The advocacy group Stop AAPI Hate had already documented more than 3,000 anti-Asian incidents of racism before the Atlanta murders. Worse, the March 16 murders of eight spa workers — six of them Asian women — did not stem the tide of anti-Asian racist animus. Instead, the reported episodes of physical and verbal assaults spiked. Now, Asian Americans and allies are pushing for increased awareness and demanding legal protections.
Is this recent spate of racist attacks against Asians history repeating itself? And after years of xenophobia amplified by COVID 19, what is the way forward?
Guests:
Cecilia Lei – associate producer for Vox’s “Today, Explained,” and board president of the Asian American Journalists Association's San Francisco chapter.
Janelle Wong – professor of American Studies and core faculty member in the Asian American Studies Program at the University of Maryland.
Rev. Young Ghil Lee – senior pastor at
The Korean Church of Boston.
