Since the COVID 19 pandemic began, the rise of attacks against Asian American and Pacific Islander communities have surged with 2,808 attacks reported to StopAAPIHate.org between March 2020-December 2020. Two weeks ago, there were several attacks on elderly members of the Asian community in the San Francisco Bay Area and New York City, as well as incidents across the country (CNN). Last week, on the first day of the Lunar New Year, four Asian-owned restaurants were robbed in Howard County, Maryland (Baltimore Sun). 

RPCV/W condemns racism of any kind and these attacks and all forms of oppression are unacceptable. We stand with the Asian American community and those who have been targeted. 

Below are resources to learn more and ways to support:

• View the most recent report by Stop AAPI Hate, the nation’s leading coalition documenting and addressing anti-Asian hate and discrimination amid the COVID-19 pandemic 
• Read and/or listen to the NPR conversation on All Things Considered: Unpacking The Surge In Violence Against Asian Americans
• Learn about the history of Asian Americans and how we got here: Asian Americans, Then and Now
• Follow the hashtag #StopAAPIHate on Twitter and Instagram for more information and discussions.
• Speak up if you hear someone say something racist. Tell them it is unacceptable. 
• Remember, silence is complicity.
• If you see an incident report it to StopAAPIHate.org