Executive Director
info@naffaa.org / 202-262-0772
For Immediate Release
WASHINGTON, DC (February 11, 2021) – The frequent use of anti-Asian rhetoric throughout the pandemic has led to harmful stereotypes, discrimination, and even violence against Asian American people in the United States. Recently, there has been a rapid increase in the number of hateful attacks on the Asian American community, particularly elders in New York and in the Bay Area.
In New York City, fellow Filipino Noel Quintana, aged 61, was attacked while commuting on the Manhattan-bound L train. A man slashed him across the face with a box-cutter and ran off the train at the next stop. Quintana eventually received medical assistance and has since survived the attack, but the attacker has yet to be found.
Similarly, Vicha Ratanapakdee, aged 84, was attacked while out on a morning walk in San Francisco and died as a result. Other attacks ensued in Oakland’s Chinatown; a 28-year old man violently shoved three Asian American elders on January 31 and has been charged with three counts of felony assault for the attacks.
A Pew Research study conducted in June of 2020 found that nearly a third of Asian Americans said that they had been subjected to racist slurs and violence since the pandemic began, with about 26% of them stating that they feared being attacked.
“The National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) condemns all acts of hate-based violence, especially the recent attacks on our fellow Asian Americans in the Bay Area and New York City such as fellow Filipino Noel Quintana. Historically, anti-Asian rhetoric has existed in many forms all over the country, but the rapid increase in violence against our community during the pandemic is repugnant and unacceptable. Our hearts go out to the families of the victims in these attacks and we call upon our elected officials and community leaders to hold the perpetrators accountable for their actions and to put an end to the violence,” comments Brendan Flores, National Chair and President.
About NaFFAA
The National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization. Established in 1997, NaFFAA promotes the welfare and well-being of the four million Filipinos and Filipino Americans throughout the United States. NaFFAA’s vision is to serve as the voice of all Filipinos and Filipino Americans by uniting, engaging, and empowering diverse individuals and community organizations through leadership development, civic engagement, and national advocacy.
www.naffaa.org
