Tag: Racism

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Reform UK drops three candidates over racism row

Ex-Brexit leader, GB News slammed for targeting Sikh community

As the registration deadline for candidates has passed, all three candidates will remain on the ballot paper, despite no longer being endorsed by Reform UK…reports Asian Lite News

Reform UK has withdrawn support from three of its parliamentary candidates as the racism row engulfing the party continues to grow.

The party led by Nigel Farage is no longer supporting Edward Oakenfull, who is standing in Derbyshire Dales, Robert Lomas, a candidate in Barnsley North, and Leslie Lilley, standing in Southend East and Rochford, after alleged comments made by them emerged in the media.

It comes as party leaders from across the political spectrum have lined up to condemn Reform UK, and told Farage he needs to “get a grip” of his party.

Oakenfull has been suspended after reportedly having written social media posts about the IQ of sub-Saharan Africans – which he told the BBC were “taken out of context”.

Meanwhile, Lomas said black people should “get off [their] lazy arses” and stop acting “like savages”, The Times reported.

Lilley, according to the newspaper, described people arriving on small boats as “scum”, adding: “I hope your family get robbed, beaten or attacked.”

As the registration deadline for candidates has passed, all three candidates will remain on the ballot paper, despite no longer being endorsed by Reform UK.

The decision to drop these candidates comes amid a vast row about racism in the party after Channel 4 news aired footage filmed undercover that showed Andrew Parker, an activist canvassing for Farage, using the racial slur “P***” to describe the prime minister, describing Islam as a “disgusting cult”, and saying the army should “just shoot” migrants crossing the Channel.

Reform UK was condemned by party leaders across the political spectrum, and Rishi Sunak reacted furiously to the comments, saying Mr Farage had “some questions to answer”.

He said: “My two daughters have to see and hear Reform people who campaign for Nigel Farage calling me an effing P***. It hurts and it makes me angry and I think he has some questions to answer.

“And I don’t repeat those words lightly. I do so deliberately because this is too important not to call out clearly for what it is.”

Parker has told Sky News he was a “total fool”, that he has learned his lesson, and there was “no racism” in what he said.

Reform UK has said it has reported Channel 4 to the elections watchdog for alleged “scandalous… interference” over what the party claims was a fake rant planted by the broadcaster.

The broadcaster has rejected the allegations out of hand, saying: “We strongly stand by our rigorous and duly impartial journalism which speaks for itself. We met Parker for the first time at Reform UK party headquarters, where he was a Reform party canvasser.

“We did not pay the Reform UK canvasser or anyone else in this report. Parker was not known to Channel 4 News and was filmed covertly via the undercover operation.”

The Electoral Commission said they were “aware of reports” that Reform UK had asked them to investigate.

But the commission said it had “not received such a letter”, adding that it would “consider [the letter’s] contents” if it did.

A spokesperson for the commission said Channel 4 News was exempt from its regulation as it is a licensed broadcaster. They said any laws surrounding the potential defamation of candidates would be a matter for the police.

ALSO READ-Labour aims for closer EU ties without reopening Brexit wounds

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Jayapal Introduces Resolution For 9/11 Racism Victims

The Arab, Muslim, Middle Eastern, South Asian, and Sikh communities have long experienced discrimination and violence in the US, which reportedly intensified after the attacks…reports Asian Lite News

A group of lawmakers, including Indian-American Pramila Jayapal, has introduced a Congressional resolution condemning hatred, xenophobia, and racism against South Asian, Sikh, Arab, Muslim and Mid-Eastern communities in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

Introduced on September 9 ahead of the 22nd anniversary of one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in the history of the US, the resolution recognised the tragedy and put forward a series of recommendations to support those affected by the hateful profiling after the attack.

“This day irrevocably changed our country and its impact is still felt. As we mark this tragic day, we must also reflect on the lasting damages faced by Arab, Muslim, Middle Eastern, South Asian, and Sikh communities in the aftermath,”  Congresswoman Jayapal said. 

“The murders of Balbir Singh Sodhi, Waqar Hassan, and Adel Karas in the days following the attack were shocking displays of hatred. Xenophobia and racism have no place in this country, and today we recognise the shared trauma that these communities faced as they experienced stigma, discrimination, and losses of liberty,” she added.

The resolution called for the creation of an interagency task force to work with community-based organisations to review government policies, investigate and document their impact, and dismantle those policies that continue to profile and unfairly target these communities.

It also called for hearings by congressional and civil rights bodies to explore the findings and recommendations of this interagency task force in consultation with and centering community-based organisations.

The resolution supported allocating resources to community-based organisations outside and independent of law enforcement that center the experiences and demands of these communities to both support hate crime prevention and the needs of victims of hate and state violence.

“In the wake of these attacks… Muslim, Arab, Sikh and South Asian Americans across the country were viewed with suspicion, harassed, and even detained based solely on their identity,” Congresswoman Ilhan Omar said, introducing the resolution along with Jayapal.

“As we mark the anniversary of these horrific attacks, we must learn from these mistakes… This resolution is a critical first step to acknowledging these past harms and beginning to heal,” Omar added.

Creating alternatives to law enforcement and transformative justice programs that are culturally and linguistically accessible and focus on vulnerable populations within these communities were some of the other things the resolution called for.

In addition, the resolution urged the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the National Institute of Health, and the National Science Foundation to work together to study the impact of hate, government targeting, political rhetoric, and profiling on physical and mental health.

The Arab, Muslim, Middle Eastern, South Asian, and Sikh communities have long experienced discrimination and violence in the US, which reportedly intensified after the attacks.

During the first month after the attack, community organisations documented 945 incidents of bias and hate against Americans perceived to be of Middle Eastern or South Asian descent.

This climate of hate also led to bullying and violence in their everyday lives and in their workplaces, businesses, community centers, and houses of worship, the resolution said.

Additionally, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and immigration authorities arrested and detained as many as 1,200 Muslims immediately after the September 11 attack, and none of these “special interest” detained people were ultimately indicted for terrorist activity, the resolution stated.

“This hate and government targeting impacted the ability of these communities to exercise their constitutionally protected rights including to organise, speak, travel, and worship freely.

Along with Jayapal and Omar, representatives Rashida Tlaib, Judy Chu, Andre Carson, Shri Thanedar and Henry Calvin Johnson introduced the resolution.

ALSO READ-Pramila Jayapal backs Biden running for a 2nd term in 2024

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Sunak speaks of growing ‘sting’ of racism  

Sunak said the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC) report had been “hard to read” and “really sad” for cricket lovers like him…reports Asian Lite News

Rishi Sunak has spoken of the “sting” of racism that he experienced growing up in the UK during a special appearance at the England versus Australia Ashes Test match at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London.

The 43-year-old cricket lover was interviewed on the BBC’s iconic ‘Test Match Special’ (TMS) radio show on the fourth day of the second Ashes Test on Saturday when he was asked about a recent independent report which found “widespread and deep-rooted” racism, sexism, elitism and class-based bias at all levels of cricket and prompted an unreserved apology by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

“I haven’t experienced that in cricket, but of course I’ve experienced racism growing up,” said Sunak, in response to a question by BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew.

“It stings you in a way that very few other things do. I’m in a job where I take criticism on a daily, hourly, minute-by-minute basis. But racism, it stings you, it does hurt,” he said.

Sunak said the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC) report had been “hard to read” and “really sad” for cricket lovers like him.

“All of us who love this game want it to be inclusive, open, accessible to absolutely everybody, to welcome people from all backgrounds and for it to be a place where everyone can feel respected and supported,” he said.

The Prime Minister went on to say that he was “confident” that the ECB was responding to its conclusions in the right way and referenced his milestone as the country’s first British Indian Prime Minister as “incredible progress” in tackling racism.

“One thing I take comfort from is that I think the things that happened to me when I was a kid, I don’t think they would happen to my kids today,” he added.

Born in Southampton in Hampshire on the south-eastern coast of England, Sunak revealed how he fell in love with cricket watching Hampshire County games in his home city.

During an India Global Forum UK-India Week reception he hosted in the garden of 10 Downing Street last week, Sunak joked about his bowling action as he expressed his excitement about India hosting the Cricket World Cup in October.

“I can tell you today that England is taking the prospect of playing India very seriously… they’ve even overcome a specially chosen British Indian bowling attack, but sadly that was me, here in this garden,” he said, evoking much laughter from the gathering.

ALSO READ-Sunak defends possible curbs on public sector pay

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Coulter’s racist rant targets Nikki Haley

Born Nimrata ‘Nikki’ Randhawa, Haley announced her presidential bid on February 14 in a video message where she proudly talked about her Indian heritage.

Calling Indian-American Nikki Haley a ‘bimbo’ and ‘preposterous creature’, conservative pundit and author Ann Coutler asked the Republican presidential candidate to return to India.

“Why don’t you go back to your own country?” Coulter said, making an appearance on the ‘The Mark Simone Show’ podcast this week.

Born Nimrata ‘Nikki’ Randhawa, Haley announced her presidential bid on February 14 in a video message where she proudly talked about her Indian heritage.

She had said that as a brown girl, growing up in a black-and-white world, she saw the promise of America unfold before her.

“Her candidacy did remind me that I need to immigrate to India so I can demand they start taking down parts of their history,” Coutler said.

Coutler’s rants did not stop at just Haley, she targetted India as well, the NBC News reported.

“What’s with the worshipping of the cows? They’re all starving over there. Did you know they have a rat temple, where they worship rats?”

Coulter said that Haley’s decision to remove the Confederate flag from the grounds of South Carolina’s Statehouse following the 2015 mass shooting at a predominantly black church in Charleston, angered her.

She slammed Haley, calling her a “Bimbo” and a “preposterous creature” for her decision.”This is my country, lady,” she said.

“I’m not an American Indian, and I don’t like them taking down all the monuments,” NBC News reported Coutler as saying.

Haley, so far, has not responded to Coutler’s comments.

Haley has been a rising star in the Republican party and long expected to run for the White House, IANS reported earlier.

She is a former two-term Governor of South Carolina, one of America’s most conservative states, and former Ambassador to the UN, a cabinet-rank position she held in the administration of then President Donald Trump.

Haley is the third Indian American to seek the Week House, following Bobby Jindal in 2015-16 and Kamala Harris in 2019-20.

ALSO READ: Nikki Haley says she is a proud daughter of Indian immigrants

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Racism must be confronted, says Sunak

The royal household has also begun publishing data on the ethnic breakdown of its staff, admitting it has more to do to ensure due representation…reports Asian Lite News

Breaking his silence on the latest race row to engulf the royal household, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said racism, whenever encountered, must be confronted.

Sunak said he had faced racism in his early life but believes the country has progressed since then. However, without directly commenting on the incident or the monarchy, he acknowledged that there is still work to be done.

“I have experienced racism in the past. But what I am pleased to say is that some of the things that I experienced while I was a kid I don’t think would happen today because our country has made incredible progress in tackling racism,” Sunak told reporters on Thursday.

“But the job is never done and that’s why whenever we see racism we must confront it. It’s right that we continually learn the lessons and move to a better future,” the British PM said.

Sunak’s remarks came in the wake of allegations of racism against Lady Susan Hussey, who is godmother to heir apparent Prince William and served as lay-in-waiting to the late Queen Elizabeth II.

The controversy erupted when Ngozi Fulani, a British national of African heritage and Caribbean descent, wrote on Twitter that the royal aide had repeatedly asked her: “What part of Africa are you from?” when she attended an event hosted by King Charles’s wife Camilla, the queen consort, on Tuesday.

Without naming Lady Hussey, Fulani said she was left traumatised by her persistent inquiries. In the end, she told her: “I am born here and am British.”

As the scandal blew up, Lady Hussey resigned from her role in the royal household and apologised over the incident. The Buckingham Palace also issued a statement terming her comments as “unacceptable and deeply regrettable.”

Meanwhile, Labour MP Diane Abbott, the first black woman to sit in the House of Commons when she was elected in the 1980s, said it was “really shocking” that a black Briton’s identity could be interrogated in this way.

But she told Times Radio that Buckingham Palace had made “progress” on race issues in the past 10 years.

Back then, “they would have said she (Fulani) was oversensitive and just dismissed it”, said Abbott.

The palace appears to have taken lessons on board particularly since last year, when Harry and his mixed-race wife Meghan accused an unidentified royal of racism with regard to their unborn baby.

Then, William retorted: “We are very much not a racist family.” But the family said the matter would be dealt with “privately”.

The royal household has also begun publishing data on the ethnic breakdown of its staff, admitting it has more to do to ensure due representation.

Yet from their new lives in California, the duke and duchess of Sussex have been portraying themselves as modernising outsiders who tried to take on a reactionary establishment.

Ironies abound as the feuding brothers both find themselves on the US East Coast — with no plans to meet.

William is set to award an environmental prize in Boston inspired by former president John F. Kennedy’s “Moonshot” ambition in the 1960s.

Next week, Harry and Meghan are due to attend an awards gala in New York held by the human rights foundation of Kennedy’s brother Robert.

His daughter Kerry Kennedy says the couple will be recognised for taking a “heroic stand” against “structural racism” within the British monarchy.

There is further irony in the row erupting in the week that saw new data from the 2021 census confirm that Britain is more racially diverse — and less Christian — than ever before.

Charles himself has a lifelong commitment to multi-culturalism and religious diversity while the government is led by the country’s first prime minister of colour, Rishi Sunak.

ALSO READ-Racism rocks British royalty

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Racism rocks British royalty

Lady Susan Hussey quits over remarks to charity boss Ngozi Fulani. Palace described the comments as “unacceptable and deeply regrettable” …reports Asian Lite News

A senior member of the British royal household resigned Wednesday for repeatedly asking a black charity campaigner where she was “really” from.

Ngozi Fulani, the chief executive of the London-based Sistah Spacel group, was attending a reception at Buckingham Palace with other campaigners on Tuesday.

After saying she was born and raised in the UK, and was British, Fulani said “Lady SH” asked her: “Where do you really come from, where do your people come from?”

She was then asked: “When did you first come here?”

The palace described the comments as “unacceptable and deeply regrettable”.

“We have reached out to Ngozi Fulani on this matter, and are inviting her to discuss all elements of her experience in person if she wishes,” a statement read.

“In the meantime, the individual concerned would like to express her profound apologies for the hurt caused and has stepped aside from her honorary role with immediate effect.

The late Queen’s lady-in-waiting Susan Hussey who is also a godmother to Prince William was named by UK media as the woman in question.

A spokesperson for William said that it was “really disappointing” to hear about the experiences.

“The comments were unacceptable, and it is right that the individual has stepped aside with immediate effect,” the Kensington Palace spokesperson said.

The palace said in a statement: “‘We take this incident extremely seriously and have investigated immediately to establish the full details.”

It added it had reached out to the charity boss and was inviting her to discuss her experience in person.

“In the meantime, the individual concerned would like to express her profound apologies for the hurt caused and has stepped aside from her honourary role with immediate effect. All members of the household are being reminded of the diversity and inclusivity policies which they are required to uphold at all times.”

Sistah Space is a support organisation based in east London for women of African and Caribbean heritage affected by abuse.

Domestic abuse is one of the key causes championed by Queen Consort Camilla since she joined the royal family.

Fulani, in an interview with the Independent website, said the issue was “bigger than one individual. It’s institutional racism”.

“I was in shock after it happened and anybody who knows me knows I don’t take this kind of nonsense,” she said.

“But I had to consider so many things. As a black person, I found myself in this place where I wanted to say something but what happened would automatically be seen as my fault, it would bring [my charity] Sistah Space down. It would be ‘oh, she has a chip on their shoulder’.”

Fulani said she did not want to see Lady Hussey “vilified”.

An eyewitness to the conversation, Mandu Reid, told BBC News that Lady Hussey’s questions had been “offensive, racist and unwelcoming”.

The leader of the Women’s Equality Party said she had felt a “sense of incredulity” about the exchange in which Ms Fulani was interrogated about where she was from, even though she had already explained she was born and lived in the UK.

Fulani was at the reception at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday representing the London-based charity Sistah Space, which supports women of African and Caribbean heritage across the UK who have faced domestic and sexual abuse.

Along with 300 guests, she had been invited to the event, where the Queen Consort, Camilla, had warned of a “global pandemic of violence against women”.

Here is the full conversation, as recounted by Fulani

Lady SH: Where are you from?

Me: Sistah Space.

SH: No, where do you come from?

Me: We’re based in Hackney.

SH: No, what part of Africa are you from?

Me: I don’t know, they didn’t leave any records.

SH: Well, you must know where you’re from, I spent time in France. Where are you from?

Me: Here, the UK.

SH: No, but what nationality are you?

Me: I am born here and am British.

SH: No, but where do you really come from, where do your people come from?

Me: ‘My people’, lady, what is this?

SH: Oh I can see I am going to have a challenge getting you to say where you’re from. When did you first come here?

Me: Lady! I am a British national, my parents came here in the 50s when…

SH: Oh, I knew we’d get there in the end, you’re Caribbean!

Me: No lady, I am of African heritage, Caribbean descent and British nationality.

SH: Oh so you’re from…

ALSO READ-Guterres calls for end to racism

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Fleeing Indians face racism at Ukrainian borders

Amit Lath, vice-president of the Indo-Polish Chamber of Commerce, claimed that even women have been beaten up, either held up for days or not permitted to leave Ukraine at the border posts….reports Ashish Ray

Both the BBC and CNN reconfirmed on Saturday that Indians in Ukraine attempting to cross over into Poland have been facing racial abuse from Ukrainian security forces. There have been persistent reports of this nature for over a week now.

Amit Lath, vice-president of the Indo-Polish Chamber of Commerce, claimed that even women have been beaten up, either held up for days or not permitted to leave Ukraine at the border posts.

While the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinkin, toured the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) countries in eastern Europe on Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman disclosed that the two nations were talking through certain channels.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov revealed at a news briefing: “We are maintaining certain channels of a dialogue with the United States.”

He was answering a question on the current state of relations between Russia and the US following sanctions imposed by Washington and a tense relationship in general between them as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. There was no ratification of this from Washington.

Claims of casualties vary widely between the two directly warring countries in the Russia-Ukraine outbreak of hostilities in what is really a battle between Russia and the West for strategic advantage on the security front.

In Moscow, Major General Oigor Konashenkov of the Russian defence ministry maintained that Russian armed forces have struck over 2,000 Ukrainian military infrastructure facilities up to Saturday morning, according to the Russian news agency, TASS.

Konashenkov is reported to have said: “Overall, some 2,037 Ukrainian military infrastructure facilities were hit during the operation. They included 71 command posts and communication centres of the Kiev forces; S-300, Buk and 9K33 Osa missile systems as well as 61 radar stations.”

He further stated that some 66 aircraft were hit on the ground and 16 aircraft in the air, while as many as 708 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 74 multiple rocket launchers, 261 field artillery and mortars, 505 units of special military vehicles as well as 56 unmanned aerial vehicles were also destroyed.

The Russian Defense Ministry insisted that Russian troops were not targeting Ukrainian cities; and limiting themselves to incapacitating Ukrainian military infrastructure. Even if this is true, there has apparently been collateral civilian casualties.

Meanwhile, after Russia Today was banned in the European Union, Britain and the United States, the Kremlin has retaliated by yanking western counterparts like BBC and CNN in Russia. US social media platform Facebook is also no longer available in Russia.

ALSO READ: Sputnik vaccine production to slow down amid Ukraine crisis

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Fresh actions to curb anti-Asian violence

President Joe Biden (www.instagram.comwhitehouse)
President Joe Biden will “appoint a permanent Director to lead the Initiative in the coordination of policies across the federal government impacting Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities”, reports Asian Lite News desk.

The White House has announced new actions including additional funding and a cross-agency initiative to curb the alarming rise in violence and discrimination against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Today’s announcements are additional steps in the Biden Administration’s work to advance equity for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities through a whole-of-government approach to racial justice,” the White House said.

According to a White House fact sheet, President Joe Biden will “appoint a permanent Director to lead the Initiative in the coordination of policies across the federal government impacting Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities.”

As part of the initiative, the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department reconvened its Hate Crimes Enforcement and Prevention Initiative with a focus on the surge in anti-Asian hate crimes in the country.

The FBI will also publish a new interactive page that documents hate crimes against the AAPI community and begin holding training events to educate agents on recognizing and reporting anti-Asian bias.

The Department of Health and Human Services is providing nearly $50 million from the American Rescue Plan to assist AAPI survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.

The Covid-19 Health Equity Task Force, founded in January, has also established a subcommittee on Structural Drivers of Health Inequity and Xenophobia, the White House said. This subcommittee will be specifically focused on combating the surge in anti-Asian bias during the coronavirus pandemic.

The National Endowment for the Humanities also launched a virtual library to expand resources and provide information on Asian-American history.

Rallies against anti-Asian racism

Last week, thousands of people gathered at Chinatown Square in Chicago to protest against increasing crimes targeting persons of Asian descent and the savage killing of eight people, including six Asian women, in Atlanta.

People holding banners reading “Zero tolerance for racism”, “Stop Asian Hate”, “I stand with Asian-Americans”, “We need justice”, “Racial discrimination must end”, flocked to Chinatown Square on Saturday afternoon.

Local officials and district police chief, including President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners Toni Preckwinkle and Illinois State Representative Theresa Mah, joined them.

By organising the event, “we hope to be heard”, and to unite local residents under a common goal of building a safer and better Chinese community in cooperation with the local government and the police, Grace Chan, executive director of the Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community (CBCAC), told Xinhua in an interview.

CBCAC co-hosted the protest with the Chinatown Security Foundation.

Also in last week, hundreds of New Yorkers from different races rallied against racism and violence on Asian-Americans, according to the ANSWER Coalition, a protest umbrella group consisting of anti-war and civil rights organisations.

The protesters rallied and marched on Saturday in Flushing, a major Asian community in Queens borough.

Also Read-Chicago sees massive rally against racism

A number of speakers shared their personal stories about racism and violence, while participants chanted slogans for much of the time.

The rally in New York was held simultaneously with those from over 60 cities in more than 25 states across the US, all aiming to stop anti-Asian violence and China-bashing, said the ANSWER Coalition.

The Asian-American community suffers the brunt of the hatred fomented as a weapon of war, it added.

New Yorkers have held more than 10 rallies since the shootings in Atlanta, Georgia, on March 16, in which six Asians were killed.

Also Read-Hundreds march against anti-Asian racism in Auckland

Read More-Hundreds march against anti-Asian racism in Auckland

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Rally against anti-Asian hate in New York

A demonstrator takes part in a protest against Asian hate in New York, the United States

Hundreds rallied and marched on Saturday in Flushing, a major Asian community in Queens borough…reports Asian Lite News

Hundreds of New Yorkers from different races rallied against racism and violence on Asian-Americans, according to the ANSWER Coalition, a protest umbrella group consisting of anti-war and civil rights organisations.

The protesters rallied and marched on Saturday in Flushing, a major Asian community in Queens borough, reports Xinhua news agency.

A number of speakers shared their personal stories about racism and violence, while participants chanted slogans for much of the time.

The rally in New York was held simultaneously with those from over 60 cities in more than 25 states across the US, all aiming to stop anti-Asian violence and China-bashing, said the ANSWER Coalition.





ANSWER Coalition(Twitter)

“The opportunistic scapegoating of China during the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, coupled with the intensity by which China is deemed the enemy and adversary of the US, has driven a widespread Sinophobic sentiment nationally,” it added.

The Asian-American community suffers the brunt of the hatred fomented as a weapon of war, it added.

New Yorkers have held more than 10 rallies since the shootings in Atlanta, Georgia, on March 16, in which six Asians were killed.

Also read:Chicago sees massive rally against racism

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Chicago sees massive rally against racism

Participants held banners reading “Zero tolerance for racism”, “Stop Asian Hate”, “I stand with Asian-Americans”, “We need justice”, “Racial discrimination must end”…reports Asian Lite News

Thousands of people gathered at Chinatown Square in Chicago to protest against increasing crimes targeting persons of Asian descent and the savage killing of eight people, including six Asian women, in Atlanta on March 16.

People holding banners reading “Zero tolerance for racism”, “Stop Asian Hate”, “I stand with Asian-Americans”, “We need justice”, “Racial discrimination must end”, flocked to Chinatown Square on Saturday afternoon, reports Xinhua news agency.

Local officials and district police chief, including President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners Toni Preckwinkle and Illinois State Representative Theresa Mah, joined them.

By organising the event, “we hope to be heard”, and to unite local residents under a common goal of building a safer and better Chinese community in cooperation with the local government and the police, Grace Chan, executive director of the Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community (CBCAC), told Xinhua in an interview.

Also read:Hundreds march against anti-Asian racism in Auckland

CBCAC co-hosted the protest with the Chinatown Security Foundation.

CBCAC and the Chinatown Security Foundation have also raised five demands for action at the event — to increase public safety in Chinatown; take anti-Asian hate crimes seriously; create a website to report anti-Asian hate crimes and the outcome of these reports; pass the Teaching Equitable Asian American Community History (TEAACH) Act; and fund Asian American organizations that reach out to the Asian American community, with special focus on senior citizens.

Crimes against local residents in Chinatown in Chicago have increased sharply since 2020.

In February 2020, two Chinese men were shot to death in a parking lot in Chinatown.

Later in December, a 33-year-old man of Chinese descent was fatally shot while being carjacked in the Bridgeport neighbourhood bordering Chinatown.

There were also numerous carjacking, robberies and break-ins.

Also read:Hundreds march against anti-Asian racism in Auckland