virus so
the world could fight it together. And China built hospitals in days,
rising up like the skyscrapers we see, but buildings that save lives.
And China has sent medical aid to more than 50 countries around the
world, and China’s COVID situation in the country is down to almost
none because they have a national plan, because they are a great
country. But unfortunately the media and the right-wing politicians
and those in the Pentagon who want nothing more than to use their
weapons; they have whipped up this hatred. … China’s not to blame, and
China’s not the enemy.”
New York City. Hundreds gathered in
Flushing’s Chinatown for a rally calling for an end to anti-Asian
violence and U.S. imperialism. Among the speakers was Nicole
Henriquez, the cousin of Christian Hall, a 19-year-old Chinese
American who was killed by Pennsylvania State Police in December 2020.
Henriquez linked the recent anti-Asian attacks to the struggle against
police brutality and state violence.
“We’re sure [the cops] will say they felt threatened, but there was
no one on that bridge but Christian by himself, and he was having a
mental health crisis,” recalled Henriquez. “We can’t send police when
people are having a mental health crisis! He needed a medical
response, not a police response! And now my cousin is dead!”
Columbia, South Carolina. Organizers
from ANSWER were joined by activists from the Chinese Association of
Columbia, ONE Common Cause, the Fire Voros Coalition and Moms Demand
Action for a multi-national, working-class rally. One first-time
protester, who did not wish to be named, emphasized the need to “stand
up” because “when you attack one of us you attack all of us.” Speakers
denounced the rise of racist violence against Asian people and the
racist war machine that fuels this rise in terror. Chants included:
“Black, Brown, Asian, white. Same struggle, Same fight!”
Los Angeles. Over 1,000 protesters gathered with
the ANSWER Coalition at Los Angeles City Hall and marched from City
Hall to the Chinese American Museum. Along the way, they stopped
before the Japanese American National Museum, to commemorate the
struggle for acceptance of Japanese-Americans and all Asian peoples in
the United States. A few cafe-goers, inspired by the movement, joined
the crowd as it marched along 1st Street.
Beginning with a blessing of the land by Lydia Ponce on behalf of
the Tongva people, and a powerful sermon by Pastor Cue from Creating
Justice LA and The Church Without Walls blessing the lives taken by
U.S. racism, many speakers gave voice to the pain and sorrow felt by
the Asian-American community and their supporters.
Sheila Xiao of the ANSWER coalition spoke of the fetishization of
Asian women by white supremacists, the Asian migrants who slaved away
and died building U.S. railroads, and the Asian-Americans whose homes
and lives were taken by organized racist violence here in Los
Angeles.
Trudy from Ground Game LA shared their outrage that the killings in
Atlanta were portrayed as “a bad day” for the killer, rather than the
explicit acts of racism they were. Jonathan Kim of SEIU UHW condemned
the identification of COVID-19 as a Chinese Virus. Maxine Garcia with
CODEPINK condemned the scapegoating of China by Joe Biden and Antony
Blinken as an attempt to mobilize the U.S. population against a
peaceful nation challenging U.S. domination.
David Monkawa from PANA (Progressive Asian Network for Action) and
Save Our Seniors recalled the history of anti-Japanese racism during
World War II, and the vilification of Japanese cars in the 1970s and
1980s. Full Rights for Immigrants Coalition speaker Juan José
Gutierrez called for solidarity against white supremacists. Moni of
Pueblo Sin Fronteras called for unity between all immigrant
communities.
Jackie Fernandez, two-time Emmy winning TV personality and actor,
spoke up about the fetishization of Asian women and criticized the
corporate media’s downplaying of the shooting. She reminded the
protesters that they have the power to control the narrative through
social media and their activism.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Hundreds
gathered at Franklin Square in the city’s Chinatown neighborhood for a
demonstration organized by the Philadelphia Liberation Center and the
Party for Socialism and Liberation in response to a call to action
issued by the ANSWER Coalition. The protest was endorsed by over a
dozen local organizations. After an opening rally, the crowd marched
throughout the neighborhood to an enthusiastic reception. Protesters
raised the demand for justice for Christian Hall, an Asian 19 year-old
who was murdered by Pennsylvania state troopers. A member of Christian
Hall’s family spoke at the opening rally, calling for the unity of all
people in the fight against racism.
New Haven, Connecticut. A rally in New Haven
drew support from onlookers and was heavily attended by the local
Asian-American community. “There is solidarity between the Black and
Asian communities,” said ANSWER organizer Rae Jereza. “We cannot let
the ‘model minority’ myth divide us.”
Chicago. Around 100 people gathered in
Chicago’s Chinatown for a speak-out and march. Many speakers focused
on the media’s role in perpetuating racism and the need to unite the
working class. PSL member Candice Choo-Kang shared her family’s
experiences with racism as Guyanese immigrants and emphasized
President Biden’s complicity in anti-Asian racism. ANSWER Chicago
member Shabbir Manjeed called out the media’s lies and anti-China
rhetoric. “They lied to us about Vietnam, they lied to us about Iraq,
they lied to us about Syria, they lied to us about ALL of Latin
America. We cannot let another lie become a media weapon to drag us
into war,” he said.
San Diego. A high-energy march of
approximately 100 people in San Diego drew support and participation
from passers-by. ANSWER organizer Kourosh Karimi-Cherkandi spoke out:
“We believe that what happened in Atlanta was not an isolated
incident. It can be linked to the deep-seated white supremacy at home
and the U.S. imperialism that is happening abroad.”
Providence, Rhode Island. Members of the local
Asian community thanked the ANSWER Coalition for organizing this
action as there had previously not been any such events condemning
anti-Asian violence. Participants spoke out against racism and white
supremacy and called for unity.
“I understand that I have to stand in solidarity and support with
our Asian community against white supremacy and institutional racism.
As people of color and minorities, it is due to my convictions that
drive me to believe that we need to stick together when those of us
who represent the most marginalized and forgotten are mistreated and
attacked,” said Enrique Sanchez, a school teacher and community
organizer.
Sequim, Washington. Thirty
people participated in a speak-out in Sequim, population 7,000,
including members of the S’Klallam and Elwah tribes.
Milwaukee. Community members and organizers
congregated in the chilly drizzle to demand an end to anti-Asian
violence, violence against women, and white supremacy. Speakers
touched on issues ranging from the re-framing of the shooting as a
“mental health” issue rather than as a hate crime, the China-bashing
in the media surrounding COVID-19, and the violence perpetrated by
U.S. imperialism.
Provo, Utah. The protest was greeted with support
and encouragement from passing cars and pedestrians. “American wars
have been correlated with racism at home. Perhaps not so coincidently
against mostly Asian countries,” said RJ Nolan. Kelli Potter added:
“The mainstream media pretends that racism is just individual
prejudice. … In fact, we know that racism is a system of
violence.”
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Around 100
people gathered at a busy intersection in the Squirrel Hill
neighborhood to rally and stand in solidarity with Asian communities.
Speakers at the action spoke on a range of topics, including the need
to dispel the model-minority myth, how additional policing will not
solve the problem, and the history of solidarity between the Black and
Asian communities.
Although it was left out of the local news coverage, speakers
called attention to the history of U.S. imperialism and occupation in
Asia and the link between violent militarization of the continent and
its people, especially its women, and the increasingly violent
attitude to Asian Americans and Asian women today. Bethie Wang of the
ANSWER Coalition said: “Our commitment to combat all forms of
anti-Asian racism and sexual violence must begin with this
understanding of U.S. imperialism and its cultural byproducts. Only by
understanding this can we begin to accurately diagnose and fight the
ways it continues to harm our communities and the communities we
struggle alongside with toward liberation. “
The action ended with a call to extend showings of solidarity
following tragedies into permanent mobilization by actively building
power in our communities.
Honolulu, Hawaii. Several hundred protesters
rallied at the Hawaii State Capitol demanding an end to anti-Asian
racist terror.
Boston. About 200 participants attended a rally
that was co-sponsored by ANSWER, Boston South Asian Coalition, Stop
Asian Hate, and Sign Language Access for BLM. Sharik Purkar, of the
Boston South Asian Coalition, said: “So we will not fight Anti-Asian
violence with division. We will fight it with a militant multinational
working-class movement that seeks liberation for all of us.” The crowd
showed their solidarity by cheering when, at the end of the rally, an
ANSWER organizer asked if they had been out protesting police terror
last summer.
San Antonio. Protesters from ANSWER, SA Stands,
Yanawan Herbolarios, The Autonomous Brown Berets, and other members of
the community gathered at the Vietnam War memorial for a rally. The
action drew attention to the long history of lies and warmongering by
the media and U.S. government, and drew parallels between the
propaganda surrounding the Vietnam war, the long international
struggle against racism and imperialism, and the anti-China bashing of
today.
Richland, Washington. Dozens came
together to protest hate crimes against Asian people. Signs condemning
the violence against Asian Americans were carried up and down the
street and attendee Cherissa led chants with the messages of “Stop
Asian Hate!” and “Stop White Supremacy!” Activist and demonstrator
Briana Spencer said: “Native Americans stand in support of the AAPI,”
and spoke about the importance of solidarity among all oppressed
peoples. Matt Sakamoto of the PSL called for the “unlearning of racist
China-bashing propaganda,” stating that “the rhetoric is dangerous and
leads to violence.”
Ithaca, New
York. More than 50 people rallied in Shawn Greenwood
Park. Participant Jay Joko said: “The entire system — the police, the
government — needs to take into account that they are complicit in the
violence against Asian Americans, and so that is why I am out here
today.”
Washington, D.C. Hundreds rallied
under the Friendship Archway in Chinatown, including activists from
ANSWER, the PSL, Anakbayan DC, Butterfly for Peace, and student groups
representing Black and Asian and Pacific Islander students at the
University of the District of Columbia Law School. High school student
Clayton Carter said it was important for communities to stand together
in defense of “any group that’s hated upon. As a native to the city, I
feel it is my obligation to be on the front lines with y’all. It’s
about supporting each other.”
Hyunsook Cho from Butterfly for Peace connected the murders in
Atlanta with U.S. imperialism and the conduct of U.S. troops at their
hundreds of military bases abroad. “When I saw the news articles about
the spa shooting I immediately connected. It’s Asian women, the
fetishization of Asian women, that is part of this crime,” she
said.
Champaign-Urbana, Illinois. Approximately 100
people gathered at the Alma Mater statue on the University of Illinois
at Urbana-Champaign campus for a stop anti-Asian violence rally. Local
activist groups Black Students for Revolution and Homo is the New
Homeboy endorsed and shared the event.
Albuquerque, New Mexico. About 100
demonstrators rallied at the Asian American Monument sculpture
"View from Gold Mountain," which was commemorated in 2020 to the
struggle for Chinese American and Asian American Civil
rights.
Houston. Demonstrators rallied in support of the
Asian-American community. Speakers drew a direct link between the
corporate media and the State Department’s propaganda war against
China and the rise in anti-Asian hate crimes.
“Coincidence or not,” said ANSWER organizer Alan Kim, “the Atlanta
shooting happened on the anniversary of the My Lai massacre, which was
an exceptional case not for the atrocities committed but for being one
of the few instances where the indiscriminate rape and murder
perpetrated on a daily basis by the U.S. military in Vietnam was
brought to light. I would like to remind you that of the 26 [soldiers]
tried, only one was convicted. The others were exonerated simply for
following orders. … Our lives will not be valued by America until the
day where capitalism and white supremacy are wholly eradicated.”
Austin, Texas. Protesters gathered at Austin
City Hall, drawing the connection between the rise in anti-Asian
racism in the United States, U.S. media demonization of China and the
hundreds of thousands of U.S. troops stationed in the Pacific. After
the rally, the protesters marched downtown, taking the banner to a
visible location near the interstate to bring the message to
commuters. The banner was received with overwhelming honks, shouts and
signs of support.
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