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The Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Coalition of Wisconsin today released a statement on the shootings of Asian American women in Atlanta.
It is with heavy hearts that the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Coalition of Wisconsin mourns the lives lost in the shootings that transpired on Tuesday evening in Atlanta, GA. There have been more than 3,800 hate incidents committed against the AAPI community since the pandemic began. This level of communal trauma has had a significant impact on Asian Americans.
Much like Georgia’s AAPI leadership, the AAPI Coalition of WI is calling for a community-centered response that will center the voices of the victims and their families. We are calling for our allies to stand with us in our collective grief and demand leadership denounce the scapegoating of AAPIss for the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and other anti-Asian rhetoric.
Racism and hate have no place in Wisconsin. While data irrefutably shows that hate crimes committed against the AAPI community have been on the rise since last year, including verbal assaults, physical violence, and a disproportionate number of attacks directed towards AAPI women, we have not seen our leaders offer sincere concerns nor plan of action.
For these reasons the AAPI-WI is offering the following calls to action:
- Develop a preventative community-based infrastructure and strategies to address AAPI threats and violence.
- Publicly condemn racist language, the racist association between the virus and the Asian community.
- We urge the media to cover the anti-Asian violence to help bring awareness.
- Encourage the reporting of hate incidents. Many hate crimes go unreported, which hinders the ability to appropriately track, allocate resources, and address the root causes.
- Call your Wisconsin Senators and Representatives and ask them to support the Bill – LRB -2576/1that condemns anti-Asian violence and hate.
The Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Coalition of Wisconsin unites AAPI leaders throughout the state, serving as a conduit for AAPI communities and local/municipal/state resources to come together to stand against Hate and Racism. Born out of a rise in anti-Asian sentiments tied to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, our coalition inspires action in, and across, all communities by confronting racism, connecting resources and serving those affected by hatred and xenophobia.
The AAPI Coalition of Wisconsin will be hosting a vigil Thursday, March 18th, at Milwaukee City Hall 200 E Wells St, Milwaukee, WI 53202 at 5:00 PM. Please join us as we mourn the lives of the victims and fight against racism in our communities.
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