Title:
Title
Resolution Condemning and Combating Racism, Xenophobia, and Intolerance Against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders
End
FileID
File ID: 2021-00288
Location
Location: Citywide.
End
Recommendation:
Recommendation
Adopt a Resolution condemning and combating racism, xenophobia, and intolerance against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
FileName
Contact: Catherina Nou, Chief of Staff, (916) 808-7008, Office of Councilmember Mai Vang
Body
Presenter: Mai Vang, Councilmember District 8.
Attachments:
1-Description/Analysis
2-Resolution
Description/Analysis
Issue Detail: Since the outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in California in March 2020, harmful and xenophobic rhetoric related to the geographic origins of this disease resulted in a rise in reported hate incidents and crimes against Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) individuals, communities, and businesses throughout the state.
Stop AAPI Hate, a national coalition aimed at addressing anti-Asian discrimination amid the pandemic and founded by the Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council, Chinese for Affirmative Action and San Francisco State University’s Asian American Studies Department, documented over 2,800 hate incidents targeting AAPIs in the United States in 2020 since it began to document incidents in March of that year. From March to June 2020, Stop AAPI Hate received reports of over 800 hate incidents in California against AAPIs related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the highest in the country.
In Sacramento, on February 22, 2021, Kelly Shum, owner of Mad Butcher Meat Company, reported a dead, mutilated cat found in the business parking lot to the Sacramento Police Department. Subsequently, the Sacramento Police Department is investigating this as a hate crime. Additionally, on February 25, 2021, a video of a Sacramento high school teacher making offensive gestures to depict Asians during class was filmed and circulated on social media. These incidents were reported in the media and there may be more that were not reported.
As a result, AAPIs in Sacramento are increasingly concerned about their safety and well-being, given the rise of racially motivated attacks and hate crimes. Over 20% of Sacramento’s population identifies as Asian American or Pacific Islander.
Policy Considerations: Approving this resolution is in alignment with the City of Sacramento’s commitment to inclusion and advancing equity and justice for people of all races, national origins, and ethnicities. The resolution is an extension of that commitment by resolving that the City will work jointly with members of the AAPI community to develop tangible community-led solutions that acknowledge the experiences of AAPI residents, root out systemic racism and uplift racial solidarity.
Economic Impacts: Not applicable.
Environmental Considerations: Not applicable.
Sustainability: Not applicable.
Commission/Committee Action: Not applicable.
Rationale for Recommendation: By approving this resolution, the Mayor and City Council will formally condemn and work to combat racism, xenophobia and intolerance against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the City of Sacramento.
Financial Considerations: Not applicable.
Local Business Enterprise (LBE): Not applicable.