Commitment to Native American groups rises nearly 4,000% after Atlanta shooting
Shooting in Atlanta that killed eight people, including six Asian women, and brought about a resurgence of violence against Asian Americans across the U.S.
Nearly $ 24 million was promised to such groups or the cause of about 30 donors to help after the shooting incident, according to an initial analysis by Candid’s aid research team affiliated with the Associated Press. By comparison, $ 595,000 was made before the attack, an increase of about 4,000%. Throughout 2020, the group’s latest data shows that approximately $ 54 million was targeted at Asian American groups or causes.
Candid’s analysis does not include small donations made to organizations or other donations made directly to the families of the victims. Instead, it reflects the promises and major contributions made by aid workers and other donors to organizations representing Asian Americans.
Most of them, the group says, were corporate bonds that fell below $ 500,000. The biggest came from telecommunications company Verizon for $ 15 million, which is $ 5 million committed to the human rights group Asia Americans Advancing Justice, the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans and the Asia / Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce and Entrepreneurship, which promotes business interests of Asian Americans and Pacific Islands.
These vows are accompanied by numerous calls on social media and other donation channels to groups representing Asian American communities. Other brands, including PlayStation, Sephora and Tarte Cosmetics, said they would provide financial assistance but did not say how much. Some said they would donate parts of their proceeds from the sale.
Uptick in Asian Intentional Crime
In major cities, including New York and Los Angeles, police have reported a spate of hate crimes against Asia between 2019 and 2020, according to data collected by the Center for the Study of Hate & Extremism at California State University in San Bernardino. And Stop AAPI Hate, a California-based group where several companies have pledged to donate, says it has received reports of some 3,800 incidents of hate – from verbal abuse to physical abuse – since March 2020.
Many activists have claimed that the speeches of former President Donald Trump, who repeatedly referred to COVID-19 as the “Chinese virus” and “kung flu,” contributed to an increase in anti-Asian hate crimes during the epidemic. In the Atlanta case, the shooting suspect, Robert Aaron Long, told investigators that the attack was not racially motivated but rather driven by a sex addict.
Most of the commitments to the Asian American groups are the GoFundMe fundraising page of 14 organizations, including the Georgian chapter of the non-profit National Asia Pacific American Women’s Forum. Sung Yeon Choimorrow, executive director of the group’s national chapter, told AP to see an increase in donations, with an estimated $ 58 donation.
Continuity of donations remains invisible
The rise of donations often follows a very high-profile event, such as the Atlanta massacre, which is attracting worldwide attention. It remains to be seen whether this will continue.
In the Red Canary Song, a mobilization group made up of Asian and Asian sex workers, donations have begun to decline, said Yin Q., the group’s promoter.
“Generally, paramedics are not sustainable donors,” said Choimorrow of the Women’s Council. “They are giving right now and moving forward.”
“Our challenge, not only in fundraising but throughout our program, is to keep interest in our cause high,” he added. “It’s the first time we’ve heard of Asian American women and Pacific Islanders, and we don’t want to give up that megaphone.”
Sustainability in donations is very important for these groups because they serve a diverse community, which, in turn, encourages pressure, which does not provide much funding.
Although Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders make up about 6% of the U.S. population, a recent report by the Asian Americans / Pacific Islanders defense organization in Philanthropy found that only 0.2% of grants from U.S. bases went to their communities in 2018 , a recent year when the group adequately analyzes the awards. About 500 generous leaders have since signed the letter asking for more support.
Not all Asians are successful
Patricia Eng, CEO of the group, suggested that communities benefit financially because “there is an anti-social perception that all Asian Americans are doing well.”
“But there is a huge economic gap between Asians up and down,” he added. In New York City, for example, the poverty rate for Asian people was almost 22% in 2018, according to the city average.
“It is gratifying to see so many promises made to AAPI communities after the disaster,” said Lyle Matthew Kan, the interim vice-president of the program. But he noted that the promises must be fulfilled and the donations must continue to meet the ongoing needs.
Six days before the incident, healthcare company Kaiser Permanente approved a $ 5.4 million donation aimed at “combating the increase in violence against Asians,” through plans to fund Stop AAPI Hate and Asian American Advancing Justice in the coming weeks. . weeks.