The hate and violence must stop.
2021.03.17
Song of the day:
Videos of the day:
The hate and violence must stop.
I had every intention of writing a fun St. Patrick’s Day post for today’s blog. I planned to include fun pictures of me in my green attire. But none of it is important now. What happened in Atlanta yesterday is horrific. What’s been happening to the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community across the country is terrifying. AAPI people across the country are scared. My AAPI friends are scared. This hatred and violence must stop.
What’s happening to this community is similar to what’s been happening to the BIPOC community. Almost 4000 incidents have been reported in the last year. Imagine how many go unreported. People are being killed because of the color of their skin, their culture, their accents, and other things that should never get anyone targeted, much less killed. None of it is okay.
And what we continue to see in all of these incidents is how the white perpetrators - because yes, most of the people who commit these violent acts are white - are treated well when they’re arrested (if they’re arrested). They’re not shot on site like someone of color might be. They’re taken into custody with kid gloves. And in many cases the authorities are not calling these acts of violence hate crimes. Absurd. I understand that there are procedures and what not before making those kinds of claims but come on. The motive behind these attacks could not be more clear. It makes me sick. If the white privilege continues to go unchecked this will continue to get worse.
This hatred existed before the former President was in office. It’s been here longer than many of us have been alive. But he made it okay. He called the COVID-19 virus by racist names that I won’t repeat here, but you know what I’m talking about. He made it okay for his followers to attack the AAPI community. Just as he made it okay for them to attack the BIPOC community. Just as he made it okay for them to attack the United States Capitol. This was all here before him, but he put it on center stage and egged them on from the Oval Office. And he continues to do it from whatever cave he’s tucked himself into, sending press releases that look more like tweets on some bizarre stationary that looks far too much like it came from The White House. How is any of it okay? Why won’t the Republican Party grow a spine and stand up to it? Don’t bother answering those questions, they’re completely rhetorical.
I am sickened by what happened yesterday. I’m outraged at what’s been happening across the country in the last few months and truthfully, for a lot longer than that. No one should feel scared to go to the store, to work, or to take a walk. No one should feel scared in their own home. But this is the reality that faces the AAPI and BIPOC communities every single day. I can’t imagine what that’s like because I don’t feel that fear when I leave my house. The whiteness of my skin provides me a privilege that my fellow Americans of color will never have. And there’s nothing okay about that. Nothing.
To my AAPI and BIPOC friends, as well as those I do not know: I stand with you, always. I am here to listen, to learn, and to call out this racist behavior when I see it.
There are a lot of organizations working to end this hate. These links provide information on a variety of organizations working to support these communities and end the hate.
A friend shared a great article recently on how to respond should you witness a hate incident in progress: Here’s How You Can Help if You See Asian Americans Targeted by Racist Harassment. I highly recommend taking the time to read it.
This photo was taken a few years ago when I volunteered for a NOH8 photo shoot. The non-profit organization was birthed from the hateful Proposition 8 legislation in California a number of years ago. It was originally focused on hate against the LGBTQIA+ community, and specifically marriage equality, but now it’s focused on ending hate and bullying of all kinds. This is the only picture that felt appropriate to post today.
I’ll resume Women’s History Month tomorrow…it doesn’t feel right to celebrate anything today.
Thank you for expressing EXACTLY how I feel.