STOMPING OUT HATE
Newly-formed group works to combat violence, bigotry against Asian Americans
Willie DeChavez of Sterling Heights has never been one to stand back and let things happen, especially when it concerns people in his community.
That’s why he’s starting the Asian Americans against Hate Crimes in Sterling Heights.
“I’ve been listening to what’s been happening to Asian Pacific Americans,” said the former school teacher, who hails from the Philippines, and serves as chairman of Sterling Heights
Ethnic Community Committee, an 11-member group was formed in 1990, to raise awareness and improve communication among diverse races and ethnic groups in the city.
“It’s really an outrage and I’m very saddened by what’s been going on.” DeChavez said, referring to the rise in cases of antiAsian rhetoric and hate crimes.
Since the start of the pandemic, 3,800 anti-Asian discrimination incidents have been reported to Stop AAPI Hate, a national coalition that was founded by the Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council, Chinese for Affirmative Action and San Francisco State University Asian American Studies to address the cases, which the coalition and others believe is due in part to public officials referring to COVID-19 as the “Chinese virus,” “Kung Flu” or “Wu Flu.”
“I really cannot understand it. This is already 2021, and we’re still experiencing this kind of behavior against Asian Americans in the United States,” said DeChavez, who joined the Asians and other people who attended a rally against hate, held recently at the McNamara Federal Building in Detroit. It was after this event that DeChavez decided to form a group made up of community leaders of Asian descent, who would not only host their own anti-hate rally but set aside seven goals to combat hate crimes including:
• Monitoring victims of hate crimes in the city.
• Serving as the eyes and ears of potential hate crimes cases.
• Providing support for victims, so they will not feel alone.
• Assisting in securing resources for victims of hate crimes.
• Encouraging community
members to take actions against discrimination and violence by speaking out and reporting it.
• Serving as an advocacy group through education and public forum.
• Network with other individuals with similar advocacy beyond the City of Sterling Heights for support of these goals.
Group members include: Iqbahl Singh (India), Su McKeithen (Thailand), Safia Naqui (India), Srisunum Najarian (Thailand), Brenda Sanagustin (Philippines), Jacqueline Thu Dinh (Vietnam), Jeffrey Vang (Hmong), Lawan Chandruang (Thailand), Vin Duong (Vietnam) and Annie Viengrouthasan (Laos).
Also supporting the group and possibly serving as one of its advisors is Sterling Heights City Councilman Michael Radtke.
“I told Willie I would be happy to help out in getting the group off the ground,” Radtke said. “He’s really an important member of our community. He’s a proactive person who works very hard to make sure that everyone feels welcome in Sterling Heights.”
Sterling Heights Mayor Michael Taylor doesn’t know a lot about the group, but he knows DeChavez personally, and said anything that he does is done with a ton of passion and enthusiasm.
“As a member of this community, it doesn’t surprise me that he would be doing as much as he can to tackle this topic, and we at the city will do everything we can to support his mission,” Taylor said.
DeChavez said a lot of people are just talking, and talking with no concrete steps to solve the problem.
“This small group will make more aware and if anyone in our community does experience this kind of behavior they will know that they are not alone,” DeChavez said.