In the wake of the Atlanta shootings that killed six Asian women in March, the Asian community worldwide is speaking up to urge, once again, a stop to violent hate crimes against Asians and to all forms of racism against people of colour and other ethnic minority groups.
Unlike the Black Lives Matter movement, which sparked numerous protests and debates across Ireland last year, the relative silence about Atlanta and Stop Asian Hate has left many Asians hurt and neglected. An open letter has been drafted by a group of Trinity postgraduates to alert universities, institutions, government and other organisations to the rise in anti-Asian hate crimes during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The letter points to cases which have made the headlines – Xuedan (Shelly) Xiong being pushed into the Royal Canal and Martin Hong and Arthur Ma being physically assaulted in Cork, a group of teenagers throwing rubbish bag on Mina Choi and Urantsetseg Tserendorj being stabbed near the IFSC in Dublin on her way home – as well as numerous unreported cases suffered by the Asian community in Ireland, including Trinity’s own staff and students.
The letter has garnered 221 signatures – including that of Prof Clodagh Brook, associate vice-provost for equality, diversity and inclusion, Prof Jane Ohlmeyer, the Erasmus Smith’s professor of modern history and Prof Lorna Carson, founding director of Trinity Centre for Asian Studies, and Cllr Chris Pender of Social Democrats, Kildare County Council. Eagerness for change is also evident from students across Trinity, UCD, NUI Galway and more.
A change.org petition has now been launched to reach everyone across Ireland. The Asian community is asking for protection, justice, respect and equality in this country. We appeal to organisations and the government to take strategic social, political and collegiate actions in tackling these issues. A new national action plan against racism is strongly needed by all communities in Ireland.
On behalf of the Asian community in Ireland, we are calling for your attention, support, and action. We hope that this petition, which was started by a group of students, will reach everyone in all sectors and at all levels of society, and voice the concerns of all Asians.
Xi-Ning Wang and Aaron Koay are both PhD students in Trinity.
