#StopAsianHate

These are the names of the victims of the horrific shootings in Atlanta this week. Say their names. Remember them. They deserved better than murder fueled by racism and misogyny. They deserved to live.

Today my heart hurts. My mind is aghast. I am one of the lucky ones, apparently. I have a mixed-enough heritage that I am technically considered “white,” even though my father was denied entry to the United States for years due to his Chinese blood. I can walk down the street and *only* worry about being harassed because I am a woman, and not because of the color of my skin, even though Asian people, food, and heritage are part of the fabric of my life. Today I will bake a birthday cake for my friend who is part Chinese, and greet my husband who is Filipino at the door, and eat fried rice we made for dinner, and I will grieve for the eight people who were senselessly gunned down. And I will grieve for the country that claims to stand for “liberty and justice for all,” but in fact, often delivers it only to a select few.

Here are several ways you can help:

• The Center for Pan Asian Community Services works to provide comprehensive health and social services, capacity building, and advocacy for Asian communities.
• The Asian American Advocacy Fund is working to advocate, protect, and find justice for Asians and all BIOPCs.
• If you witness or experience a hate incident, you can report it at Stop AAPI Hate.
• Finally, consider bystander intervention training to help be a better ally and advocate in your community.