Stopping AAPI hate is not only merely condemning violence, bigotry, and xenophobia but also the acts of exclusion towards this community that lead to marginalization. Silencing Councilmember Park silenced the voices of AAPI community members and their trusted leaders. We call for this Council to censure the actions of Councilmember Watanabe and request that she issue a public apology to Councilmember Park and the AAPI community. Such acts of institutional racism must not be tolerated.
My name is Kayla Williams speaking on behalf of Community Health Partnership, an association of community clinics in Santa Clara and San Mateo County. We are angered by the acts of violence against the Asian American Pacific Islander community locally and nationally. We are appalled that Councilmember Kevin Park, the only Korean American member of this council, was blocked by Councilmember Kathy Watanabe from speaking at the Stop AAPI Hate event on March 31st.
I read the news about what happened at the recent rally in Santa Clara
The rally underscored more than ever the need for AAPI voices to be uplifted and centered in a time when they are being silenced and suppressed.
It proves what AAPI leaders have been saying for years, that when we try to speak up, we are repeatedly marginalized, as others attempt to “put us in our place”. One does not get to claim AAPI allyship while they are silencing AAPI voices.
-Michael Tsai
Stopping AAPI hate is not only merely condemning violence, bigotry, and xenophobia but also the acts of exclusion towards this community that lead to marginalization. Silencing Councilmember Park silenced the voices of AAPI community members and their trusted leaders. We call for this Council to censure the actions of Councilmember Watanabe and request that she issue a public apology to Councilmember Park and the AAPI community. Such acts of institutional racism must not be tolerated.
My name is Kayla Williams speaking on behalf of Community Health Partnership, an association of community clinics in Santa Clara and San Mateo County. We are angered by the acts of violence against the Asian American Pacific Islander community locally and nationally. We are appalled that Councilmember Kevin Park, the only Korean American member of this council, was blocked by Councilmember Kathy Watanabe from speaking at the Stop AAPI Hate event on March 31st.
I read the news about what happened at the recent rally in Santa Clara
The rally underscored more than ever the need for AAPI voices to be uplifted and centered in a time when they are being silenced and suppressed.
It proves what AAPI leaders have been saying for years, that when we try to speak up, we are repeatedly marginalized, as others attempt to “put us in our place”. One does not get to claim AAPI allyship while they are silencing AAPI voices.
-Michael Tsai