Foreign policy experts call for end to hate crimes against Asian American community

In light of the urgency of the coronavirus crisis and the anti-Asian racism and hate that has intensified in its wake, Jordan Link and other foreign policy experts call on U.S. leaders to confront the discrimination, prejudices, and institutional racism afflicting Asian diaspora and AAPI communities.

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Recent hate crimes and violent assaults against people of Asian descent should sound an alarm for America. Within the past couple of weeks alone, an acid attack against a woman in Brooklyn caused her to suffer severe burns, and a man in Texas has been charged with attempted murder after attacking an Asian American family. Such stories have become disturbingly frequent since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the FBI has warned that this trend may continue.

We, the undersigned, are alarmed by the severity of such hate crimes and race-based harassment against people of Asian descent in the United States — assaults that endanger the safety, well-being, dignity and livelihoods of all those targeted. We are not alone. On March 20, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights expressed concern over violent attacks against people of Asian descent. Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) leaders and organizations have condemned such bigotry and mobilized important resources and initiatives to counter racism and xenophobia.

The above excerpt was originally published in USA Today. Click here to view the full article.

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