Photo courtesy of Amy Bui, via Instagram
At 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 27, about 100 people gathered in front of the Wallingford Town Hall, carrying signs that read “Stop Asian Hate” and “Protect Asian Lives.” The group was participating in a joint Stop Asian American and Pacific Islanders Hate and Black Lives Matter protest, part of a growing movement denouncing the recent uptick in hate crimes against Asian Americans prompted by the coronavirus.
The rally was organized by Amy Bui, a Wallingford resident of Vietnamese descent and senior at Mark T. Sheehan High School, in response to a March 16 mass shooting in Atlanta that left eight dead, including six Asian women. Bui said, “I went to a West Hartford protest about a week before [the rally], and it just really inspired me to do something in Wallingford.”
Soon after the West Hartford rally, Bui reached out to Ms. Alexa Tomassi, a Sheehan graduate and an exploratory candidate for Wallingford Town Council, who organized Wallingford’s Rally Against Hate in August. Tomassi assisted Bui in organizing and publicizing the rally. Bui and Tomassi collaborated with members of BLM860, a Hartford-based branch of the Black Lives Matter movement. In addition to promoting the Wallingford rally on social media, BLM860 organized a rally in Glastonbury on March 27, to protest racism faced by Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) residents of the town.
Those who attended the Wallingford rally listened to a number of speakers, including Mayor William Dickinson, Senator Richard Blumenthal, and Connecticut Attorney General William Tong, all of whom spoke out against racism and discrimination and offered support to the Asian American community.
A number of local student activists also spoke at the rally, including Dilawaiz Rao, a senior at Mercy High School. At the rally, Rao spoke about the model minority myth that pits Asians against other racial groups and emphasized the importance of solidarity between Black and Asian communities. She said, “I was inspired to speak at the rally because, as a Pakistani Muslim, I have been the pawn of countless microaggressions that have altered my perception of the world. I am determined to bring change to all communities.”
For Southington resident Tracy Lam, her parents’ stories of their experiences with racism after emigrating from Vietnam inspired her speech at the rally. “I’ve had enough,” she preached. “Enough of this normalized racism where we are taught to ignore it. Now is the time to use our voices.” At the rally, she shared some of her experiences as an Asian American and her desire to make a difference for the future of the Asian community.
Though she appreciated the support of all those who attended the protest, Bui acknowledged that the event faced some backlash. “While the mayor was speaking, there were about four or five Trump trucks driving around, trying to cause a ruckus by revving their engines while waving Trump flags,” she said. On social media, some users responded to Bui’s posts by arguing that the Atlanta shooting was not a hate crime or suggesting that the people were paid to organize the rally.
Bui also used the protest to advocate for H.B. 6619, a bipartisan bill that would create a curriculum to teach Asian Pacific American, Native American and LGBTQ studies in Connecticut public schools. Connecticut State Senator Derek Slap, a democrat and one of the bill’s co-sponsors, said that he hopes the bill will help recognize the experiences of Asian Americans, “which will ultimately get us down a road of acceptance and tolerance.” According to Senator Slap, the legislature intends to make education in Connecticut more inclusive through additional bills, including one on zoning that would further integrate the state’s schools. “We have to tackle racism in many different ways,” he said. “Certainly [H.B. 6619] won’t do it all, but it is a piece of the puzzle.”
Bui encouraged people to not get overwhelmed by the attacks or the backlash, but instead do what they can to help support Asian American communities. She said, “Call your local state representative and tell them that you want [H.B. No. 6619] passed, and support your local Asian-owned small businesses. A lot of people can’t drive or don’t have the money to donate, but sign petitions, and do what you can.”
Rao echoed that sentiment: “I want to see people using their voices … check in with your BIPOC peers and empower them. Educate yourself about the history of Asian American discrimination, advocate for awareness in your community, reach out to elected officials, and do whatever you can in your power to protect BIPOC lives!”
The protest indicates that the recent surge in vitriol against Asian Americans will be met with a stronger surge of Asian American activism. Reflecting on the violent treatment of the Asian American community, Lam said, “This is not okay. This should never be okay. We will never stop speaking up and protesting until the day comes where we don’t have to fear for the lives of our families, friends, and ourselves.”
