The New York Guyana Democracy Project (NY GDP) has issued a statement condemning in the strongest words the senseless violent attacks against Asians, mostly Chinese Asians in various states and more recently Koreans, in the Atlanta area. Clearly, the victims were attacked just because of their ethnicity, says NYGDP.
A gunman shot and killed eight women at three massage spa parlors in Atlanta, Georgia on Tuesday evening, March 16, with six of the victims being of Asian descent. Asians have a strong presence in the spa industry in America. A White American was arrested for the brutal attacks targeting Asian owned businesses, and he confessed to the shootings. Anti-Asian hate incidents have increased over the last few years. American politicians, including the President, Vice President, and Speaker of the US House of Reps, have condemned the recent spate of attacks on Asians. Various news wires carried reports of the latest attack. Rallies have been held against hate and reported in various media as well as news wire including by Reuters.
The NYGDP, in its release, lamented this latest attack on Asian Americans, which has already resulted in several casualties since the pandemic began just over a year ago. NYGDP notes that “there is a long history of various forms of physical and verbal attacks on Asians including Indian Americans, Indo-Guyanese, and other Indo-Caribbeans, There has been a history of casual and overt prejudice, scapegoating, and other forms of racism against immigrants of color, Asians and Indians in particular in the USA. We salute the Asian American people and other immigrant groups for their immense contributions to culture, growth, and development of America and for their resilience in standing up to hate”.
The statement adds: “Targeting of people on account of their appearance or ethnicity violates their integrity and decency and is against the law of the US as well basic human rights. During the last year, Asian Americans not only have to keep safe from the virus, but also have faced increased violence and harassment fueled by prejudice, hatred, and xenophobia. America must stand united against hate. And we all must co-operate to stay safe from the virus. Attacking Asian America ns will not end the virus or stop its spread”.
The statement also urges “Guyanese and other groups to build bridges with Asians and people of other ethnicities and nationalities to combat prejudice. It encourages people to continue to stay safe from the Corona virus and to take the vaccine to combat it”.
The organization’s President Dr. Tara Singh stated: “The attacks against people on account of ethnicity is vile. There must be zero tolerance for the kind of violence in Georgia and other attacks on Asian Americans. Everyone must be treated with tolerance and respect regardless of ethnicity, nationality, color, and the like. With regards to the Corona virus, I encourage people to be vaccinated. Myself and family members have had our full doses with no side effects”.
Guyanese are being vaccinated all over America.
