HOLLAND (WHTC-AM/FM) — Kyndel Norsouvanh, 19, stepped onto the stage at Kollen Park’s bandshell and surveyed the crowd of 100 or more people. (See photo gallery.)
“Can you guys hear me?” she said, testing her microphone. Those five words underlined the message at the heart of Saturday’s Stop Asian Hate rally. While many of the speakers shared stories, from being subjected to racial epithets, violent incidents, others appealed for those present to speak up when these things happen, and for Asian-American allies to also speak up step in, and make it clear that such language and behavior is unacceptable.
The Holland Township native said she’d been nervous to take the stage, but felt it was important to speak up. (See a second photo gallery.)
She’s noticed the large amount of hate directed at the Asian-American community since the pandemic started, and that racism towards Asian are being normalized by society.
“When will the hate stop? When will the violence end?,” she said, adding that people need to protect the elders.
Organizers from a group called Stop AAPI Hate have documented a significant rise in threats and violence against Americans who can trace their roots to China, Taiwan, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Philippines, India, Bangladesh, Laos, and a host of other countries. The Grand Rapids Asian-Pacific Foundation has hosted a festival since 2017 to help promote the various cultures in West Michigan and co-sponsored Saturday’s rally, with Michigan Stands Against Hate.
Anita Esquerra-Zwiers, teaches nursing at Hope College and heard about the rally from a friend. She made a point of showing up, partly to support Hope’s Asian students and also to educate her 12-year-old daughter, Olivia.
“As a parent, it’s really important to educate our children, even if we or our children don’t know about the issues,” she said “We need to bring them to these types of events so they can be exposed and learn more. As evidenced by today, it is our youth that are the ones who are going to make some of the biggest changes.”
She echoed a fellow Hope assistant professor Jordan VanHemert, who is Korean-American, in saying members of Hope faculty and especially faculty of color need to support students at every angle and every opportunity.
Olivia Zwiers, 12, of Holland Township, arrived at the rally wearing a “Black Lives Matter” shirt and carrying signs reading “Spread love, not hate” and “Stop Asian hate.”
She said she wanted to support people in the community.
“We want to acknowledge the hate that’s in our community and going around,” she said. “We really just wanted to educate ourselves on what is happening, so we can further help people who are feeling hated and are being persecuted — and stop it, because it’s wrong.”
She took away another message, too, about how easy it is to accept stereotypes of others that can be truly hurtful.
Esquerra-Zwiers said she believes the pandemic has hurt the ability of people to connect and she wanted to show solidarity with other people of color.
Asked how white people can learn more and understand, beyond going to rallies, she said, “don’t depend on their friend of color or any people of color to be their educator. We’re tired. There are lots of opportunities to read, listen to stories and listen to podcasts. And not only learn but also put themselves into spaces where they are uncomfortable. We’re uncomfortable every day, so I’d just encourage you to step out every day and say, ‘I’m willing to be uncomfortable.’ That shows a lot as well.”
The crowd included students, young children with their parents, elected officials, and business owners, among others.
Some resources:
Asian Americans in Michigan: https://www.wsupress.wayne.edu/books/detail/asian-americans-michigan
Michigan Stands Against Hate: https://www.facebook.com/events/4077840378949117/?active_tab=discussion
PBS five-part series on Asian-Amerians: https://www.pbs.org/weta/asian-americans/episode-guide/
UM conversation: https://news.umich.edu/violence-against-asian-americans-on-the-rise-but-racism-isnt-new/
The latest report from the Stop AAPI Hate:
