Princeton Chinese Community To Host Rally Against Asian Hate

Princeton NJ

23 March, 2021

3:13 PM

Description

PRINCETON, NJ — The Princeton Chinese Community, along with several area organizations are holding a rally and vigil in response to the shooting in Atlanta, GA that left eight people dead, including six Asian women. The rally and vigil is scheduled for Saturday 1 p.m., at Hinds Plaza, Princeton. The group released a joint statement, calling on community leaders and elected representatives to support and protect vulnerable community members. "We are outraged by the racially targeted killings in Atlanta as well as the blatant racism and misogynistic dehumanization demonstrated toward the victims. We ask for solidarity from all as we demand action and change," said the statement. The group said the fundamental root of anti-Asian hate crimes is "systemic racism and xenophobia in America." They pointed out that for long the Asian community has been regarded as the "model minority," but it was nothing more than a "stereotype that obscures the long history of racism." "We have been manipulated into the myth of "model minority" for the purpose of trivializing our pain and suffering and justifying the systemic oppression of Black and Latinx people," said the statement. "We will not allow ourselves to be used as a wedge." The group said close to 20 percent of Princeton residents are Asian. The Princeton Chinese Community is a grassroots organization led by Cecilia Xie Birge, former mayor of Montgomery Township, as well as other community activists. The group said it was calling for the rally and vigil to remember the victims of the Atlanta shooting and to remind the community to stand together in solidarity. "We are determined to stand united not only with all members of Asian communities, but also with all members of the Black, Latinx, Indigenous and communities of color, people of all gender identities and sexual orientations, people of all religious and spiritual beliefs, people of all abilities, and all who believe in humanity." The statement was co-signed by Association of Chinese Students and Scholars at Princeton University, Central Jersey Chinese American Association, La Convivencia – New Jersey, Montgomery Township Equity and Inclusion Committee, New Jersey Vietnamese American Community Association, Princeton Progressive Chinese Americans, Princeton Theological Seminary's Asian American Program, Princeton University Chinese American Parents Association, Not in Our Town, Our Revolution Trenton, Mercer Rotary Club of Princeton, and United Chinese Americans – New Jersey All participants at the rally need to wear masks and maintain social distancing of 6 feet. On March 16, a gunman opened fire at three massage parlors across the metro Atlanta area. According to Cherokee County Sheriff's Capt. Jay Baker, Robert Aaron Long, 21, who was charged with the shootings blamed the massage parlors for fueling his sex addiction. Over the past year, Asian American advocates have expressed their concern over the rise of violence against Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community, which they say has been growing since the pandemic. The group Stop AAPI Hate was formed in March 2020 to help prevent discrimination against the community. Their recent report said they received 3,795 reports of hate incidents between March 19, 2020 to Feb. 28, 2021. Since the shooting, Princeton, Mayor Mark Freda released a statement condemning the violence and asking residents to "speak out" against hate. Read More Here: 'Speak Out' Against Hate: Princeton Mayor On Anti-Asian Violence Thank you for reading. Have a correction or news tip? Email [email protected] Get breaking news alerts on your phone with our app. Download here. Sign up to get Patch emails so you don't miss out on local and statewide news.