Raising Our Collective Voices Against Anti-Asian Violence
“It was very helpful for me because I learned more about anti-Asian crimes and how different kinds of people are suffering from this. It reminded me to observe and to be aware, especially in the subway. It's also important not to be on your phone while you're walking or in the subways so you can focus. I know that no one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, background or his religion. People have learned to hate and if they can learn hate, then they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”
- Margielyn, Damayan member, nanny, labor trafficking survivor
From left to right: Lydia Amaya, Riya Ortiz, May Madarang, Clifford Temprosa, Cecille Lai
Last Saturday, Damayan held the “Raising Our Collective Voices Against Anti-Asian Violence” Convening at The People’s Forum, Manhattan. As part of the continued response to the increasing anti-Asian violence in New York City, the convening created the time and space to share, analyze and come to a common understanding of the depth and breadth of this problem. The goal of the convening was to understand the root causes and contributing factors to anti-Asian violence, build solidarity and assess what resources are available, and to enable our community members to come together to build strength and support each other.
From left to right: Lydia Amaya, Alfredo Lascano, May Madarang, Clifford Temprosa, Riya Ortiz, Fei De Asis, Cecille Lai
The main program was a panel discussion with Cecille Lai, a survivor of a recent anti-Asian violent attack in Corona, Queens, May Madarang of National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON), Clifford Temprosa of National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NAFFAA), and Riya Ortiz of Damayan. The panelists and attendees all helped create a safe and comfortable space for community members–Filipino domestic workers, migrant workers, labor trafficking survivors, elderly, women, and youth, that they shared their own personal experiences and questions on anti-Asian violence. With the eye-opening discussion on anti-Asian violence rooted in systemic racism, and the list of resources available to the community, community members can link potential solutions and coping mechanisms to match the daily struggle of walking the streets that have increasingly become dangerous to Asian, especially elderly, women. Resonating deeper was the discussion on the importance of alliance -building and how we must learn to look out for our fellow Filipinos and other fellow people of color, to effectively combat anti-Asian hate and violence. To fight anti Asian violence, community members and stakeholders need to learn systemic analysis and build solidarity. A hate crime on one person of color is a hate crime towards the whole community. And a helping hand towards one of us, uplifts us all.
Through this convening, Damayan is proud to take part in this community-building to turn despair into empowered knowledge, and to turn fear into hope for our community. As the fight continues, Damayan will continue in its mission of empowering the Filipino migrant worker community through knowledge and trainings. #NoToAAPIHate #NoToAntiAsianViolence #DamayanMigrantWorkers #DamayanMigrants #Damayan
