Bay Area rallies denounce attacks on Asian Americans; spur community action

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In Oakland, a multiracial crown rallied against the attacks on Asian Americans in the Bay Area.

Hundreds of people gathered in Oakland and San Francisco over the weekend to show their concern for the surge in attacks against Asian Americans not only in the Bay Area but across the nation.

At Oakland Chinatown's Madison Square Park to protest the growing number of attacks against Asian Americans on Saturday. On Sunday, another rally occurred in front of San Francisco's City Hall decrying the violence while another group marched a few blocks from Chinatown to the the middle of the shopping district at Union Square.

In the rallies, some in the multi-racial crowd were carrying signs expressing their  concerns. “Asian Americans save lives as your doctors, nurses, grocers, farmers and teachers — we are not the enemy,” one read. “We stand with our neighbors — end white supremacy,” another said. Several in the crowd wore T-shirts proclaiming “Black-Asian unity.” Other tied big red ribbons to a wishing tree to express their hopes for the community.

From March 2020 when Stop Asian American Pacific Islander Hate began collecting reports, through Dec. 31, 2020, the organization received more than 2,808 first-hand reports of anti-Asian hate across 47 states and Washington, D.C., according to data released last week.

Roughly 71% were cases of verbal harassment, while shunning or avoidance made up about 21%. About 9% of the incidents involved physical assaults, and 6% included being purposely coughed or spit on.

Most of the reports came from areas where there are large concentrations of AAPI, such as California and New York. Of those accounts, 1,226 incidents took place in California, and 708 in the Bay Area alone. The majority of incidents in the Bay Area — 292 — took place in San Francisco. The cities with the second and third most incidents were San Jose (58) and Oakland (55), reported KQED.

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A contingent marched from San Francisco's Chinatown to a Union Square rally.

The recent violence of the recent attacks on Asian American elders sparked an outcry throughout the AAPI community. Surveillance videos of a an elder being shoved to the ground resulting in the death of 84-year old Vicha Ratanapakdee and the incident in Oakland's Chinatown where a 91-year old man was violently shoved from behind and for no apparent reason; plus an attack in New York's subway where a 61-year old Filipino American was slashed across his face have struck an emotional chord in the AAPI  communities where elders are regarded in high esteem. 

Over 40 community-based organizations signed a letter condemning the verbal and physical attacks against Asian Americans and called for action by government and the community at large. The letter stressed the need for "cross-racial healing" and to also address the needs of the Black and Latino communities.

"We believe our strength is in unity, not division and our history and our futures are intertwined," stated the letter.

Alameda County where Oakland is located, has created a special response unit to handle reports of anti-Asian assaults, similar to the task force created in New York City. City officials also want more funds for escort and education programs and to address the income and home insecurity, root causes of the violence exacerbated by the frustrations and job loss caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Concerned individuals unattached to government have instigated their own programs staffed by volunteers. 

A group calling themselves Asians with Attitude began patrolling the Oakland Chinatown neighborhood and a program created by a Latino American was formed to provide escort services.

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Compassion in Oakland volunteers began offering their escort services last weekend.

Compassion in Oakland. was started by Jacob Azevedo. "I wasn't intending to be some kind of vigilante," Azevedo, 26, told CNN. "I just wanted to offer people some kind of comfort."

His escort program quickly resonated throughout the community and within days he had nearly 300 volunteers reaching out to join him to protect the community. He hopes his program will eventually coordinate with the police.

"These recent incidents are stark reminders that urgent action must be taken to protect our AAPI community from hate, discrimination and violence," Stop AAPI Hate said in a statement.

"It is up to all of us -- businesses, the government, and community partners -- to come together and immediately support victims and families affected by these incidents, and work together to create long-lasting solutions that empower our communities with resources, support and education."