Community advocates in Milwaukee join with statewide coalition to denounce violence against AAPI women

The Asian American Pacific Islander Coalition of Wisconsin released a statement on the March 16 shootings of Asian American Women in Atlanta, representing member organizations across the state and supporting advocates in Milwaukee.

It is with heavy hearts that the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Coalition of Wisconsin mourns the lives lost in the shootings that transpired on Tuesday evening in Atlanta, GA. There have been more than 3,800 hate incidents committed against the AAPI community since the pandemic began. This level of communal trauma has already had a significant impact on Asian Americans and our statement will center the voice of the AAPI community and not the stated motives of the perpetrator in this incident.

The AAPI Coalition of WI is calling for a community-centered approach that implores our allies to stand with us in our collective grief and demand leadership denounce the scapegoating of AAPIs for the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and other anti-Asian rhetoric.

Racism and hate have no place in Wisconsin, nor anywhere else in the country. While data irrefutably shows that hate crimes committed against the AAPI community have been on the rise since last year, including verbal assaults, physical violence, and a disproportionate number of attacks directed towards AAPI women, we have not seen our leaders offer sincere concerns nor plans of action. For these reasons the AAPI-WI is offering the following calls to action:

• Develop a preventative community-based infrastructure and strategies to address AAPI threats and violence.
• Publicly condemn racist language, the racist association between the virus and the Asian community.
• We urge the media to cover the anti-Asian violence to help bring awareness.
• Encourage the reporting of hate incidents. Many hate crimes go unreported, which
  hinders the ability to appropriately track, allocate resources, and address the root causes.
• Call your Wisconsin Senators and Representatives and ask them to support the Bill – LRB – 2576/1that condemns anti-Asian violence and hate.

The Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Coalition of Wisconsin unites AAPI leaders throughout the state, serving as a conduit for AAPI communities and local/municipal/state resources to come together to stand against Hate and Racism. Born out of a rise in anti-Asian sentiments tied to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, our coalition inspires action in, and across, all communities by confronting racism, connecting resources and serving those affected by hatred and xenophobia.

The Coalition currently includes the following AAPI organizations and businesses: Artfluent, Burmese Rohingya Community of Wisconsin, Chin Community of Milwaukee, ElevAsian, Hmong American Leadership and Economic Development, Hmong Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce, Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee, Japanese American Citizens League – WI, Meat on the Street, Milwaukee Chinese Community Center, Milwaukee Muslim Women’s Coalition, National Association of Asian American Professionals, Organization of Chinese Americans – WI, Our Scholarship, Sikh Religious Society of Wisconsin, United Hmong of Wisconsin Outreach, United Lao Educational Development, Wisconsin Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Wisconsin United Coalition of Mutual Assistance Association.