“As a proud Asian American, it is disheartening to see the hatred and violence against our community"
Zoom CEO Eric Yuan and hundreds of Asian American business leaders donate $10 million to support AAPI communities against anti-Asian violence.
Yuan, as well as YouTube cofounder Steve Chen, OpenTable CEO Debby Soo, Care.com founder Sheila Marcelo and many more Asian business leaders have pledged to donate the funds over the year.
The business heads will partner with the Asian Pacific Fund to support community-based organizations, including Stop AAPI Hate, AAPI Women Lead, the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF), Asian Americans Advancing Justice and the Association for Asian American Studies.
“As a proud Asian American, it is disheartening to see the hatred and violence against our community,” Yuan said. “Racism in any form is unacceptable, and I feel strongly it is important to lend my voice and stand up with my fellow colleagues, friends and family who are suffering during this time.”
The groups will also create and fund AAPI employee resource groups to increase representation in their companies.
In a a paid advertisement in The Wall Street Journal, the coalition announced their commitment.
“The Asian American business leaders in our community are committed to fighting for change,” the open letter states.
“The change that is needed requires a national awakening and a dialogue that involves leaders from every community if we are to undo the generations of systemic bias and racism. We are business leaders. We can help make change happen.”
Over 2,800 Asian American business leaders have signed the pledge.
There has been a recent surge in violent attacks on Asians across America.
Most recently, a Vietnamese family was tied up in their own home by robbers who stole their entire life savings in Oakland, California.
Elsewhere, an elderly Asian American woman was kicked in the face by a suspect who was on parole for fatally stabbing his mother.
Meanwhile, a Japanese American man was randomly punched in the face whilst walking in Washington D.C.
In San Francisco, a 19-year-old Asian hate crime victim was shot in the eye.
Also in San Francisco, an Asian woman was attacked and dragged by a getaway car.
Additionally, a 13-year-old boy was racially attacked in Flushing.
In LA, a 28-year-old Asian mother has died in a fatal shooting in Compton.
Two weeks ago, eight women were shot and killed at three massage parlours in Atlanta.