R 136
2021 -- S 0698
Enacted 03/23/2021

S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N
CONDEMNING THE SURGING VIOLENCE, XENOPHOBIA, AND INTOLERANCE AGAINST ASIAN AMERICANS

Introduced By: Senators Cano, Murray, Quezada, Kallman, Miller, Mack, DiMario, and Mendes

Date Introduced: March 23, 2021

     WHEREAS, Historically, the United States as a whole has discriminated and restricted
our Asian American population through the passage of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, the
internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, and the formation of the “Asiatic-Barred
Zone” in the Immigration Act of 1917; and
     WHEREAS, Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, racial animus and crimes
targeting Asian Americans have risen dramatically, exemplified by the use of the racist reference
to Covid-19 as the “China virus” despite the World Health Organization’s guidelines in disease
naming; and
     WHEREAS, Stop AAPI Hate, a coalition that tracks incidents of violence and harassment
against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States, reported nearly 3,800
instances of discrimination against Asians in the past year, including 503 incidents in 2021,
compared with roughly 100 incidents annually in previous years; and
     WHEREAS, In addition to this significant increase in incidents of violence and
harassment, Asian-owned businesses have seen a dramatic decline in revenue and patronage; and
     WHEREAS, Most recently, eight innocent people were shot in three spas in the Atlanta
area of State of Georgia, with six of the eight victims being Asian American women, which raises
the fear that they were targeted due to their race. No provocation led to these attacks; and
     WHEREAS, Rhode Island has a vibrant, productive and contributing Asian American
community numbering more than 37,000, the fifth largest ethnic group in the State; and
     WHEREAS, Rhode Island was founded on the belief and fully embraces diversity by
supporting a just and inclusive society; and
     WHEREAS, All Rhode Islanders can play a role in establishing a safe and welcoming
community by intervening and reporting instances of hate and discrimination. Reporting these
incidents is critical to holding perpetrators accountable and supporting our vibrant Asian
American communities; now, therefore be it
     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby strongly condemns
these acts of white supremacy, hatred, racism, and violence against Asians Americans and
moreover urges all Rhode Islanders to speak out against all forms of discrimination, harassment,
and violence directed at Asian Americans; and be it further
     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to
transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Rhode Island Association of Chinese
Americans, the South Asian Student Organization at the University of Rhode Island, the Brown
University Korean-American Student Association, the Center for Southeast Asians, the Filipino-
American Association of New Port County, Inc., H.O.P.E Foundation International, the India
Association of Rhode Island, the Alliance of Rhode Island Southeast Asians for Education
(ARISE), and Providence Youth Student Movement for Justice & Love (PrYSM).
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