Six percent of Alexandrians identify as Asian American or Pacific Islander.
During a meeting Tuesday night, City Council voted unanimously for the adoption of an ordinance condemning anti-Asian hate in Alexandria.
The ordinance is a response to a rise of anti-Asian violence and harassment around the country, most notably in Atlanta where last Tuesday, eight people, six of whom were women of Asian descent, were murdered by a gunman who attacked three Asian-owned spas. Many other recent incidents have been committed by people who blame the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community for the COVID-19 virus.
"Alexandria is a diverse, culturally-rich community,” said Mayor Justin Wilson. “We celebrate our diversity and affirm our unwavering commitment to protecting the human rights of all our residents. We deplore the acts of hate that have occurred against people of Asian descent. Our hearts go out to the victims of violence, their families, and to all who have suffered due to these racist attacks.”
The ordinance also acknowledges the long history of anti-Asian sentiment in the United States, referencing the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which prohibited the immigration of Chinese laborers, and the forced internment of Japanese Americans in concentration camps during World War II.
President Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s Executive Memorandum dated Jan. 26, which condemns and combats racism, xenophobia, and intolerance against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States, is referenced in the ordinance.
The ordinance concludes by stating “THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of Alexandria, Virginia, condemns all hate directed at Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in our community; and THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City of Alexandria, Virginia, affirms its commitment to actively combating racism, achieving racial and social equity, and protecting Alexandria’s vulnerable residents.”
Victims of or witnesses to a hate crime in Alexandria should contact the Office of Human Rights at 703-746-3140.
