Stop Asian Hate
"Stop Asian Hate" is a slogan used to protest against violence against Asians and Asian Americans. To be specific, in early 2021, the world witnessed a wave of attacks or violations against Asian communities in the United States. That incident led to the start "Stop Asian Hate" movement. This wave of attacks has taken place in response to misinformation, xenophobia, and racial discrimination against Asian communities related to the global COVID-19 pandemic. The "Stop Asian Hate" movement grabbed a good attention and support of diverse communities that helped to strengthen the movement against the accused. Now we arrive in 2024, the question arises: What Happened to "Stop Asian Hate"?
The Genesis of the Movement
According to the study of Hate and Extremism at California State University and Stop AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) Hate, crime and discrimination against Asian communities have increased since 2019. This study reported that the crimes against them have increased by 150% in 2020. It increased by 339% in 202, according to research from the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism. In 2021, a series of high-profile crimes occurred in the United States (according to the Stop APPI Hate report, 3,793 incidents occurred in the first year of the pandemic). That spa shooting is one of them where eight people were killed and six of them were Asian women. After these incidents, the "Stop Asian Hate" movement came forward to the public and gained good momentum. The main motive of this movement was not only to protest against those crimes but also to bring awareness and change to the long-standing crimes and discrimination against Asian communities in the U.S.
Initial Impact
This movement created a sensation everywhere and got a massive and powerful response from it. Social media was in the hype with this movement and flooded with the hashtag #StopAsianHate. It was not limited just to social media posts, celebrities and politicians also spoke out about this injustice and crimes against Asians in the U.S. Lots of rallies and protests have taken place across the country. For instance, a lot of people gathered at Lincoln Bridgeforth Park for a rally on March 28, 2021, and more than 200 people gathered for a vigil on March 21, 2021. Some nonprofits and advocacy groups came up to support victims as well as donate to combating hate crimes.
Declining Attention
Despite "Stop Asian Hate" gaining huge attention from different communities, the visibility of this movement has waned. Here are some factors that contributed to the decline of this movement.
Media Cycles and Public Attention: There is a tendency in media and social media trends that one new piece of news will cover the previous one. It is a common phenomenon. The media is both a blessing and a curse for the social movements. The news provides rapid exposure of events, but often short-lived attention. The same thing happened in the "Stop Asian Hate" movement. Everyone's focus on anti-Asian hate crimes diminished very soon from the media.
Pandemic Fatigue: The global pandemic COVID-19 has significantly changed human behavior and lifestyle. They adapted to living with the environment imposed by COVID-19. At that time, they had only focused on their safety, economic recovery, and other issues which turned their attention to this movement.
Systemic Challenges: To address and work on this deeply rooted racism, there needs sustained effort and systemic change. Systemic change and process seem slow and difficult. So, to continue the "Stop Asian Hate" movement and make sure 0% racism in Asian communities, they need to be involved in an ongoing struggle. This struggle involves translating the awareness about this movement into long-term policy changes and societal shifts. But, it is hard to maintain this struggle because the world is emerging with new issues and occurrences and forgetting the old issues.
Current Efforts and Progress
Though this movement is not at the same pace as it was before and does not even dominate headlines in media, efforts to combat anti-Asian hate are still on.
Legislation: By considering the hate crimes against Asian communities in the United States, President Joe Biden passed the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act into law. This act aims to review and take legal action against hate crimes.
Community Initiatives: Though the movement has low media coverage right now, the grassroots organizations and some community groups remain active. They support this movement by providing necessary support services, advocacy, and educational programs. Community safety and bystander intervention training programs are two of them that play an important role in maintaining the momentum of the movement.
Cultural Representation: The culture of Asian Americans is represented through different shows, films, and books. This representation and showcases are contributing to the cultural shift towards greater acceptance and understanding.
The Road Ahead
The "Stop Asian Hate" has set significant milestones in raising awareness and promoting actions by highlighting the critical issues regarding hate crimes against Asian communities. The efforts and journey to eradicate hate and enhance inclusivity are not over yet, it is still on. To make sure the hate crimes never again happen, both public and private sectors are active with sustained efforts.
Though the "Stop Asian Hate" movement is not fully visible today, the commitment to promote quality and eradicate hate is a common principle not only in the United States but also in the whole world. To meet this commitment, the government, NGOs, federal agencies, and several communities are involved in ongoing activities. For instance, 90 agencies across the Federal Government created and released Equality Actions Plans on April 14, 2022. This plan develops roadmaps to address the barriers and discrimination that underserved communities face and work to resolve them.
Conclusion
"What happened to 'Stop Asian Hate'?" is not just a question of past events but a call to action for the present and future. While the movement may not be at the forefront of public discourse as it once was, the fight against racism and hate crimes continues. Through persistent efforts and collective action, we can ensure that the movement's goals are realized and that the legacy of "Stop Asian Hate" endures.