To the Asian Community
Anti-Asian Racism
We join today as representatives of Black and African diaspora communities in British Columbia, Canada: to urge our political leaders and all our fellow Canadians to speak out and reach out in solidarity with Asian Canadian communities on anti-Asian racism.
We also acknowledge our presence on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territories of Indigenous Nations and we thank the host Nations for their stewardship of these lands since time immemorial.
This is a time of great uncertainty, loss and trauma for many equity denied groups, particularly Indigenous and racialized communities. We have been dealing with the toll from the pandemic, ongoing systemic racism, and White supremacy. We have been standing in solidarity to express our outrage at police brutality and demands for change. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a sharp rise in racism towards racialized/marginalized groups, with the sharpest increase in racism targeting Asian communities. On May 7, 2021, Vancouver was named the anti-Asian hate crime capital of North America in a report from Bloomberg [bloomberg.com]. In 2020, there were a total of 98 anti-Asian hate crimes that were reported to Vancouver police [vancouverpoliceboard.ca] – an increase of 717% from 2019.
The parallels between the racism and hate targeting Asian communities and what Black people have and continue to experience is not lost on us. Throughout our own history, we know what it is like to face accusations of dual-loyalty and to be scapegoated during times of crisis. We know the consequences of hateful rhetoric that fuels the flames of hate. And we know that an attack on one community is an attack on all.
As leaders in our Black and Africa diaspora communities, we urge action by:
- Asking elected officials and community leaders to immediately stop using derogatory and harmful rhetoric that fuels bigotry and hate against the Asian community;
- Urging communities, law enforcement agencies, and other municipal, provincial and federal authorities to stand up against bias, ensure proper data collection and reporting, and hold perpetrators accountable;
- Encouraging schools to provide anti-bias and anti-bully educational programs and resources to students to create inclusive, safe spaces for all.
We cannot sit on the sidelines during this critical moment. It is up to all of us to show our support and compassion. Our message to members of our Asian communities: “We stand with you and we are for you.”
Sincerely,
The Unity Centre Association for Black Cultures
