Ever since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic last year, anti-AAPI violence and hate crimes have skyrocketed and show no sign of stopping.

In July 2020, an 89-year-old Asian woman’s back was set on fire in broad daylight in Brooklyn. In February of this year, a 36-year-old man Asian man was stabbed in the back in Chinatown in New York City. Just last month in June, a 94-year-old Asian woman ended up with multiple stab wounds in San Francisco.

In light of this unprecedented xenophobia and violence towards the AAPI community that are still occurring all over the nation, Gov. Newsom signed the Asian and Pacific Islander (API) Equity Budget this week.

Sponsored by the API Legislative Caucus, the API Equity Budget boasts over $156 million to better address the prevailing surge in anti-AAPI hate crimes and erase existing systemic racial inequalities.

According to a statement from Stop AAPI Hate, the breakdown of the funds is as such:

– $110 million for community organizations who are providing vital victim services and prevention;
– $10 million for support to Stop AAPI Hate to track, respond, and prevent incidents of racial bias and harm;
– $10 million for the AAPI Data project to increase accurate data collection and data equity on AAPI needs, challenges, and barriers;
– $10 million for an anti-bias block grant to provide funding to schools to create restorative justice programs to address hate and microaggressions early;
– $5 million for support to a peer social media network program addressing bullying and mental health for children and youth;
– $1.5 million for a workgroup to address education attainment for low-income first generation AAPI college students, and support the Commission on Asian Pacific Islander American Affairs as it coordinates these programs; and
– $10 million for ethnic media outlets to reach AAPI and other underserved communities across California.

READ MORE HERE