May 1, 2022

Paley Rothman Denounces Ongoing and Continuing Violence Against Asian Americans in the United States

• May 1, 2022

BETHESDA, MD (May 1, 2022) - Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, the United States has seen a marked increase in racism and violence toward Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (“AAPI”). 

This issue was brought to national prominence with the horrific and racially-driven string of shootings in the Atlanta area, which left six Asian women (as well as two others) dead in March of 2021.  A year later – March 2022 – an Asian woman was beaten with 125 blows to the head by a man in Yonkers, New York.  He spit on her after the attack, while calling her an anti-Asian, misogynistic slur.  In January of 2022, an elderly Asian woman in Long Beach, California was stabbed in the neck by a man while minding a store. The assailant just attacked and left. The woman – who was on the verge of retirement – can no longer move or speak.  In November of 2021, an elderly woman was sweeping her front porch in Queens when she was attacked with a rock.  She died.   

This past month, Manhattan District Attorneys announced charges against one individual related to hate incidents perpetrated on seven Asian women.  These are just several of a multitude of examples.

Sites tracking anti-AAPI violence and harassment have reported thousands of incidents since the start of the pandemic, finding a 339% increase in reported anti-Asian hate crimes in 2021 compared to 2020 in some major U.S. cities.  Troublingly, these numbers only reflect reported incidents whereas many of these crimes go unreported.  And, just since the beginning of this year (2022), 16% of AAPI women and men say they have experienced a hate crime or hate incident, according to demographic researcher AAPI Data.  It’s only been four months. 

With media focus on other stories, you may not be aware that this racially motivated violence is ongoing – but your AAPI friends and colleagues are keenly aware.  We have heard from our AAPI friends and colleagues about their fear for their own safety and the increasing and blatant racism they have faced.  It is intolerable. 

This echoes the sentiment of a recent report by Slate.com : Asian Americans know these attacks are happening, and they are still scared. 

No one should face violence because of their perceived race or ethnicity.  Paley Rothman denounces these acts of violence, we call attention to our community to be aware that the violence is ongoing, and we stand solidly in our conviction that our AAPI friends and colleagues should be safe and free of racism in our community. 

To our Asian American and Pacific Islander friends and colleagues: We hear you and we want others to hear you, as well.  You have our support.

About Paley Rothman

Paley Rothman is committed to recruiting and retaining a varied group of attorneys and staff throughout the firm and believe that diversity is a strategic key to our ongoing success. Recognizing that individuals with varied backgrounds, perspectives, and skillsets enrich its workforce, Paley Rothman’s mission is to foster and promote an atmosphere of diversity, multiculturalism, and inclusion.

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Contacts:

Alexis Dwemoh
301.656.7603
adwemoh@paleyrothman.com

Eleanor Kerlow
301.335.8141
eleanor@eleanorkerlowpr.com