Home News Hundreds Of People Protest In Brookline Against Anti-Asian Racism

Hundreds Of People Protest In Brookline Against Anti-Asian Racism

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Around 300 people gathered in front of Brookline High School on Friday evening to show support for Asian Americans and to remember the eight people killed in a mass shooting in Atlanta, including six Asian women.

The rally and candlelight vigil were organized by the Asian Pacific American Club at Brookline High School to draw attention to the rise of anti-Asian violence and racism in the United States over the past year, which was highlighted by the March 16, 2021 mass shooting.

In the aftermath of the mass shooting, a number of vigils have been held around the world. It also comes on the heels of a report from the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism, which showed that while hate crimes against Asian-Americans decreased in major cities, hate crimes against Asian-Americans increased.

Following the Atlanta shootings, more than 250 Brookline leaders signed a statement condemning hatred and bigotry and expressing solidarity with Asian Americans.

Several committees, including the Brookline Commission for Women and the town’s diversity and inclusion committee, published statements of support and criticism of anti-Asian xenophobia.

“We know that Brookline is not immune to this racism,” wrote the Brookline Commission for Women.

The Select Board also released a statement, in which it acknowledged it needed to involve all peoples in its anti-racist discourse and policymaking, to ensure “that their perspectives are represented everywhere decisions are being made.”

It is important to take a stand.

This is exactly what a lot of the people, who came to the vigil, wanted to do, and they did it.