Combating Anti-AAPI Hate: Building a Foundation for Change

While hate crimes in America’s largest cities have declined overall during the coronavirus pandemic, hate crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) have increased by 149% across 26 of the largest jurisdictions with significant AAPI population in 2020, according to Stop AAPI Hate. Thousands of hate crimes against AAPI members were reported in 2020 from verbal attacks, avoidance, physical assault, to online harassment. But it is not just in response to the pandemic: the United States has a long and often overlooked history of racism and violence against the AAPI community.

Join Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center, Illinois Jewish Legislative Caucus, Jewish Judges Association of Illinois, Asian American Judges Association of Illinois, The Alliance of Illinois Judges, and the Asian American Caucus for a thought-provoking discussion with local and national leaders working to combat anti-AAPI racism and hate, educate about the history and stories of the community, and raise awareness of what individuals, communities, and institutions can do to be allies in this important work.

This program will be moderated by Esther Hurh, Board President, KAN-WIN and DEI/Social Justice Educator, and will include a special prerecorded interview with U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth about the COVID-19 Hates Crimes Act and her personal and professional experience with anti-Asian bias, discrimination and violence. Panelists will include:

Representative Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz, 17th District, co-introduced the Illinois Teaching Equitable Asian American Community History (TEAACH) Act (HB 376)

Commissioner Josina Wing Morita, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District and Founding Chair of the Asian American Caucus

Sung Yeon Choimorrow, Executive Director, National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum

Reservations are required. Members must sign in to take advantage of their member discount.

Non-Members (Virtual): $5.00

Members (Virtual): Free