EBALDC Statement on Discrimination and Hate Crimes

The East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation (EBALDC) works with and for all the diverse populations of the East Bay to build healthy, vibrant and safe neighborhoods through community development. 

We are disturbed by reports of discrimination and hate crimes towards Asian and Asian American populations in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. As we have consistently stated to the communities we serve, there is no racial, ethnic, or cultural basis for the disease. Xenophobia has no place in this important work. Indeed, xenophobia only inhibits our ability to ensure our residents and commercial tenants are safe and healthy.

We thank the Asian Pacific Planning and Policy Council (A3PCON) and Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA) for launching a reporting center to collect and track incidents of anti-Asian American and Pacific Islander hate violence, adult harassment, discrimination, shunning, and child bullying in California and throughout the country. We urge all those who have been directly impacted by or witnessed firsthand this issue to share their stories at www.a3pcon.org/stopaapihate. 

 
EBALDC commends our public officials, including Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Mayor Libby Schaaf, Assemblymember Rob Bonta, and Governor Gavin Newsom for calling out discrimination and recognizing how historical race-baiting has resulted in some of the lowest periods of our time, including the Chinese Exclusion Act and the internment of 120,000+ Japanese Americans during World War II.

We call upon the media to actively report on discrimination towards and hate crimes directed at Asian Americans during these challenging times, and we call upon our allies to support Asian and Asian American communities when they witness acts of hate. We need your solidarity to save lives during these challenging times.