IOWA CITY, Iowa (KWWL)- A small group of around 100 people gathered on the pedestrian mall in Iowa City Sunday evening for a solidarity rally in the wake of a wave of anti-Asian violence and hate.
Eight people were killed, six of which were Asian women, in a killing spree in Georgia earlier this month. The tragedy has left many Asians across the country, including Coralville City Council Member Hai Huynh, feeling scared.
"I have lived in this community for almost 20 years. This is very much home," Huynh said. "For the first time in a long time, I didn't feel safe. And that speaks a lot that speaks a lot. If I didn't feel safe, I can't imagine people who are newcomers."
According to the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism, this year alone, anti-Asian hate crimes have risen nearly 150%. Iowans of Asian descent have reported hateful abuse and being blamed for the coronavirus.
"Ever since the rhetoric of Chinese flu and Kung flu, I carry pepper spray," one speaker who is a doctoral student at the University of Iowa said. "It is because I am afraid to get attacked in the face."
During the event, speakers focused their attention on the bigger picture, the discrimination the Asian American community faces here in Iowa and across the country.
Members of the Asian-American community say the discrimination is nothing new and has been something they have consistently experienced since arriving in the country hundreds of years ago.
"For a long time, we have felt like we are invisible, and our voices are not being heard," Huynh said. "We felt like we are a second-class citizen. We are only visible if it fits into the narrative of the majority."
In the wake of the violence and hatred aimed at the Asian-American community, more are speaking up. Hundreds of protesters took to the streets of Los Angeles and throughout the San Francisco Bay Area on Saturday in a series of rallies in response to the surge in anti-Asian sentiments.
"It's time that we speak up and speak out," Huynh said.
Sixth-grader Sharon Liao also spoke at the Sunday evening event. She wanted to speak and share a message of support for those grieving and struggling.
Liao said if we look at it, we are not so different from one another, after all.
"We are all human, and we all have feelings. We need to stand together to make a difference," Liao said. "Assuming who people just because of how they look is not okay. We need to change how people see us and understand how we feel. Not just judge based on our appearance for what is on the inside."
Liao said it is important to stand up for others in the community and listen to others and their voice. Give space to those who are grieving or hurting inside and allow them to share their stories.
To help organizations that are allies within the Asian community, you can click here.
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March 29, 2021 at 11:12AM
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"It is time we speak up": Iowa City Asian community holds rally in response to recent violence - kwwl.com
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