CONDEMNING THE RECENT SURGE IN HATE CRIMES AGAINST ASIAN AMERICANS AND PACIFIC ISLANDERS
WHEREAS, The Asian American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia (AACCGP) represents the needs, interests, and aspirations of business owners, entrepreneurs, and corporate leaders of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) heritage, including more than 13000 businesses in City of Philadelphia;
WHEREAS, The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened public concerns and fears nationwide, leading to a rise in acts of hatred, bias, discrimination, and violence against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI);
WHEREAS, Philadelphia’s District Attorney filed hate crime charges against four teens on November 19, 2021, a day after a racist attack against four Asian high school students on the Broad Street Line. In one SEPTA surveillance video, the attackers can be heard using racial slurs and a video of an 18-year-old Lu_ one of the victims who was attacked after trying to intervene being assaulted, was shared on social media;
WHEREAS, AAPI residents have reported avoiding public transit out of fear of a verbal or physical attack. Two Indonesian teenagers were assaulted at the City Hall SEPTA station on March 25, 2021;
WHEREAS, Many AAPI and other minority small businesses were looted during the riots and constantly targeted for robbery. On Nov 18, 2021, a 67 years old Asian business woman was shot and killed at her store. Asian businesses are concerned that the city has failed to provide them a safe place to do business;
WHEREAS, hate crimes against the Asian-American Pacific Islanders (APPI) community have increased 150% nationwide in the last year according to an analysis released by the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino;
WHEREAS, In Philadelphia, the past year has been particularly difficult for AAPI residents. Reports of hate crimes against Asian residents tripled between 2019-2020, with more than 9,000 self-reported incidents of anti-AAPI hate since the pandemic began. The looting and violence that unraveled in the summer and fall of 2020 devastated many Asian-owned businesses;
WHEREAS, Philadelphia is home to nearly 110,000 Asians and over 3,100 Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders. A large population of Southeast Asian refugees and immigrants resettled in Philadelphia in the 1970s and 1980s following political upheaval in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. Between 2000 and 2010, both Asian American and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander populations grew significantly in the city, increasing 43 percent and 32 percent, respectively;
WHEREAS, The Asian American and Pacific Islander community in Philadelphia is a diverse and dynamic group consisting of 25 different ethnicities that impact all facets of our great City. It is important that we recognize and celebrate these communities and their contributions; and stand together with the community especially during such times where many Asians feel unsafe, discriminated and harassed publicly simply because of the way they look;
WHEREAS, there are more than 13000 Asian businesses located in the city contributing significant economic and job creation. Majority of these businesses are first generation and family owned;
WHEREAS, following the H.RES.153 Bill introduced by Rep. Michelle Steel (R-CA-48) of House Judiciary Committee on February 23, 2021 at 117th Congress 1st Session, condemning recent hate crimes committed against Asian-American and Pacific Islanders, and Resolution No. 210312 introduced by Councilmember David Oh on April 8, 2021, calling on the School District of Philadelphia to help combat anti-Asian hate by providing Asian American history lessons during Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) heritage month in May to further educate and inform students of the rich history and contributions of Asian Americans;
WHEREAS, many Asian origins attend conventions in the Center City, hate crime on attendees or Chinatown Asian residents will create a negative image of this City and will be detrimental to convention booking and tourism. Further, as City is competing to host 2026 international soccer matches, “Asian Hate”, if continued will adversely affect selection of this event; and
WHEREAS, the Asian American Chamber of Commerce of the Greater Philadelphia AACCGP wishes to affirm its commitment to the well-being and safety of Asian American and Pacific Islander community members and businesses and ensure they know they are not alone and that they can speak out to help stop the spread of bigotry, therefore
RESOLVED, That the Board of Directors of the Asian American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia condemns the rise in anti-AAPI bias, violence and hatred; and calls on all citizens and leaders to join us in condemning racist attacks against Asian Americans and renewing our commitment to speak out against such attacks, defend and protect those targeted and, be it
RESOLVED: AACCGP seeks an end to racially charged language that inappropriately targets and scapegoats AAPIs for the pandemic; and, be it
RESOLVED: Calling on the City of Philadelphia to join with the Asian American and Pacific Islander community in strongly condemning racist attacks against Asian Americans and help combat anti-Asian hate and requesting the mayor to include a dedicated staff to mitigate Asian Hate issues in the Mayor’s Office of Public engagement and, be it further
RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be presented to the Mayor, City Council Members, Asian Organizations, Asian Advocacy Groups and Media.
This resolution was unanimously approved by the AACCGP Board of Directors on December 16, 2021.
