AAPI|RACISM|XENOPHOBIA| #stopasianhate

Local authorities in NYC have filed three felony hate-crime charges against 38-year-old Brandon Elliot in the brutal stomping of an elderly Asian American woman — a case that could test the efficacy of such statutes amid a national groundswell of concern over rising anti-Asian attacks. The accused Brandon Elliot is a homeless Black man on parole after serving 17 years in prison for killing his mother. He is said to have told 65-year-old Vilma Kari “you don’t belong here” before launching the unprovoked attack in Midtown on Monday. Elliot faces two counts of second-degree assault and one count of attempted first-degree assault that could carry a maximum sentence of 25 years, as well as other punishments for violating his parole. The beating was captured on lobby surveillance video which showed several onlookers failing to respond to Kari’s distress. One even had the audacity to close the door as the woman lay on the pavement in pain. Kari, was randomly approached by Elliot who cursed and told her that she didn’t belong here and called her an Asian-something that she couldn’t hear and then assaulted her in an act caught on video. Elliot kicked the woman in the stomach, knocking her to the sidewalk, then stomped on her head repeatedly. Kari was in the hospital for a day, having sustained a fractured pelvis and contusions to her head and body. This shines light on the flaws of the justice system itself, Elliot had a history of killing people, hurting people, so the broader question is, ‘What allowed this to happen in the first place?’. In recent weeks, Asian Americans in the US have reported being punched in subway cars, spit on, held at gunpoint, pummeled with metal pipes and in extreme cases shot. — an ugly echo of a national trend that activists say gained traction as President Donald Trump used racist terms to tie the coronavirus pandemic to China.

RETHINK

Why is this wrong?

What was wrong in these acts can be looked at on two accounts, namely the person and the community. These acts not only create a sense of fear and insecurity among individuals but create a whole new level of social exclusion for the Asian community in this case. Emphasizing on the fact that Asian Americans are the fastest growing racial group in America and are potentially the largest contributors to the country's economy, acts like these are only pushing Asian Americans to give a second thought on whether they should remain in the country. These acts not only leave Asians feeling sad, angered, frustrated, helpless and simply left out but also causes them to feel insecure about their race, which is something in my opinion, intolerable. And the more it's allowed to flourish, the more diminished the persecuted group feels. The day-to-day lives of several Asians in America are impacted due to this. Picture this, you are working in one of the biggest cities in America like San Francisco which is mostly considered safe by the locals, yet you don't feel secure because you are scared that, say the very next minute your race could be the cause of your death, or hope that your pelvis isn't shattered every time you go to church because of getting stomped by a racist person. Racist mentality can be partly traced to older times when several racist policies were an accepted part of law making, but now times have drastically changed and these primitive laws have no place in society and the fact that racism was accepted by the institution a few centuries ago is not an excuse for it to be practiced now. These incidents are increasing at an alarming rate and are now, a major cause of concern and surely something that we cannot turn a blind eye to. 

REFORM

Reformation doesn't happen overnight, but it does start

from within, especially when it comes to racism no one can

force you and truly change the way you

look at the world unless you decide to make a change.

The whole notion of “Asians are here to steal our jobs” must

be replaced with “Asians are aiding in the betterment and

expansion of the American economy”, people should

stop looking at Asian American as the selfish people

who stole their jobs but as people who are aiding in

the expansion of the American economy, in turn creating

jobs for Native Americans. This basic principle

should be etched in the minds of every citizen from

a very young age, only then will this racist attitude change

for the better. The moment seems rich with opportunity

but solving the problem with such complexity

is going to be a hard task.

What’s to be done to fix the situation and make the

lives of Asian Americans better? According to the

Asian American activists and

leaders, the answers range from creating

better ballot access and greater political representation

to nationwide support, equality,

expanding Asian American history instruction in

schools and emboldening activist participation from

untapped groups such as youth and the greater religious

community. They want better

representation in government offices, and they don’t

want to be treated as outsiders. The United States isn't

just built on the achievements of the privileged but also

the backs of immigrants. 

It’s really important and meaningful that they get

widespread support

from all over the country.