National Council of Asian Pacific Americans Stands Against Anti-Muslim Hate, Xenophobia, and Bigotry as a Top Priority

A coalition of 35 national Asian Pacific American organizations, the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA) stands firmly against anti-Muslim hate, xenophobia, and bigotry.

Following our annual retreat last week, NCAPA has declared that standing against anti-Muslim hate will be one of our highest priorities for the next year, and we issue this statement:

As Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, we stand for and with the Muslim, Sikh, Arab and South Asian American communities. We stand together because many are themselves Asian American. But more than that, we are united because they are our families and neighbors, friends and colleagues.

Every day, American Muslims--and those perceived to be Muslim--face fear, suspicion, verbal aggression, and even attacks in a country they call home. Last year, NCAPA member organization South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT) published a report on growing xenophobic political rhetoric and hate violence, which includes data and recommendations concerning the hostility against South Asian, Muslim, Sikh, Hindu, Middle Eastern and Arab communities. Sadly, since the senseless terrorist attacks last month in Paris, hateful rhetoric and bigotry against American Muslims has been on the rise.

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders stand for and with our Muslim, Sikh, Arab, and South Asian American brothers and sisters because we have been here before.

In our nation’s history, fear, hysteria, and prejudice have been allowed to build from rhetoric to discriminatory policy against Asian Americans. In 1882, the federal government passed the Chinese Exclusion Act, the first--but not the last--federal law to exclude a specific ethnic group from immigrating to this country. During World War II, 120,000 loyal Japanese Americans were incarcerated in detention camps, even though none was ever charged with a crime. Since 9/11, American Muslims have been profiled and placed under government surveillance.

NCAPA stands against the anti-Muslim hate, xenophobia, and bigotry undermining our nation’s values and ideals, and we will oppose all discriminatory policies aimed at our communities. We call on our fellow Americans to do the same.

On Wednesday, Dec. 16, NCAPA leaders will come together at the National Japanese American Memorial in Washington, D.C. to publicly stand against anti-Muslim hate. [Read/see the below media advisory.]

Read statements from NCAPA groups standing in solidarity

Read the press release from the rally

MEDIA ADVISORY: Asian American Leaders to Rally Against Anti-Muslim Hate 

WASHINGTON, D.C.--Asian American leaders of the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA) will convene at the National Japanese American Memorial this Wednesday, Dec. 16 to stand in solidarity with the Muslim, Sikh, Arab, and South Asian American communities. The rally is in response to anti-Muslim hate and rhetoric that has increased following recent terrorist attacks.

WHAT: Asian American leaders rally against anti-Muslim hate

WHEN: Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2015 at 1:00 p.m.

WHERE: The Japanese American Memorial to Patriotism During World War II -- At the  intersection of Louisiana Avenue and D Street, NW in Washington, D.C.

RSVP: HERE

Speakers will include:

• David Lin, Japanese American Citizens League
• Mee Moua, Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC
• Lakshmi Sridaran, South Asian Americans Leading Together
• Jasjit Singh, Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund
• Sasha W., National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance
• Nick Lee, OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates
• Gregory Cendana, Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance
• Tina Matsuoka, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association
• Robert McCaw, Council on American-Islamic Relations
• Christopher Kang, National Council of Asian Pacific Americans

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Based in Washington, D.C., the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans is a coalition of 35 national Asian Pacific American organizations that serves to represent the interests of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities and to provide a national voice for our communities’ concerns. Our communities are the fastest growing racial/ethnic group in the United States, currently making up approximately six percent of the population.