Title
Calling on the School District of Philadelphia to help combat anti-Asian hate by providing Asian American history lessons during Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) heritage month in May to further educate and inform students of the rich history and contributions of Asian Americans.
Body
WHEREAS, Hate crimes against the Asian-American Pacific Islanders (APPI) community have increased 150% nationwide in the last year according to an analysis released by the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino; and
WHEREAS, Hate crimes against the AAPI community is not a new phenomenon, but the recent spike and increased media spotlight has given Asian Americans a platform to share their stories and lived experiences with the nation; and
WHEREAS, In Philadelphia, the past year has been particularly difficult for AAPI residents. Reports of hate crimes against Asian residents tripled between 2019-2020, and the looting and violence that unraveled in the summer and fall of 2020 devastated many Asian-owned businesses; and
WHEREAS, Some AAPI residents have reported avoiding public transit out of fear of a verbal or physical attack. Two Indonesian teenagers were recently assaulted at the City Hall SEPTA station on March 25, 2021; and
WHEREAS, Hate is largely borne out of ignorance and a lack of education. Many Americans see Asians as "foreign," regardless if they are American citizens and despite the many contributions made by the AAPI community throughout American history; and
WHEREAS, AAPIs have a rich history of service to the U.S. in the armed forces and led the legal efforts to secure civil rights for veterans and immigrants. Landmark decisions include: 1) Yick Wo v. Hopkins (1886) a Supreme Court decision that overturned a discriminatory ordinance that appeared race neutral on its face but in practice selectively targeted Chinese laundry owners and violated the 14th Amendment that guarantees equal protection o...
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