Hate crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders continue to soar. As of a recent report from stopaapihate.org, from March of 2020 to December of 2021, there have been a total of 10,905 reported hate crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Verbal harassment is the biggest category 63.0% with physical assault following in second 16.2%, and avoidance of AAPIs at 16.1%. In March of 2020, WHO declared COVID-19 a pandemic and President Donald Trump declared coronavirus a national emergency. It is safe to say these attacks are in response to the pandemic.
On February 13, 2022, Christina Yuna Lee, 35, was stabbed more than 40 times in her apartment. There is video footage of a figure, stalking Lee into her apartment. That figure was Assamad Nash. Nash, 25, had a previous criminal record and was charged with murder and robbery.
On March 16, 2021, eight people were killed during a shooting spree. Six of those victims were Asian women. Robert Aaron Long, 21, went on a shooting spree of several Atlanta spas. Long, who was a customer at the salons, told police he saw the women as sexual temptations that contradicted his religious beliefs. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life without parole.
These were only two instances of when the AAPI community has endured violence. Stopaapihate.org is a self-reported site, meaning there are unreported stories of Asian American and Pacific Islander hate. With the COVID-19 pandemic going nowhere soon, it does not seem the hate against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders will be decreasing anytime soon. Standing together against hate is only the first strive towards change if things are going to get better.
