Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have witnessed a disturbing rise in attacks on the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. StopAAPI Hate, a coalition tracking anti-Asian violence, has reported almost 3,800 incidents of discrimination against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders over the past year. And here in the U.S., where minorities are deeply mistrustful of law enforcement, we suspect the real numbers are much higher.

ACT UP NY condemns the growing number of anti-Asian hate crimes around the country and calls on government officials to act now. We know from experience what happens when a disease is linked to a marginalized community. The consequences are devastating, deadly, and often remain for decades.

The HIV community and its allies understand how language can shape social and political action. In the early years of the AIDS epidemic, when the virus was explicitly linked to gay male bodies, homophobic violence spread throughout the country and government negligence exacerbated the crisis. In later years, as the disease came to be associated with other social groups, racism and xenophobia increased rapidly as well.

Trump’s use of the term “China virus” (among other racist monikers) is in keeping with his long record of inflaming hatred toward racial and ethnic minorities, as well as immigrants. Instead of heeding the advice of public health experts and taking swift and necessary action, Trump chose to racialize and politicize the virus—blaming an already vulnerable community for his own administrative failures.

While we do not believe that Trump’s racist rhetoric is solely responsible for the recent spike in anti-Asian hate crimes, we do believe that his influence and authority—even as a private citizen—lends greater weight to his words. Tragically, the AAPI community is continuing to deal with the enduring effects of his insensitive, inaccurate, and demonizing language. Again, we see what happens when our leaders actively enable hate and violence or choose not to confront it at all.

We also know that increased policing and surveillance will not keep our communities safe. This is especially true for AAPI sex workers and massage workers, who are routinely targeted and criminalized by law enforcement. In New York City, being in solidarity with the AAPI community means dismantling the NYPD vice squad, defunding the NYPD, and decriminalizing sex work. We have yet to see justice for Yang Song, an Asian migrant massage worker from Flushing, Queens, who fell to her death in a fearful encounter with police during a vice raid in November 2017.

ACT UP NY condemns any attempt to inject racism into government and public health policy. We affirm the fact that members of the AAPI community have suffered disproportionately during the pandemic as a result of dehumanizing rhetoric and racially-motivated violence. And we are fully committed to working with the AAPI community as it seeks to find healing and justice at this incredibly difficult time.

For more information and resources, we encourage people to follow and donate to Red Canary Song, a coalition fighting to protect AAPI migrant massage workers and end sex work criminalization.

About ACT UP

Founded in 1987, ACT UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power), is a diverse, non-partisan group of individuals united in anger and committed to direct action to end the AIDS crisis. ACT UP currently meets every Monday night at 7PM ET via Zoom. Notes: you will be asked to contribute your first & last name and email address to access online meetings, and KN-95 masks are required for ACT UP NY in person meetings/actions/gatherings. All individuals are welcome!

Support ACT UP NY & Palestinian people fleeing Gaza

For every SILENCE = DEATH watermelon item sale, proceeds will be split in half between ACT UP NY and direct medical aid to Palestinian people fleeing Gaza.