Stop AAPI Hate: Asian Festival joined forces with community groups to Stop AAPI Hate

The unprecedented global COVID pandemic and irresponsible political rhetoric caused a surge in anti-AAPI hate incidents and attacks across the U.S. Stop AAPI Hate reported more than 9000 incidents targeting AAPI community members since the pandemic began. The FBI reported a 76% jump in anti-Asian hate crimes from 2019 to 2020.

In Ohio, many Ohio AAPI community members and businesses experienced verbal abuse, microaggression, attack, vandalism and other hate incidents. In Columbus, a Bhutanese man was assaulted at his home under gun point by a group of unknown people. In Cincinnati, a Chinese restaurant in Cincinnati received a large number of racist phone calls and fake orders that cost the family business time, money and supplies. In Akron, the Asia Services in Action building was vandalized. To make it worse, Columbus Dispatch reported that anti-Asian hate incidents are underreported in Ohio, due to factors like language barrier, cultural barrier, fear over immigration status, police mistrust and lack of standard procedure and terminology.

To combat the worrying trend of anti-AAPI hate, Asian Festival supported the Asian Pacific American Public Affairs Ohio (APAPA Ohio) in organizing five “Community Against Hate” rally events. This is part of a nationwide "Unity Against Hate" rally supported by APAPA and over 120 national and local organizations. The nationwide rally is to show compassion and solidarity in wake of the rising hate incidents against Asian Americans and other minority groups nationally and call for actions, and for community members to get together to see and support each other after a challenging time coping with the pandemic.

To raise awareness of anti-AAPI hate, Asian-American Community Service Council (ACSC), APAPA Ohio, OCAA and Ohio Asian American Health Coalition (OAAHC) teamed up to deliver yellow whistles to community members, as a practical tool to help with self defense, and as a symbol of solidarity against anti-Asian hate. This is part of a nationwide campaign spearheaded by The Yellow Whistle Project, which has distributed over 500,000 yellow whistles across the U.S.

In wake of the tragic shootings in Atlanta that took away the lives of six women of Asian descent, Asian Festival and other community groups helped organize rallies and vigils to condemn the violence and show support of the Asian community in Atlanta and nationwide. U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown and Ohio Governor DeWine sent messages to the events. Ohio Senator Tina Maharath, Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther and other elected officials showed up and spoke to community members to show support.