Embedded Files
"Diversity goes beyond the color of our skin, ethnicity or nationality. TransportAsian aims to be part of that connection that help brings different groups and individuals together in a safe space where people feel respected and welcomed." -Jesse Sze, TransportAsian Chair
FIRST THEY CAME
FIRST THEY CAME
First they came for the Communists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Communist
Then they came for the Socialists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Socialist
Then they came for the trade unionists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a trade unionist
Then they came for the Jews
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Jew
Then they came for me
And there was no one left
To speak out for me.
By Martin Niemöller
By Martin Niemöller
ANTI-RACISM AND HATE
ANTI-RACISM AND HATE
When news of the crimes first spread in March, MTA leadership responded by leveraging our media reach with an anti-hate campaign in Chinese, Korean, and English across thousands of digital screens. "These messages remind us to look out for Asian New Yorkers, our friends, our neighbors, our coworkers, and our families," noted Sarah Meyer at the campaign announcement. -Sarah Meyer, MTA Chief Customer Officer
New York State Division of Human Rights Interim Commissioner Johnathan J. Smith said, "Members of the Asian American Pacific Islander community are our neighbors and friends, and are critical members of the New York family. The Division of Human Rights is proud to join with our partners in state government to make sure we are doing all we can to support the AAPI community during this challenging time."
New York State Liquor Authority Commissioner Lily Fan said, "This year's celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage month is vitally important in light of the disturbing rise in Anti-Asian sentiment throughout the country. I am delighted to join with state leaders as we demonstrate solidarity with New York's diverse AAPI communities, whose contributions have enriched the economic and cultural strength of our state and of our nation."
New York Power Authority President & CEO Gil Quiniones said, "As a proud Filipino-American, I know full well that Asian-American & Pacific Islanders have brought their skills, their passions, their imaginations, their beliefs, and their creativity to this country. We see their innumerable contributions all around us, as they advance our technology, science and engineering and expand our literature, music and art. As a result, this nation and its culture are enriched."
"We are outraged by these senseless acts of inhumanity directed at members of the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities and call on men and women of good will to raise their voices in opposition to racism wherever it exists and in solidarity with victims and their families whose humanity has been assaulted." -Joel Andrews, NYCT Vice President of EEO
“The COVID-19 pandemic has brought out both the best of us and the worst of us through perception, negative thoughts and actions, positive thoughts and actions, and being forced to face our own mortality. We must have made up minds to be kinder to one another, always mindful of what we say, do, and the impact that it has on others. Be the one who inspires others to be better, do better, be kind, be conscious of our individual impact on others while reminding ourselves to do the same.” -Gail A. Chandler, MTA Assistant Chief Chaplain
"ALM = All Lives Matter, Asian Lives Matter." –Shing Li Chan, MTA
"Due to multiple factors including our histories, beliefs, the pandemic and current events, I believe our cultures are shifting and changing. We need to have honest conversations, speak up and have our voices heard - immediately! We are in support of ALL races being treated equally and we are all in it together – to help protect our family/friends and our communities and be proud Americans for we live in one amazing United States of America! In Solidarity We Stand!" -Jesse Sze, MTA
"The event was well represented – especially with the many politicians. Peaceful, Forceful and Effective. If we do not voice our outrage and concerns, it means we are accepting. And eventually, Silence = Death. Stay well all!!" -Sunil Jacob, MTA
"I block out a lot of things that are negative, which is probably the Asian way to do so. With the recent rise in anti-Asian hate crimes, there are a lot of thoughts and emotions involved. It immediately reminded me of two incidents. It reminded me of someone I knew who thought the word "ch***ky" was normal to use. She was using it to describe the type of eyes someone has. I had to tell her that it was offensive and that it was a slur. She was caught off-guard because she told me she didn't know that. I guess no one had ever told her. Hopefully, she stopped using it after that conversation.
It also reminded me of someone my parents knew. He was walking home from work late one night and a group of people assaulted and robbed him. Luckily, a bystander scared the group away and called the cops for him. He needed medical attention after the incident! He refused to press charges because he was afraid of retaliation if the people who assaulted him were to ever see him again. When I heard that, I felt uneasy. I tried to ask my parents why he wouldn't just talk to the cops about it. My parents would just tell me that he said he doesn't want any trouble. It made me upset but that's exactly what we're stereotyped to do. Which is why we have to change that.
From these two incidents, we have to educate those who don't know and hope they'd learn and to report incidents to show them we're not scared and that we can speak up too! Both gives us a voice. With proper reporting, it will improve data that can help make the city better instead of having these incidents happen over and over again. These are the small steps we have to take now for changes to happen." -Cindy Lam, MTA
"We all have to rally together for real change, "an injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." And the way to make change is to call it out when we see/hear it." -Bonnie Harper, MTA
"...my reflection relating to the pic with sign “Asian Is Not a Virus, Racism Is”. My interest grew over the years in psychology and science of hate or “destructive emotions” ; I wanted to understand hate/negative emotion and not hate the individual. –Monty Bains, MTA
I want to start by sharing a few personal incidents that stood out to me. At a previous job, I was introducing myself to my coworkers on my first day at the job. One of them asked me, where I was from. I told him, I am from NYC, and further explained that I was born in Myanmar. He did not know where that was so I told him that it was a country sandwiched between Thailand and India. He says to me “India, huh? My new primary care doctor is from there. I have never had an Indian doctor before. I hope he is a good doctor.” I think I can spend an entire essay breaking down this interaction. But the main point I want to point out is that racism is subtle. I have lost count of how many times I have been called a (slur term (it starts with a C)) but these subtle remarks just as harmful. And I can say that these kind of subtle interactions have happened at almost every work place. I also want to say that I completely agree with Sze’s statement “ We are all in it together! “
We, Asians/Asian-Americans, are a minority. And by definition, at most we will have representation (if any) and we will never have significant majority power to enact change. That is unless we unite with others and work together with others. There has been noticeable push on social media and from mainstream/popular media as well to push us against other groups. The “model minority” myth is a favorite weapon of this nefarious agenda. So is fanning flames of hatred & retaliation / reminding us of past divisions. We must not let these divide us and work together.
Lastly, I want to talk about allies. I hope our co-workers and managers foster an environment where our voices can be truly heard. I hope MTA puts resources into teaching how to be an ally and how to have discussion about race. And I hope it is inclusive. We have to listen to Asian voices. We have to listen to Black voices. We have to listen to women’s voices. We have to listen and act. -Aye Maung, MTA
“I was honored to participate in the solidarity event supporting the stop the hate movement on behalf of Asian Americans. The group I was with that organized the march I took part in are called ‘Riders for Rights’ and ‘Riders for Black lives’. We started at the Barclay’s Center then ended up at Columbus park Where the larger event was taking place. We had an all women’s drum team lead the march part of the way, then they separated at one point so that the marchers Could walk thru them and then the rest of the way. It was a powerful gathering and our Asian brothers and sisters were at the front of the march with All other nationalities behind them! We sung songs like ‘Lean on Me’ and ‘Glory’ and we chanted! We had lots of horns honking for us and lots of claps!
‘We love You’ ‘Stay strong’ were some of the phrases people shouted out as we passed them. When we entered into Chinatown people came out of the buildings And were clapping! When we got to the park we enjoyed the speakers and took lots of pictures. I heard several folks say they feel safe and encouraged by the show of support. I know in my heart that We will get through this time together as true and real Americans!” -Cynthia Chamble, Veterans Group, MTA
OTHER PUBLIC or NEWS QUOTES / REFLECTIONS
OTHER PUBLIC or NEWS QUOTES / REFLECTIONS
The past year has demonstrated that Republican leaders who have sought to partner with conservative Asian Americans on dismantling affirmative action are not willing “to side with them when they are the target of racist and xenophobic attacks.” Lee called the moment a “reckoning” for Asian Americans that “their perceived competence is no shield against xenophobic attacks. It should be painfully clear how race continues to matter in our lives, how it affects our opportunities, and how it must be central to policies, including affirmative action.” -Jennifer Lee, Columbia University, Sociology Professor
“We know here on the North Shore that we’re very close to the city, and anything could happen at any time,” Birnbaum said. “We really must all stand united and show each other that we are one community.” -Legislator Ellen Birnbaum (D-Great Neck, NY)
“In the Town of North Hempstead, just like here in Great Neck … we are one community, and we are stronger together,” Lurvey said. -North Hempstead Councilwoman Veronica Lurvey, Great Neck, NY
“Speaking out is only important if you actually back it up,” Wang said. “If speaking out means pressing two buttons, then it’s not really speaking out … Speak out when you hear, when we are called racial slurs on the streets, when you see us get spit on the streets. That is what speaking out means.” -Eloise Wang, a NYU Gallatin student
Democratic Sen. Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, the legislation’s lead sponsor, said the measure is incredibly important to Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, “who have often felt very invisible in our country, always seen as foreign, always seen as the other.” She said the message of the legislation is as important as its content and substance." Hirono, the first Asian American woman in the Senate, said the attacks are “a predictable and foreseeable consequence” of racist and inflammatory language that has been used against Asians during the pandemic, including slurs used by former President Donald Trump. Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, a former Army helicopter pilot who lost her legs during a 2004 attack in Iraq, said she had been asked what country she was from while wearing her U.S. military uniform. Duckworth, the first member of Congress born in Thailand, said there is more work to be done, but the bill's passage tells the community that “we will stand with you and we will protect you.” -KVUE news
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