Statement on the Atlanta Asian Hate Crime
Statement on the Atlanta Asian Hate Crime
Eight people were killed in a shooting incident in Atlanta, USA on March 16, of which six were Asian workers. This is an obvious hate crime in that the offender, who is a white male, aimed at shops where female Asians are working from the outset. Since Anti-Asian sentiment has been rapidly spreading in the US after the spread of COVID-19 and the US government has not actively resolved this issue despite the rapid increase in hate crimes, this is a social disaster, not an accident.
According to Stop AAPI Hate (American Civil Organization), hate crimes against Asians living in the USA have surged over the past year after COVID-19 spread, resulting in a total of 3,795 cases in 46 states, with an average of 11 cases per day. In particular, as the former President Donald Trump’s discriminatory remarks against Asians in relation to the spread of COVID-19, and the addition of racist agitation remarks by Republican officials, hatred toward Asians rapidly spread. According to the same report, 68% of those who experienced hate crimes were women, 2.3 times more than men. This shows the vulnerability of Asians in the United States, especially women, to discrimination and crime.
Hate crime laws have been enacted in many states in the United States, as well as in the state of Georgia where the crime took place. However, because a hate crime law deals with criminal motives, it is rarely applied. In particular, there is a tendency that hate crimes are not applied to crimes against Asians because it is hard to find “Anti-Asian symbols”. Despite the increasing discrimination and crimes against Asians after COVID-19 and the increase of the fear and pain that Asians are suffering after this gun murder case, the law as a countermeasure is not working.
In addition, even if Asians suffer hate crimes due to the discriminatory and violent words and actions of the USA police against people of color, there are many cases where reports are avoided. Even if Asians are exposed to hate crimes, they know how harshly the police treat people of color, so they can’t report being worried of the problem is getting bigger or getting hurt. However, this tendency opens up the possibility that the perpetrators are not punished and inflict more serious violence. If USA governments and the police do not have awareness and reflection on this that means no willingness to resolve hate crimes.
For this reality, first of all, Asian civil societies express deep sorrow and anger at the horror and pain that Asians in the USA are experiencing, and in particular expresses deep condolences to the families of the victims of this Atlanta shooting. Second, Asian civil societies urge USA governments and judiciaries to protect Asian lives and human rights, and for this purpose, we demand that the Atlanta case and similar crimes be prosecuted and punished as hate crimes. Third, Asian civil societies demand concrete and practical practices to prevent this from happening again.
Asian civil societies will continue to watch USA governments and American society, and demand that the USA, which claims to be a human rights state, overcome racism and becomes a society with real human rights and freedoms that protects the lives and human rights of all people.
Proposed by
1. Andong YMCA
2. Ansan YMCA
3. Anyang YMCA
4. Asan Citizens’ Solidarity
5. Asan Migrant Workers Center
6. Asan YMCA
7. Boo Tteul
8. Bucheon YMCA
9. Busan YMCA
10. BUTTL’ Chunganm Human Rights Educational Activist Group
11. Catholic Human Rights Committee
12. Cawoman
13. Changwon YMCA
14. Cheonan womem”s hot-line
15. Cheonan YMCA
16. Cheongju YMCA
17. Chuncheon YMCA
18. Chungju YMCA
19. Chungnam people’s solidarity for win-win reunification Korea
20. Citizen’s Coalition for Economic Justice
21. Citizens Opening the World for Welfare
22. Civil Society Organizations Network in Daejeon
23. CN democratic movement association
24. Cowalk
25. Daegu YMCA
26. Daejeon YMCA
27. DangjinYMCA
28. Dasan Humanrights Center
29. demo.soc
30. Ecofem
31. Gangneung YMCA
32. Geochang YMCA
33. Geoje YMCA
34. Gimcheon YMCA
35. Gimhae YMCA
36. Goyang YMCA
37. GREEN CONSUMER NETWORK IN CHEONAN
38. Green Future
39. Green Party Korea
40. Gumi YMCA
41. Gunpo YMCA
42. Gunsan YMCA
43. Guri YMCA
44. Gwangju YMCA
45. Gwangmyeong YMCA
46. Gwangyang YMCA
47. Gyeongju YMCA
48. Haenam YMCA
49. Hanam YMCA
50. Hongseong YMCA
51. Hope Center with Migrant Workers
52. Hwasun YMCA
53. Hwasung YMCA
54. Icheon YMCA
55. Iksan YMCA
56. Imsil YMCA
57. Incheon YMCA
58. Incorporated Organization Silcheon Bulgyo
59. Jangsu YMCA
60. Jeju YMCA
61. Jeongeup YMCA
62. Jeonju YMCA
63. Jinan YMCA
64. Jinju YMCA
65. JPIC Commission of Korea Province, the Society of Jesus
66. KFEM Yesan-Hongseong
67. KOCO (Korean Solidarity for Overseas Community Organization)
68. Korea Federation for Environmental Movements Cheonan-Asan
69. Korea Women’s Associations United (KWAU)
70. Korea Women’s Hot Line
71. Korean Federation of Environmental Movement
72. Korean House for International Solidarity
73. Korean Pharmacists for Democratic Society
74. Mokpo YMCA
75. Mungyeong YMCA
76. Namyangju YMCA
77. MINBYUN- Lawyers for a Democratic Society International Solidarity Committee
78. National Council of YMCAs of Korea
79. New Bodhisattva Network
80. Paju YMCA
81. Platform.c
82. Pohang YMCA
83. Progressive Korea
84. PSPD (People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy)
85. Pyeongteak YMCA
86. Sarangbang group for human rights
87. Sejong Women
88. Sejong YMCA
89. Seongnam YMCA
90. Seosan YMCA
91. Siheung YMCA
92. Sokcho YMCA
93. Solidarity for Another World
94. Suncheon YMCA
95. Supporters group for migrant workers movement
96. Suwon YMCA
97. Uijeongbu YMCA
98. Ulsan YMCA
99. Wind Hope Human Rights Net
100. Womenlink
101. Wonju YMCA
102. Yangju YMCA
103. Yangsan YMCA
104. Yeongcheon YMCA
105. Yeongju YMCA
106. YEOSU COMMUNITY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
107. Yeosu YMCA
108. Yongin YMCA
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