Filipino Americans in New York have come together to call for an end to hate crimes against Asians.
The Fil-Am community, headed by lawyer Lara Gregory, launched the Filipino Americans for Racial Action or FARA, an organization that aims to empower the minority by coming together and rising above the challenges due to hate crimes.
According to a Pew Research survey in April 2021, 32 percent of adult Asians in the US experience fear, anxiety, and loss of sense of security as xenophobic and racists incidents increase.
Recently, a Filipino woman who was distributing face masks to fellow passengers on board the subway was suddenly attacked by two individuals while screaming racial slurs at her.
At the Upper West Side, a Filipino stage actor was also assaulted while on his way to his apartment.
Gregory, an immigration lawyer and community activist, is at the forefront of fighting anti-Asian hate by defending vulnerable individuals of minority communities.
“If you remain silent, nothing will change,” she said.
“There are a lot of resources and protection, so there’s no reason to be silent. We need to come together because regardless of our differences in faith, color, race or ethnicity, we are united in wanting the health of our community and the flourishing of the city. Because when the city flourishes, the people also flourish.” she added.
In a recent virtual event, two FARA founding members — behavioral psychiatrist Dr. Romulo Aromin and licensed psychologist Dr. Lirio Sobrevinas-Covey, shared significant insights on anti-Asian hate crimes as well as the danger of the myth of the “model minority.''
“The problem lies in not knowing the culture of others,” Aromin said.
“What’s common to hate crimes is that the victim is seen as inferior,” said Sobrevinas-Covey.