Ambassador Katherine Tai, United States Trade Representative participated to denounce the Asian Hate.
[Detroit] = Asian and Pacific Islander Americans Vote-MI(APIA-MI) hosted a vigil Wednesday at Hart Plaza to commemorate Asian victims from Atlanta spa shooting a year ago. Of eight people lost, six of whom were women of Asian descent.
Rebeka Islam, Executive Director, APIA Vote-MI mentioned about 11,000 hate crimes against Asians have been reported according to Stop AAPI Hate during the COVID-19 pandemic, and it could happen to anyone.
She added that “we could change this environment by telling the stories of the women to tell that their existence mattered”. She also suggested to create safe spaces for people of color through strict anti-hate legislation.
United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai joined the vigil to denounce anti-Asian violence. In her remarks, Ambassador Tai discussed the need to eliminate anti-Asian bias and hate from our society.
She noted that as we honor the eight individuals lost one year ago, we are reminded of the death of Vincent Chin, a Michigan resident who was murdered in a racially motivated hate crime in 1982.
She also said the Biden-Harris Administration had placed racial and gender equity at the center of its agenda. At the same time, Ambassador Tai expressed her belief that these acts of violence do not define the AA and NHPI communities and she noted the resilience and strength that many have displayed.
“It’s really important to face serious competitive challenges and be factual and cool in the context of fighting hate crimes and protecting the economic interests of Americans,” Tai said.
Anti-Asian and other racially hate crimes are a symptom of a broader problem, said Regina Tsang, field director for Rising Voices, which works to develop leadership for Asian-American women in Michigan.
“We are calling for more stringent policing in our communities, but more surveillance and more policing is not the answer, multiracial solidarity is the answer,” Tsang said.
A community organization called WWN is hosting another vigil on Sunday March 20 at 477 Michigan Ave, Detroit from 2 pm.
Tack Kim | miasian.com@gmail.com
