It has taken us some time to find the words to express our deep empathy, sympathy, and worry for Asian communities across the US. Acts of violence engendered by hate affects us all, so we did not want to comment until we ourselves were in a space where we could do so in a way that lifts the voices, struggles, and causes of our Asian allies.
Incluu operates by educating and training folks to lead with curiosity and an open mind and heart; therefore, we strongly believe that education and learning on the perspectives of others is the best way to begin combating the hate and violence that plagues our communities.
The Rise in Anti-Asian Violence
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed and exacerbated anti-Asian racism in America. Attacks on Asian Americans increased by nearly 150%. Elderly Asian Americans were targeted on the streets. Asian-owned businesses were vandalized. The violence was fueled by rhetoric that blamed Asian people for a global pandemic—rhetoric that came from the highest levels of government.
But anti-Asian racism didn't start with COVID. It has deep roots in American history: the Chinese Exclusion Act, Japanese internment camps, the murder of Vincent Chin, the post-9/11 targeting of South Asian Americans. The model minority myth has never protected Asian Americans from violence—it has only made that violence less visible.
Coalition Building
The fight against racism isn't siloed. Anti-Asian hate is connected to anti-Black racism, anti-Indigenous violence, and all forms of white supremacy. We rise together or not at all. Coalition building means showing up for each other, even when—especially when—the spotlight isn't on our own community.
We've seen attempts to pit Asian and Black communities against each other—to use the model minority myth to justify anti-Black racism, to blame Black individuals for anti-Asian violence while ignoring the white supremacy that underlies both. We reject these tactics. Our liberation is bound together.
We commit to listening, learning, and acting in solidarity with our Asian siblings. We commit to calling out the racism that has been directed at Asian communities, particularly during the pandemic. We commit to the long work of building a world where all of us can be safe.
What You Can Do
Educate yourself on Asian American history. Support Asian-owned businesses. Intervene when you witness harassment—safely, in ways that center the victim's wishes. Donate to organizations led by and serving Asian communities. And most importantly: speak up. Silence is complicity. When someone in your life makes racist 'jokes' or spreads anti-Asian misinformation, challenge them. Change starts with the conversations we're willing to have.