Anti-Asian sentiment has been on the rise in the US since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020 alone, hate crimes against AAPI people rose by 150%. With the flames of racial hatred and discrimination fueled by our former president and other politicians, the result has been violent, and on more than one occasion, deadly. Just last month, a shooter targeting Asian-owned businesses killed eight people in Atlanta. Six of the victims were Asian women. According to the organization Stop AAPI Hate, women are 2.3 times more likely to be the victims of hate crimes than men, a stark example of the intersectionality of gendered and racial violence.
There are many great organizations and individuals working to support the AAPI community; one of which is the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum. The NAPAWF’s mission is “focused on building power with AAPI women and girls to influence critical decisions that affect our lives, our families, and our communities. Using a reproductive justice framework, we elevate AAPI women and girls to impact policy and drive systemic change in the United States.”
With fourteen main chapters across the country, their efforts influence lives in every state. NAPAWF’s work is centered on policy and structural change, civic engagement, and legal advocacy, with a focus on three core issues: reproductive health and rights, economic justice, and immigration and racial justice.
On April 28th, 29th, and 30th, join Her Campus at Colby in supporting the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum. On all three days, we will be tabling in the SPA from 11 am – 4 pm, so come by to learn more and donate! If you can’t make it, check out our Instagram page, @hercampusatcolby, for donation information.
To learn more about the NAPAWF and to get involved, check out their website here.