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星期三, 2月 10, 2021

NAPCA Condemns Continued Hate Crimes Against AAPI Older Adults

SEATTLE, WA (February 10, 2021) – The National Asian Pacific Center on Aging (NAPCA) condemns continued hate crimes, racism, and acts of discrimination against Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) older adults and issues a call to action for communities across the nation. Our call to action: Legislators and government officials need to hear directly from you. Please call the White House, contact your federal, state, and local elected officials, and tell them that they need to act against hate crimes and acts of discrimination targeting AAPI older adults. You can find your representative’s contact information here.

“There is no greater form of cowardice than the act of aggression against our society’s older adults. We call on President Biden, Congress, state and local legislators to immediately advance stronger laws and call for stricter enforcement to protect our elders from hate crimes, acts of discrimination, and abuse,” said Joon Bang, President & CEO of NAPCA. “Preliminary data through our national COVID-19 Effects on the Mental and Physical Health of Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders (AAPI) Survey Study (COMPASS) suggests that many of the 4,000+ COMPASS participants have reported discrimination in one form or another (e.g., treated unfairly at restaurants or stores, threatened or harassed) based on their race. We need elected officials to publicly condemn those who prey upon the aging population, particularly those of AAPI descent. We also need our communities throughout the nation to take a stand against hate and alert the police when they witness hate crimes directed toward older adults.”

 

In January, NAPCA, the University of California San Francisco (UCSF), UNITED SIKHS, Chinese Community Center of Houston, Hmong Cultural Center of Saint Paul, Greater Boston Chinese Golden Age Center, and the Philip Jaisohn Memorial Foundation of Philadelphia began working on the COVID-19 Effects on the Mental and Physical Health of Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Survey Study (COMPASS) because of the increase in negative experiences felt by AAPI communities throughout the pandemic. Recent news reports citing targeted attacks on AAPI older adults are becoming a bigger problem because of the lack of government intervention. NAPCA will continue to work with the Leadership Council on Aging, National Council of Asian Pacific Americans, and the Diverse Elders Coalition to advocate on behalf of AAPI older adults.

NAPCA offers assistance in the form of live, in-language Helpline counselors to support people who wish to contact their government representatives. Bilingual live operators in English, Vietnamese, Korean, Mandarin, and Cantonese will be available Monday, Wednesday and Friday between the hours of 8:30 am – 1:00 pm (PST). 

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