2021 -- S 0698

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LC002519

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

CONDEMNING THE SURGING VIOLENCE, XENOPHOBIA, AND INTOLERANCE

AGAINST ASIAN AMERICANS

     Introduced By: Senators Cano, Murray, Quezada, Kallman, Miller, Mack, DiMario, and
Mendes

     Date Introduced: March 23, 2021

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

     WHEREAS, Historically, the United States as a whole has discriminated and restricted

our Asian American population through the passage of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, the

internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, and the formation of the “Asiatic-Barred

Zone” in the Immigration Act of 1917; and

     WHEREAS, Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, racial animus and crimes

targeting Asian Americans have risen dramatically, exemplified by the use of the racist reference

to Covid-19 as the “China virus” despite the World Health Organization’s guidelines in disease

naming; and

     WHEREAS, Stop AAPI Hate, a coalition that tracks incidents of violence and harassment

against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States, reported nearly 3,800

instances of discrimination against Asians in the past year, including 503 incidents in 2021,

compared with roughly 100 incidents annually in previous years; and

     WHEREAS, In addition to this significant increase in incidents of violence and

harassment, Asian-owned businesses have seen a dramatic decline in revenue and patronage; and

     WHEREAS, Most recently, eight innocent people were shot in three spas in the Atlanta

area of State of Georgia, with six of the eight victims being Asian American women, which raises

the fear that they were targeted due to their race. No provocation led to these attacks; and

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island has a vibrant, productive and contributing Asian American

community numbering more than 37,000, the fifth largest ethnic group in the State; and

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island was founded on the belief and fully embraces diversity by

supporting a just and inclusive society; and

     WHEREAS, All Rhode Islanders can play a role in establishing a safe and welcoming

community by intervening and reporting instances of hate and discrimination. Reporting these

incidents is critical to holding perpetrators accountable and supporting our vibrant Asian

American communities; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby strongly condemns

these acts of white supremacy, hatred, racism, and violence against Asians Americans and

moreover urges all Rhode Islanders to speak out against all forms of discrimination, harassment,

and violence directed at Asian Americans; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Rhode Island Association of Chinese

Americans, the South Asian Student Organization at the University of Rhode Island, the Brown

University Korean-American Student Association, the Center for Southeast Asians, the Filipino-

American Association of New Port County, Inc., H.O.P.E Foundation International, the India

Association of Rhode Island, the Alliance of Rhode Island Southeast Asians for Education

(ARISE), and Providence Youth Student Movement for Justice & Love (PrYSM).

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