June 2021 TPT Member Magazine

Another way is to close loopholes in each state’s hate crimes law – such as expanding the definition of a hate crime. The government’s support and funding of community-led advocacy centers will also help with reporting. Organizations like CAPI USA and CAAL have already begun offering community members the opportunity to report hate crimes and bias/hate incidents directly to their staff, who will in turn, reports these incidents to the MN Department of Human Resources. “We should report because our experience is valid. It is important for the world to know that their Asian neighbors are being targeted,” Thao-Urabe said. “However, this means that we need to find better, safer and more efficient ways to report…that will validate and bring justice to victims.” …at the Community | Organizational level Prakash believes that organizations and institutions need to create more pathways, resources and safe spaces for victims. There needs to be a different process than just giving community members a phone number to call or directing them to the police. Building a network of community-led organizations and advocacy centers will also help in serving the variety of members and ethnicities within the AAPI community. …at an Individual level “Someone says something to me, but I don’t make a big stink. It’s in our bones to ignore, which self-perpetuates. It’s a double-edged sword,” Kor said. If you are a victim and are uncomfortable with reporting, find safe spaces to tell your story, Thao-Urabe said. If you see a hate crime or racist acts committed against another individual, intervene and help out. Don’t ignore it. There are bystander trainings to help prepare for those specific situations.

Ekta Prakash, the executive director of CAPI USA, said that people would often ask her, “When did you learn English? And how do you pronounce your name?” while others assumed she ate Chinese food every day, even though she’s of Indian descent. Such microaggressions may seem harmless at the onset, but the negative effects are cumulative and may eventually lead to manifestations of xenophobia. After the Atlanta spa shooting, Gay said there is a new kind of leeriness or fear. “As a woman, I am very aware of the hyper- sexualization of Asian women.” Stereotypes are also a form of microaggression: Asian women are exotic. Asian men are kung fu masters. Asians are the model minority. Asians are geniuses. If you’re Filipina, you must be a nurse. Although these stereotypes may seem benign and – from the dominant cultural viewpoint – complimentary, they are monolithic notions, and downplay the struggles and experiences of individuals. Actions moving forward …at the Federal | Policy level “Our communities are receiving mixed messages. We are hearing from city and state leaders asking us to make a hate crime report, but at the same time, we’re talking about defunding the police,” Prakash said. She suggested that a uniform, clear message by the government would be a step forward in rebuilding trust with community members.

“We have to take care of each other because at the end of the day, it comes down to us,” Thao-Urabe said.