In the wake of — well, everything that’s happening right now in the United States; but most specifically, the Trump administration’s efforts to impose a ban on Muslim travel and restrict rights for other immigrants — community organizers and educators are organizing a national AAPI Week of Action for the week of October 7 – 14th.
Under the banner of AAPI Voices, organizers are hoping that community activists across the country — and particularly student activists — will pledge to host an event focused on social justice and solidarity with national anti-racism movements. Some ideas for events include teach-ins, rallies, letter-writing campaigns, Wikipedia edit-a-thons, fundraising events, and more.
I have pledged to support the #AAPIAction Week of Action, and details for the event I will host or participate in are forthcoming. (Also, taking suggestions! Comment below!)
Regardless, if you are an organizer, an activist, or even just someone hoping to get involved in someone else’s event, please check out the sign-up page here. Register before October 1st to be entered into a raffle for cool prizes! Also, don’t forget to share your involvement through the hashtag #AAPIAction.
Full text from the call for participation after the jump.
How do AAPIs resist? Sign on, STAND UP, FIGHT BACK this October
SIGN UP HERE for #AAPIAction
Recently, the Trump administration has advanced racist nativist attacks on immigrants by rescinding DACA, imposing a travel ban on refugees and six Muslim-majority countries, and supporting drastic immigration restrictions through the proposed RAISE Act. 45 has even essentially called neo-Nazis, the KKK, and white supremacists “fine people” in the aftermath of violence in Charlottesville, VA.
From xenophobia and Islamophobia to acts of racial violence, it is evident all oppression is connected and we can no longer continue to have single-issue campaigns and platforms because we don’t live single-issue lives. Unfortunately, we also have to recognize that segments of our own community have worked against social justice; for example protesting sanctuary cities, ethnic data disaggregation, and affirmative action etc.
All of these unjust acts negatively affect Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and other marginalized communities. In the wake of all of this, we may ask: What now?
When our communities are under attack, what do we do? We STAND UP, FIGHT BACK!
Collectively, we have a huge opportunity to make our voices heard in the public discussion on what is happening.
This October 7-14, help lead and participate in the AAPI National Week of Action, with AAPI Voices and over 20 community organizations around the country!
READY?
Let’s try to organize at least 100 events (e.g. educational potlucks, fundraisers, documentary viewings, rallies, teach-ins, etc.) nationwide for this week of action and solidarity for justice. Let’s make a powerful united statement as AAPIs who care about justice, when our communities are under attack, We Stand Up and Fight Back!
