Democratic vice presidential pick Kamala Harris is backing a program that aims to protect young Asian Americans from Coronavirus bullying.
Last month, it was revealed that an increasing number of Asian American children are facing bullying related to Coronavirus.
Addressing the situation, two San Francisco nonprofit organizations (Beyond Differences and the Communiy Youth Center of San Francisco) launched a campaign titled Stand Up for AAPI Youth During COVID.
The program includes lesson plans for schools that address issues facing the demographic including model minority myth, implicit biases, microaggressions, self-acceptance and cultural appropriation.
Launching the program, Harris showed her support with a speech emphasizing the importance of protecting Asians against Coronavirus discrimination.
“In this moment where there’s so many powerful forces trying to sell hate and division and engage in xenophobic rhetoric, we know the strength of unity,” Harris said.
“We know the strength of lifting up our young leaders and doing everything we can to support them and their families. So let’s keep doing it.”
The Stop AAPI Hate report has received a total of 2,583 reports of discrimination against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders across the U.S. from its inception on March 19 to Aug. 5.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has become yet another reason to target Asian communities all across the country,” said Sarah Ching-Ting Wan, executive director of the Community Youth Center of San Fransisco.
“It is always our hope to be able to turn the table around through education. We need to strive to deepen young people’s experiences on racial justice and cross-cultural relationship-building in school and out of school while adopting resources from the community.”
In other news, a racist letter has been discovered in the city of Irving in which Chinese and Indian immigrants are being threatened.
