County Commission decries hate crimes directed at Asian Americans

Published on April 02, 2021

Wayne County Commissioners today unanimously adopted a resolution decrying the rise in hate crimes directed at Asian Americans.

Physical and verbal attacks against Asian Americans have been on the rise in the past several years, including the recent killing of six Asian American women at a spa in Atlanta, Georgia.

"This is something that goes against the fabric of America," said Commissioner Jonathan Kinloch (D-Detroit), who proposed the resolution, which was co-sponsored by all commissioners.

Commission Chair Alisha Bell (D-Detroit) noted that Wayne County is one of the most diverse counties in the U.S. More than 45,000 county residents are Asian American, according to the most recent U.S. Census.

Commissioner Sam Baydoun (D-Dearborn) said that, as an Arab American, he had firsthand experience with xenophobic attacks in the aftermath of 9/11 and called on all Wayne County residents to respect the contributions Asian Americans have made to "our state, our county and our nation."

The resolution encourages Asian Americans and all others who experience or witness hate crimes to report them to the local police as well as the Michigan Attorney General's hate Crimes Unit and the Michigan Department of Civil Rights.

A copy of the resolution follows:

RESOLUTION
By Commissioner Kinloch and Co-sponsored by Commissioners Anderson, Basham, Baydoun, Bell, ClarkColeman, Daub, Haidous, Knezek, Killeen, Marecki, Baker McCormick, Palamara, Scott and Varga

WHEREAS, culturally insensitive rhetoric regarding COVID-19 has contributed to a spike in discrimination and hate crimes toward Asian Americans. More than 30 percent of Asian Americans have reported being subjected to discrimination since the beginning of the pandemic. According to Stop AAPI Hate, 3,795 incidents have been reported between March 19, 2020 and February 28, 2021 from all 50 states, including 16 in Michigan.

WHEREAS, incidents have included physical assault, verbal harassment, shunning, workplace discrimination, refusal of service and online harassment; and

WHEREAS, acts of hate and discrimination are antithetical to our values as Michiganders and Americans. As civic leaders, it is our duty to promote respect, inclusion and a welcoming community for people of all races, national origins and ethnicities; and

WHEREAS, all Michiganders can play a role in establishing a safe and welcoming community by intervening and reporting instances of hate and discrimination. Reporting these incidents is critical to holding perpetrators accountable and fully addressing the issue.

Now therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the Wayne County Commission this 1st day of April, 2021 condemns hate crimes, hateful rhetoric and hateful acts against Asian Americans; and be it further

RESOLVED, that the Wayne County Commission encourages Asian Americans and all Michiganders who experience hate crimes to report such incidents to local law enforcement or the Michigan Department of Attorney General's Hate Crimes Unit; and be it further

RESOLVED, that the Wayne County Commission encourages Asian Americans and all Michiganders who experience discrimination to report such experiences to the Michigan Department of Civil Rights; and be it further

RESOLVED, that copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Governor of the State of Michigan, Michigan Attorney General and the Director of the Michigan Department of Civil Rights.

County Commission decries hate crimes directed at Asian Americans(PDF, 190KB)