NY Guyanese group condemns attack on Asian -Americans in the US

Dear Editor,
The New York Guyana Democracy Project (NYGDP) has issued a statement condemning, in the strongest words, the senseless, violent attacks against Asians, mostly Chinese-Asians, in various states and, more recently, Koreans in the Atlanta area. Clearly, the victims were attacked just because of their ethnicity, says NYGDP. Indo-Guyanese and other Indian-Americans were known to be victims of racial attacks.
A gunman shot and killed eight women at three massage spa parlours in Atlanta, Georgia on the evening of Tuesday March 16, with six of the victims being of Asian descent. Asians have a strong presence in the spa industry in America.
A White American was arrested for the brutal attacks targeting Asian-owned businesses, and he confessed to the shootings. Anti-Asian hate incidents have increased over the last few years. American politicians – including the President, Vice President, and Speaker of the US House of Reps – have also condemned the recent spate of attacks on Asians.
The NYGDP, in its release, lamented this latest attack on Asian-Americans, which has already resulted in several casualties since the pandemic began just over a year ago. NYGDP notes that “there is a long history of various forms of physical and verbal attacks on Asians, including Indian-Americans, Indo-Guyanese, and other Indo-Caribbean nationals. There has been a history of casual and overt prejudice, scapegoating, and other forms of racism against immigrants of colour, Asians and Indians in particular in the USA.
“We salute the Asian-American people and other immigrant groups for their immense contributions to culture, growth and development of America, and for their resilience in standing up to hate”.
The statement adds: “Targeting of people on account of their appearance or ethnicity violates their integrity and decency, and is against the law of the US as well as basic human rights. During the last year, Asian- Americans not only have to keep safe from the virus, but also have faced increased violence and harassment fuelled by prejudice, hatred, and xenophobia. America must stand united against hate. And we all must co-operate to stay safe from the virus. Attacking Asian-Americans will not end the virus or stop its spread”.
The statement also urges “Guyanese and other groups to build bridges with Asians and people of other ethnicities and nationalities (in order) to combat prejudice. It encourages people to continue to stay safe from the coronavirus and to take the vaccine to combat it”.
The organisation’s President, Dr. Tara Singh, stated: “The attacks against people on account of ethnicity (are) vile. There must be zero tolerance for the kind of violence in Georgia and other attacks on Asian-Americans.
Everyone must be treated with tolerance and respect regardless of ethnicity, nationality, colour, and the like.

Yours truly,
Vishnu Bisram