SFSU and UTEP help lead awareness, education and communication

 

POSTED ON May 13, 2021

 

In March 2020, the Asian Pacific Planning and Policy Council, Chinese for Affirmative Action, and the Asian American Studies Department of San Francisco State University launched the Stop AAPI Hate reporting center.

Last month, in response to a U.S. Education Department survey, which showed that almost 7 in 10 Asian American K-12 students were still learning online only, the center at San Francisco State urged school districts across the country to protect the safety and well-being of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) students.

Based on federal data,  The 19th reports that in March, 60 percent of Asian American students continued full-time remote learning compared with:

47 percent of Hispanic students.
45 percent of Black students.
27 percent of Native American students.
19 percent of White students.

Stop AAPI Hate’s recent national report found that youths (0 to 17 years old) reported 343 incidents between March 19, 2020, to February 28, 2021. A report conducted by the Stop AAPI Hate youth campaign in the summer of 2020 found that 77% of AAPI youth expressed anger over the anti–Asian hate in this nation, 60% expressed disappointment over racism, and 30% of AAPI youth expressed fear after an incident.

As an expression of solidarity with people of Asian descent, The University of Texas at El Paso announced that students have curated an exhibit of Asian artifacts that opened on April 28. According to UTEP, the exhibit is meant to build stronger bonds with members of the Asian communities in the region.

“We condemn all acts of violence, bias, and racism against all members of the Asian and AAPI communities,” organizers said in a statement. “We convey our deepest sympathies to the victims and their families, and extend our compassion to those affected by these harmful acts.”

Daniel Carey-Whalen, director of the Centennial Museum and Chihuahuan Desert Gardens, said his center was proud to collaborate with the students.

“What started as an opportunity to display parts of our extensive collection that are rarely seen by visitors has become a timely and thought-provoking exhibit about how we see ourselves and others,” Carey-Whalen told UTEP News.