Disability:IN is committed to condemning all violence, bigotry, racism and xenophobia towards the Asian Americans and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. We were deeply saddened by the events that took place in Atlanta on March 16th which resulted in the deaths of eight people, six of whom were Asian American women. This senseless act of violence, in addition to increased levels of xenophobic acts towards the AAPI community further exacerbate pandemic era challenges they have endured over the last year.
As a member of the Small Business Roundtable and the National Business Inclusion Consortium, we are privileged to have worked closely with the National Asian/Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce (National ACE) and the US Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce (USPAACC). 32% of AAPI businesswomen have experienced anti-AAPI sentiment as a result of the pandemic. 84% of AAPIs say that Covid-19 has had a negative impact on their business, according to a national study from National ACE.
AAPI individuals with disabilities face the “double burden” of racism and ableism. This pertains to 17.9% Asians, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders with disabilities compared to an estimated 16.9% American Indian and Alaska Native with disabilities, 14% Black/African Americans with disabilities and 9% Hispanic/Latinx and disabilities. (American Community Survey 2019 5-year estimate, US Census Data.)
Hate is a barrier to AAPI small businesses, the pandemic is a barrier, and as leaders, we must unequivocally condemn all AAPI hate and anti-Asian sentiment and violence.
