Statement: In Solidarity with Asian, Asian-American, and Pacific Islander Community Members

As the COVID-19 pandemic surges in the United States, so has racist rhetoric against Asian, Asian-American, and Pacific Islander community members. According to the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism, anti-Asian hate crimes have surged by 149% from 2019 to 2020. The group Stop AAPI Hate has reported 3,800 incidents including verbal harassment and physical assault since the COVID-19 pandemic began.  

Discrimination towards the Asian community is deeply rooted in America’s history, with The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1883 banning Chinese immigration to the United States, and the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. These policies wrongfully adopted racist ideologies that continue to cause harm to this day, and cannot be ignored in the broader context of racism in the United States, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.  

On March 16, 2021, a gunman opened fire in Atlanta, killing 8 people, of whom the majority were Asian community members. We share in the grief, anger, and sadness that many are feeling, and send our deepest sympathies to the loved ones of those who were killed.  

Now more than ever, we must unite in rejecting racism, discrimination, hate, and violence. We must challenge biases, and support the Asian American community, educating ourselves in the fight to dismantle white supremacy. 

Those who spread rhetoric promoting violence must be brought to justice, and held accountable.  

Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting, and the Outdoors (HECHO) strongly condemns racism, xenophobia, and discrimination against the Asian, Asian-American, and Pacific Islander community. We are committed to holding space for healing, sharing in solidarity, and working to build a future where we all can share in safety.