CAIR-Chicago, Advancing Justice | Chicago Call for Solidarity Among AAPI and Muslim Communities, Offer Bystander Intervention Training Program
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CAIR-Chicago, Advancing Justice | Chicago Call for Solidarity Among AAPI and Muslim Communities, Offer Bystander Intervention Training Program
(CHICAGO, IL, 2/18/2021) A year after the pandemic first emerged in the United States, we continue to see anti-Asian attacks and harassment across the country as a result of Chinese scapegoating. CAIR-Chicago, The Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy group, has voiced concern and urgency regarding the increased and ongoing attacks on members of the Asian American community given their experience combatting decades of Islamophobia after 9/11. CAIR-Chicago, Advancing Justice | Chicago, and Hollaback! urge the public to take action by participating in bystander intervention trainings, an initiative that began last October in response to the increase in anti-Asian hate incidents. In each one-hour virtual training, participants will learn about the history of anti-Asian racism and Islamophobia in America, how to identify situations of harassment, and how to intervene safely.
SEE: NPR: Anger and Fear as Asian American Seniors Targeted in Bay Area Attacks
“Our communities are under attack and they are afraid”, Sufyan Sohel, Deputy Director of CAIR-Chicago, said. “We refuse to stand idly by as Asians, Muslims, or any one else faces hate or violence due to their race or religion.”
Early on in the pandemic, the Trump administration and other politicians consistently blamed China for the COVID-19 pandemic and used xenophobic terms like “Chinese virus” that spread stigma and fear and perpetuate centuries of racist stereotypes. A year later, there are still attacks being reported, including an attack on an 84-year old Thai man in San Francisco this month who later died from his injuries.
“Unfortunately, the end of 2020 did not mean an end to the pandemic or the racist targeting that has come with it,” said Andy Kang, Executive Director of Advancing Justice | Chicago. “Even with a new president in the White House and an executive order condemning racism, we are seeing attacks continue. It’s clear that more needs to be done, and by building trust across our communities through these trainings, people can take action and learn strategies they can use to protect each other.”
CAIR-Chicago, Advancing Justice | Chicago, and Hollaback! invite people of all backgrounds to participate in a bystander intervention training and learn how to take action against hate and racism. To register and more information, visit www.advancingjustice-chicago.org/antihate. People who have witnessed or experienced a hate incident can also report them to www.cairchicago.org/report-discrimination or standagainsthatred.org.
CAIR-Chicago is the Chicago Chapter of America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization with a mission to defend civil rights, fight bigotry, and promote tolerance.
Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago has a mission to build power through collective advocacy and organizing to achieve racial equity.
Hollaback! has a mission to end harassment in all its forms by transforming the culture that perpetuates harassment and discrimination. We carry out this mission by building the power of everyday people to create safe and welcoming environments for all.
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CONTACT: CAIR-Chicago Executive Director Ahmed Rehab, 202-870-0166, arehab@cair.com; CAIR-Chicago Communications Coordinator Saadia Pervaiz, 312-212-1520, spervaiz@cair.com; CAIR-Chicago Communications Coordinator Hannah Faris, 312-212-1520, hfaris@cair.com; Advancing Justice | Chicago Communications Specialist Megan Singson, 630-334-4045; msingson@advancingjustice-chicago.org