With the start of the 2022 Lunar New Year comes brave, new beginnings.
Earlier today, the Minkwon Center for Community Action in partnership with The Greater Flushing Chamber of Commerce and other New York City-based community organizations, launched the Hate Free Zones Initiative.
Together, the coalition aims to create safe spaces in Flushing while also hosting Know Your Rights sessions on immigration, community safety, and housing to address the recent surge of attacks on Asian American community members.
Given a recent report detailing the troubling 339% increase in anti-Asian hate crimes within the last year, the Initiative is timely.
“We at AAFE are proud to stand with dedicated community organizers in support of a Hate Free Zone in Flushing,” said Jennifer Sun, co-executive director of Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE). “Nothing could be more important than protecting our seniors and other vulnerable community members who are struggling to overcome the health and economic impacts of the pandemic.
“Our staff and volunteers are looking forward to working together with the Flushing community to create safe spaces, provide desperately needed resources and begin a constructive neighborhood-wide dialogue to further greater understanding and unity,” Sun concluded.
In the same press release, organizers said that the Hate Free Zones will work alongside small businesses in Flushing and civic groups that provide support to the AAPI community. One of their goals is to address re-opening Flushing “the right way” after the COVID-19 pandemic devastated many small businesses.
AsAmNews has Asian America in its heart. We’re an all-volunteer effort of dedicated staff and interns. Check out our new Instagram account. Go to our Twitter feed and Facebook page for more content. Please consider interning, joining our staff, or submitting a story, or making a contribution.
