Statements on Anti-Asian Violence from Bay Student Organizations

March 23rd 2021

The members of Bay's Asian American Student Union have worked hard recently to propel our community to take action in combating anti-Asian bias and violence. They have gathered educational and activist resources as well as personal statements from those who identify as Asian or Asian American and as allies about the effect the violence has had on them. Below we share some of the material they have collected.

We will be publishing more stories this spring from student groups and school leadership to help us uncover the history of anti-Asian racism in the United States and build a better future.

Asian American Student Union (AASU)

Asian American Student Union’s (AASU) mission is to establish a safe space for students to discuss aspects of their shared identity. In light of recent events and the increased hostility towards Asians during the COVID-19 crisis, our members have become disturbed by the normality of Anti-Asian hate crimes and online harassment. As “model minorities,” we are often silenced because we have not experienced the same “oppression” as other underrepresented minority groups. AASU realizes that these attacks stem from the bigger issue of race-based hate. We ask that communities of color and/or allies support us by listening, learning, and reflecting on how they can help.

Dear Asian Youth (DAY)

As of 2021, AASU is now an official west chapter of Dear Asian Youth (DAY). DAY strives to empower, educate, and uplift Asian youth by creating a platform that is “by Asian youth, for Asian youth.” In response to the uptick in anti-Asian violence since COVID-19, DAY has created secondary sources that address the context and concerns towards Asian women and Asian elders, along with providing information on some anti-Asian violence from the past. For more information, please visit DAY’s website for general information or DAY’s Instagram for up-to-date activism.