OCA-GREATER HOUSTON TO HOST #STOPASIANHATE VIGIL & RALLY
Houston, TX – OCA-Greater Houston deeply mourns the victims of the mass shootings that occurred on Tuesday evening in Atlanta, GA, and condemns anti-Asian sentiments, xenophobia, and violence. Please join us in solidarity this
Saturday, March 20th at 5 p.m. at Grace Event Lawn in Discovery Green as we remember and honor the victims from the mass murder in Atlanta, and denounce the rapidly growing hate crimes against Asian Americans.
Since the news of the shootings was announced, we have learned that six of the eight victims have been identified as Asian women. This is one of the more violent tragedies in a string of over
3,800 hate incidents against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders since March 2020, 68% of them women. This rise in assaults and race-driven incidents has increased since the emergence of COVID-19, otherwise known as Coronavirus, and the racial terms and propaganda used to describe it.
“For over a year, our community has been a target of hate and bias, living fearful of public threats and harassment,” said Debbie Chen, OCA-Greater Houston Programs Director. “We call for solidarity from the community and elected officials to support the AAPI community by reporting incidents, becoming empowered bystanders, and initiating legislative action.”
We call upon Houston and the Greater Houston Area to stand firm against all hate, bias, violence and discrimination in our community and across the country. OCA-Greater Houston has co-created, along with Houston Coalition Against Hate and Hollaback!, free virtual Bystander Intervention Trainings to stop identity-based bigotry and harassment. For more information and to register, please go to:
www.houstonagainsthate.org/BIT. These trainings are appropriate for anyone of high school age or above, anywhere in the world.
Our hearts go out to the victims and their families, mentioned and unmentioned, who have suffered at the expense of xenophobic rhetoric surrounding Asians and Asian Americans. We urge the City of Houston to provide just, equitable, and compassionate leadership, and we trust in the city and its residents to make this a safe place for all who live here.
Leave A Comment