Sponsored by:
Assemblyman NICHOLAS CHIARAVALLOTI
District 31 (Hudson)
Assemblyman RAJ MUKHERJI
District 33 (Hudson)
Assemblyman STERLEY S. STANLEY
District 18 (Middlesex)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywomen Vainieri Huttle, McKnight, Jasey, Assemblymen Zwicker, Johnson, Assemblywoman Murphy, Assemblymen Scharfenberger, Danielsen, Armato, Mazzeo, Greenwald, Conaway, Assemblywomen Lampitt, DiMaso, Carter, Assemblymen Freiman and McKeon
SYNOPSIS
Condemns inflammatory rhetoric and abuse targeted at Asian Americans and Pacific islanders and recognizes contributions of these individuals and communities in New Jersey.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution condemning abuse against individuals who are Asian American and Pacific Islander and recognizes the impacts made on this State and country by Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage.
Whereas, Asian American and Pacific Islanders are a significant and important community in New Jersey; and
Whereas, The members of these communities have made significant contributions to the culture and economy of this State; and
Whereas, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is celebrated each May and serves to recognize the contributions and influence of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to the history, culture, and achievements of the United States; and
Whereas, There are approximately 2 million Asian American owned businesses in the United States that generate over $700 billion in annual revenue and employ nearly 4.5 million workers; and
Whereas, Over 2 million Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are working across the United States on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic in fields such as health care, law enforcement, first responders, transportation, supermarkets, and other service industries; and
Whereas, Twenty three million Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders account for seven-percent of the population of the United States; and
Whereas, New Jersey has nearly 1 million Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders residing in the State, about 10 percent of the State population; and
Whereas, The use of derogatory and offensive comments against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic; and
Whereas, The World Health Organization and United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recognize that naming COVID-19 by its geographic location or linking the virus to a specific ethnicity may lead to violence against certain communities; and
Whereas, Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increase in reports of hate crimes and incidents against individuals who are Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders; and
Whereas, The advocacy group Stop AAPI Hate, which tracks incidents of hate against individuals who are Asian American and Pacific Islander, reports that it received more than 2,800 reports of hate incidents directed at members of the community nationwide from March to December 2020; and
Whereas, In March 2020 alone, violence against these communities included: a woman wearing a mask being kicked and punched at a New York City subway station; two children and two adults being stabbed at a grocery store in Texas; a couple assaulted in Philadelphia; and a 16 year old boy attacked by bullies in California; and
Whereas, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders should not live in fear of attack and discrimination and verbal and physical attacks against these communities are intolerable and should be condemned by all government officials and residents of this state; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House condemns abuse and attacks against individuals who are Asian American and Pacific Islander and recognizes the significant contributions to this State and country by individuals of Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to the Governor of the State of New Jersey, the New Jersey Attorney General, Stop AAPI Hate, and Jersey Promise.
STATEMENT
This resolution condemns any discrimination against Asian American and Pacific Islander communities and recognizes the significant contributions that these communities make on a daily basis to the state of New Jersey and the country.
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are one of the fastest growing racial groups in New Jersey and it is imperative to build understanding and bring disparate communities in New Jersey together. New Jerseyans of Asian and Pacific Islander descent represent roughly 10 percent of the State’s total populations, the third highest proportion in the country. These communities contribute nearly half a million eligible voters to the State, own roughly 81,000 firms with combined revenue of roughly $44 billion, and buying power of roughly $57 to $75 billion. Additionally, in the United States, over 2 million Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are working as essential workers on the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic in fields such as health care, law enforcement, first responders, transportation, supermarkets, and other service industries.
In the past year, since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a surge in abuse against Asian American and Pacific Islander families and communities. Harassment has ranged from being spat on and verbally abused to incidents of physical assault. In New Jersey, Stop AAPI Hate reported nearly 50 incidents related to the COVID-19 pandemic of Asian American and Pacific Islander discrimination between March 19, 2020 and December 31, 2020. This is caused by the rhetoric that blames Asian people for the spread of COVID-1 and continued inflammatory commentary may lead to more violence against the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. The reported 50 incidents against individuals and communities marks an increase from the previous year. The United Nations has detailed “an alarming level” of racially motivated violence and other hate incidents against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. This cannot continue in the state of New Jersey and the country.
The State of New Jersey condemns and denounces acts of racism, violence, xenophobia, and intolerance against Asian American and Pacific Islander communities and individuals. The State additionally recognizes and promotes the contributions made by the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities throughout the State and country.