In Solidarity: 5 Things You Can Do to Counter Violence and Hate Against the Asian-American Community

Statement of the City Bar Justice Center

Daoyou Feng, Delaina Yaun, Hyun Jung Kim, Paul Andre Michels, Soon Chung Park, Suncha Kim, Xiaojie Tan, and Yong Ae Yue. These are the names of parents, caregivers, partners, and friends whose lives were suddenly and tragically taken at last week’s Atlanta shootings. The City Bar Justice Center mourns these lost lives and stands in solidarity with their family members, friends, and community members, and with all those who are hurting from this latest act of hate and violence against members of the Asian-American community. We also condemn the racism and sexism behind these killings, and the multiple forms of bigotry behind the current surge in anti-Asian hate crimes that have had particularly devastating outcomes for women and elders. America has a long, sordid history of anti-Asian “othering” and violence that extends back as long as there have been Asian immigrants in this country. Our hearts ache in the face of the increased trauma and fear that such violence continues to inflict on our neighbors of Asian descent, especially amid the ongoing global pandemic.

The City Bar Justice Center’s mission to increase access to justice powerfully informs all the work that our team does and runs deep in the parallel values that we embrace – dignity, equality, respect, and the safeguarding of well-being and hopeful aspiration for each and every person. The recent rise in anti-Asian bias – as with all forms of bias – also reminds us of the importance of moving forward as an organization in anti-racism efforts, and of collaborating closely with colleagues throughout and beyond the legal profession to fulfill our promise to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion to better serve our clients – members of New York City communities burdened by socio-economic barriers who demand equal access to the promise of justice.

The City Bar Justice Center will not remain silent or inactive when injustices arise, and we hope you won’t either. Let’s make a commitment to be better and do better. We make no specific endorsement of a path to follow or approach to take, but respectfully offer the following list of resources as one possible starting point to support the Asian-American community.

(1) Stay informed. Follow and support organizations that are working towards addressing the political and socio-economic inequities that harm Asian and Pacific Islander communities in the U.S.

• AAPI Women Lead
• Asian American Federation
• Asian Americans for Equality
• Asian Americans Advancing Justice
• Stop AAPI Hate
• Womankind

(2) Educate yourself. Stay informed on current events, dive into the history and origins of gender and racial discrimination and learn about the lived experiences of members of the Asian-American community. Below is a list of media sources to get you started:

• A Rising Tide of Hate and Violence against Asian Americans in New York During COVID-19: Impact, Causes, Solutions by the Asian American Bar Association of New York
• The Making of Asian America by Erika Lee
• Asian Americans on PBS

(3) Encourage action. Help spread the word about the injustices that are harming our fellow Asian-American neighbors and encourage the public and people you know including colleagues, friends, and family to take action.

• Raise awareness of the issue: share educational resources and information
• Support Asian-led, Asian-focused organizations such as the ones listed above
• Report hate crimes at NYC Human Rights, stopaapihate.org, or www.standagainsthatred.org

(4) Become a better advocate. Build on your knowledge and skillset on how to be a better ally. Learn how to be an active bystander, or “upstander,” and intervene when you witness someone experiencing racism, discrimination or harassment.

• 5 “D’s” of Being an Upstander by the Asian American Federation and Center of Anti-Violence Education
• Virtual Bystander Intervention Trainingsby Asian Americans Advancing Justice
• Stop Asian Hate: A Toolkit by NYC Human Rights

(5) Take care of yourself. Please be mindful of your physical, emotional, and mental limitations. Social justice advocacy work and community organizing can take a serious toll on your well-being, especially if you are personally affected by these injustices. Below is a list of mental health and safety resources to help protect you:

• Stay Safe from Hate by the Asian American Federation
• Asian Mental Health Collective
• SAMHSA National Hotline
• NYC Well
• The City Bar’s Lawyer Assistance Program – a free, confidential service available to attorneys, judges, law students and their family members in New York City who are struggling with depression, anxiety and stress, substance abuse or addiction, as well as other mental health issues.