STATEMENT FROM ESGVJCC BOARD OF DIRECTORS
This past year has been a difficult one for all of us and the rise of hate incidents and crimes against the Asian and Asian American communities has only deepened the hurt on our community. The Board of Directors and staff at the East San Gabriel Valley Japanese Community Center condemns all forms of hate and remains committed to providing a safe space for our membership and community. Through this troubling time, please consider the ESGVJCC as a resource and safe haven.
Unfortunately, we know that hateful rhetoric can have very harmful effects and the Japanese American community is no stranger to that. Sadly, anti-Asian sentiment is part of our history and is rarely talked about or taught; from the Chinese Exclusion Act, the internment of thousands of Japanese Americans, the murder of Vincent Chin. These past events show the history of hate that led up to the recent attacks on the Asian American community.
We are fortunate that not everyone feels this way and we see each and every day how allyship, collaboration and partnership is building. As an organization that values family and community, we stand in solidarity with all communities of color that have been impacted.
STOP AAPI HATE – MESSAGE FROM TIM ITATANI, ESGVJCC PRESIDENT
Dear Members:
We are dealing with a new social concern that affects each and every one of our members and their families. Racial hatred is rearing its ugly head again and causing us all major concerns. This hatred has been witnessed throughout our country, our state and even in our local cities, this must stop. Our ESGVJCC Board of Directors is taking a serious look at this problem and we are acting on it. We have installed high tech security cameras around the ESGVJCC to make sure we are aware of any happenings that occur 24/7. We condemn the hatred that has permeated our neighborhood, not just in our Asian families but all minorities races. On our ESGVJCC website and social media outlets, we provide resources that can help answer your questions regarding what you can do and how to stay safe. We are totally committed to being there for all our ESGVJCC members and families who may experience racial injustice.
This issue is very personal and emotional for myself and wanted to share a little of my own past experiences dealing with racism. Growing up in the 60’s, I was constantly reminded that I was Japanese and looked different and not wanted in the elementary school that I attended. At that time there was only two Japanese/Asians kids in the whole school. I was constantly harassed, kids would come up to me and make the slanted eye gesture and say horrible things to us. Even while walking in the hallways they would come up from behind and push me down to the ground, but I would get up despite being so mad because I knew there were too many of them to fight myself. I just dusted myself off and kept walking ignoring the names they were calling me. Playing by myself on the playground, a big Caucasian boy tried to pick a fight with me with a group of his friends egging him on. I couldn’t quite understand their hatred for me, I never instigated any of it. I also didn’t understand when they told me to go back to where I came from since my ancestors had arrived in America in the 1880’s. I felt terribly alone, I couldn’t tell the teachers, for fear they would not understand or speaking out could risk retribution. I didn’t even tell my parents, for fear of being ashamed of myself, so I kept it all to myself. As I got older, I thought the abuse would stop, but it continued into junior high as I would be spit on by immigrants from Russia, who would also trash my gym locker and write notes of “go back to where you came from.” This was during the Vietnam War and there was a derogatory word that was used to call the Asian enemies, so each morning in science lab they would come up to me and say “Good Morning …..”. At this stage in life, I became really quiet and kept to myself a lot, sure I had friends but even to them I didn’t ever talk about the abuse I was suffering from. There were no resources or support for me to reach out to for help and guidance, I was alone. All of these experiences though painful, made me very strong inside and to this day, nothing usually bothers me. Except today, I have seen so much abuse and violence directed to innocent people merely because of the color of their skin. This explosion of racial hatred has brought out a lot of the bad memories that I had buried and this may be true of you as well. But today is different, we have resources, we have government, neighbors, law enforcement and organizations that have realized that this is not right and have reached out to the public to provide assistance and answers. This is why I am writing about some of my own past experiences to let you know that you are not alone anymore. If you have suffered any social/racial abuse, please report it and don’t hold it in, like I have done for over 50 years, we did nothing wrong,
ESGVJCC is committed to being the source for each of you to reach out for help. Please check out our social media and website if you have any questions. This commitment is going to be a permanent outlet for all our members and their families in the future.
Regards,
Tim T Itatani
President ESGVJCC Board of Directors
Asian Americans Advancing Justice LA
Links:
Bystander Intervention Trainings
PBS – Asian Americans Full Series
Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the spike in bigotry, assault, racism, and hate crimes heaved upon our Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities is, unfortunately, all too familiar. We are deeply disturbed and continue to mourn the lives of the victims of the brazen hateful attacks, including eight people — six of whom were Asian American women — in Georgia last month.
The hailstorm of hateful rhetoric and violence against Asians and Asian Americans hearkens to a long history of legally-sanctioned discrimination, as early as the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882.
As a program whose mission is grounded in the values of equity, access, and inclusion, we stand in solidarity with our AAPI community to condemn the hateful actions and acts of violence that dehumanize & targets the people within our AAPI communities. We reaffirm our core beliefs that diversity and inclusion are the cornerstones of creating a culture where we can show up each day and live our lives unafraid and unbounded by the vestiges of hate.
If you haven’t checked in with an AAPI friend, family, or colleague in your life, it is never too late to reach out.
But don’t stop there. Dismantling racism starts with you and it begins with building awareness. This month’s newsletter provides actionable resources to help you show up and take actions in support of our AAPI communities. Learn how perpetuating false narratives such as the “Model Minority Myth” is damaging to the AAPI community that have historically also been prone to scapegoating during times of crisis. Watch a documentary to gain an understanding of the history, contributions, challenges, and impact of Asian Americans.
We join our communities in the process of healing from this trauma, yet we also recognize that our ongoing fight for justice is rooted in our collective strength and ability to come together to create change. We hope that the challenges during this moment moves you to act in ways that will create a positive ripple effect that reverberates across all of our diverse communities.
However you choose to show up to lend your support, it’s important to break the silence.
On that note, we urge you to show your support for SB 655. Our bill made it out of its first committee and is slated for its second committee hearing soon. Send in a support letter, if you haven’t already!
And finally, we want to wish a ‘Sabaidee Pii Mai,’ and ‘Soursdey Chnam Thmey’ to those who will be celebrating Lao, Thai, or Cambodian New Year later this month, and also ‘Ramadan Mubarak’ if you will be observing the holy month of Ramadan starting April 12. Regardless of how you celebrate, we hope you stay safe and find moments in your day for peace and wellness.
In Solidarity,
The Insurance Diversity Initiative Team
TAKE ACTIONS and OFFER SUPPORT
Call Your Representatives
Read up on any current legislation that supports and protects the AAPI community, then call your local elected officials to encourage their support. If you’re unable to reach them, you can look up their voting record on items like House Resolution 908, which calls on all public officials to condemn and denounce racism against Asians in America.
Be an Ally for Asian Americans
Groups like Compassion in Oakland are stepping up to accompany anyone who is nervous about walking alone. As an added layer of protection, all participants must show a negative test result for COVID-19. Hollaback! offers virtual bystander intervention training to help allies develop the tools they need to respond to, stop, or de-escalate harassment faced by Asian Americans. You can also download Hollaback’s Guide to Bystander Intervention to educate and empower yourself to become an ally to eradicate Asian American stereotypes that lead to microaggressions and racial slurs that dismiss, reduce, and disparage Asian Americans.
Report a Hate Incident
You can make a report on Stop AAPI Hate‘s website of any racist or discriminatory incidents toward the Asian community. The organization hopes they can use this resource to demand and enact policies to stop the growing hate crimes towards the community.
EDUCATE YOURSELF
Education starts with you. The history of xenophobia and racism against Asians and Asian Americans, much like any form of racism, is nothing new. Hold space to discuss how anti-Asian racism and the racism experienced by many historically marginalized communities are linked.
Check out this guide to responding to racism toward Asian Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic, published by the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Teaching Tolerance project.
Read this article from the Learning for Justice Center that explores the “Model Minority Myth,” which explores why racism and hate crimes against the Asian communities are overlooked.
This is the tip of the iceberg for how to turn words into action. Below are more organizations and resources to support and educate yourself about the history of the AAPI community:
· Asian Americans Advancing Justice
· Anti-Asian Violence Resources
· Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy Anti-Asian Violence Resources
· Asian American & Pacific Islander Resource Library
SUPPORT ASIAN-OWNED BUSINESSES
Anti-Asian violence and sentiment has taken an economic toll on many Asian-owned businesses across the country. Luckily, companies such as Yelp in partnership with Gold House is making it easier for you to show your support for Asian-owned businesses.
ACCESS MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES
From microaggressions to physical acts of violence, racism impacts both your physical and emotional well-being. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, multiple resources are available.
· 17 Mental Health Resources for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders
· Asian Mental Health Collective
Bystander Intervention Training by Hollaback!
Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Stand Against Hatred
