The Korean American Coalition of Chicago (KACC) unequivocally condemns hate crimes against the Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) community, and calls on all community leaders and elected officials to condemn all forms of anti-Asian violence while seeking swift and actionable solutions with the AAPI community to stop further acts of violence.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly 3,800 xenophobic and racist hate incidents in the United States have been reported to Stop AAPI Hate. On March 16, 2021, a gunman openly targeted several Asian American businesses in Georgia and senselessly killed eight people of which six were women of Asian descent. KACC grieves for the eight victims and their families, and condemns the characterization of anti-Asian sentiment as having a “bad day” in an attempt to downplay the gunman’s motives and significance of these violent crimes targeting Asians.

The series of violent crimes perpetrated against the AAPI community reflect the reality of the experience of being Asian in America which does not differentiate between AAPI community’s countries of origin. The careless and inflammatory rhetoric used to refer to COVID-19 as the “China virus” has fueled anti-Asian sentiment by scapegoating Asian Americans as a whole to be targeted for hate crimes since the pandemic. The growing concern over Asian Americans being viciously attacked, coughed on, threatened, insulted, and killed are causing many in the AAPI community to live in fear and anxiety.

KACC stands with our AAPI allies to fight racism and violence against the AAPI community and marginalized communities. We urge you to take a collective step with us against AAPI hate with the action steps below.

Here’s how you can help​:

1. If you are a victim or witness to any suspected hate crime, call your local law enforcement immediately.
2. Report all hate incidents and crime activities online at Stop AAPI Hate or Asian Americans Advancing Justice. Reports are available in several languages including Korean, Chinese, Tagalog, and more.
3. Read the How to Report a Hate Crime booklet and learn what is a hate incident/crime, your legal rights, and prevention tips. Booklets are available in Korean/English and six other languages.
4. Join your company/organization’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) group to partner up with fellow allies and bring awareness to the anti-Asian hate and violence occurring across our communities.
5. Contact your elected officials to take action to condemn and address anti-Asian hate crimes with feedback from the AAPI community to promote inclusivity over racially divisive and incendiary language.