Working for an Effective Plan To End Asian American Discrimination

Published in Niigata Nippo
(Japan) on 16 May 2021
by (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Joseph Santiago. Edited by Gillian Palmer.

OPD: 16 May 2021

Edited by Gillian Palmer, proof in progress

Note to Editor: Unable to source quote by Zhao

Harassment and violence against Asian Americans has become a serious issue in America. Murder of Asian Americans continues to be reported around the country, breeding deep anxiety in the Asian American community, including those with Japanese backgrounds. We cannot allow this situation to continue. The Joe Biden administration, which has vowed to heal the division in American society, is working to ease racial tensions, including deep-seated prejudices against African Americans. With luck, the administration will draft an effective policy.

On March 16, in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia, in the South, a mass shooting took the lives of eight people, six of whom were Asian women, in an incident many see as a hate crime. On March 29, in New York City, a Filipina woman was repeatedly kicked in the head by an African American man on the street, who shouted, “You don’t belong here.” She suffered serious injuries. Also in New York City on May 2, two Asian women were attacked randomly with a hammer by a woman in Hell’s Kitchen. Just before the attack, the attacker demanded, “Take off your f------ mask.”

According to a study of 16 of America’s largest cities by the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino, hate crimes against Asian Americans have risen by 150% year after year, with a total number of incidents rising to 122.

What fuels all this is the fact that many view China as the source of COVID-19. As a way of distracting from his own government’s responsibilities, former President Donald Trump dubbed COVID-19 “the Chinese virus,” fueling vitriol toward China and fanning the flames of Asian American discrimination.

In contrast, Biden is making a point of addressing the issue. Along with Vice President Kamala Harris, whose mother is from India, Biden visited Atlanta, and said, “Hate can have no safe harbor in America,” as he showed his willingness to work out a plan. Last month, the Senate resoundingly passed a bill targeting anti-Asian hate crimes. This kind of action is important in the effort to spread the message of anti-discrimination.

Seeing famous Asians in the arts and in sports stand up against this hate is also reassuring. In a joint video by the Association of Tennis Professionals and Women's Tennis Association, Naomi Osaka said, “I hope that people start to respect and love Asian culture, Asian people.” At last year’s U.S. Open, in protest against the series of violent attacks by white police officers against African American men, Osaka wore face masks with the names of victims on them, showing her unconditional support. As we work toward eliminating prejudice toward Asians, I hope her criticism spurs people to action.

At this year’s Academy Awards, Chloé Zhao, originally from China, won an Oscar for best director for her film "Nomadland," becoming the first woman of color to win the award. During a press conference, she touched on prejudice against Asians, saying, “I hope we can come together as one and stop all this hate toward each other.”*

Even Japan has its own type of discrimination and prejudice. Each and every one of us needs to speak out and work toward eliminating such hate. This is something we must never forget to do.

*Editor’s note: Although accurately translated, this remark could not be independently verified.


米アジア系差別 根絶へ実効性ある対策を

 米国でアジア系市民への暴力や嫌がらせが深刻な問題となっている。殺人事件も相次ぎ、日本人を含めアジア系のコミュニティーに不安が広がっている。看過できない事態だ。

 米国社会の分断克服を掲げるバイデン政権は、根強い黒人差別も含め人種差別の解消に力を入れるとしている。効果的な対策を打ち出してほしい。

 3月16日、米南部ジョージア州アトランタと近郊でアジア系女性ら8人が死亡する連続銃撃事件が起きた。人種を理由にした憎悪犯罪(ヘイトクライム)との見方が強い。

 同29日にはニューヨーク市でフィリピン系女性が黒人の男に歩道で蹴り倒され重傷を負った。男は「ここはお前の居場所じゃない」と叫んだという。

 今月2日は同市の繁華街でアジア系女性が見知らぬ女にハンマーで頭を殴られ、負傷した。殴る直前、女は「マスクを外せ」と要求したという。

 米国の大学の調査によると、米主要16都市で昨年起きたアジア系への憎悪犯罪は前年比2・5倍の122件に上った。

 背景にあるのが、中国が起源とされる新型コロナウイルスの感染拡大だ。

 トランプ前大統領は、自らの政治責任をかわすため、新型ウイルスを「中国ウイルス」と呼び、中国への非難、やゆを繰り返した。これがアジア系差別をあおったとされている。

 バイデン大統領は危機感を強めている。母親がインド出身のハリス副大統領とともに事件現場のアトランタを訪れ、「米国はヘイトを許さない」と演説し、対策を講じる考えを示した。

 先月には米上院で、アジア系への憎悪犯罪対策を政府に求める法律が圧倒的多数で可決された。こうした行動を通して、反差別のメッセージを発信していくことも重要だ。

 スポーツや文化などの分野で活躍するアジア系の人々が積極的に発言しているのも心強い。

 女子テニスの大坂なおみ選手は、憎悪犯罪を非難する米テニス団体のメッセージ動画で、「アジア文化や人々を尊重し、愛するようになってほしい」と呼び掛けた。

 大坂選手は昨年、白人警官による黒人男性暴行死事件など一連の人種差別に抗議し、全米オープンで被害者の名前が入ったマスクを着用して出場し大きな共感を呼んだ。

 アジア系への差別解消に向けても、大坂選手の訴えが力になってほしい。

 今年の米アカデミー賞監督賞は「ノマドランド」のクロエ・ジャオ監督が受賞した。クロエ氏は中国出身で、白人以外の女性監督としては初めての受賞となった。

 クロエ氏は記者会見でアジア系に対する差別に触れ、「みんなで一つになり、相手が誰であろうと憎悪はやめにしよう」と呼び掛けた。

 日本でもさまざまな差別や偏見がある。根絶に向け一人一人が声を上げ、行動していく。その大切さを胸に刻みたい。
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