( theme song playing ) >> Crossley: WELCOME TO "BASIC BLACK."

SOME OF YOU ARE JOINING US ON OUR BROADCAST, AND OTHERS OF YOU ARE JOINING US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.

I'M CALLIE CROSSLEY, HOST OF "UNDER THE RADAR," 89.7.

TONIGHT, THE RISE OF VIOLENCE AGAINST ASIAN AMERICANS.

WE, LIKE YOU, ARE DEALING WITH THE EFFECTS OF THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC AND ARE TAKING PRECAUTIONS.

WE ARE WORKING WITH LIMITED STAFF, AND OUR GUESTS ARE JOINING US REMOTELY.

>> RECOGNIZE THAT WE NEED HELP, WE NEED PROTECTION, AND WE NEED PEOPLE IN POWER TO STAND UP FOR US AGAINST HATE.

GEORGIA STATE SENATOR DR. MICHELLE AU REACTING TO THE MURDER OF EIGHT IN ATLANTA, SIX OF THEM ASIAN AMERICAN.

THAT WAS THREE WEEKS AGO, BUT, JUST THIS WEEK, A MAN PUMMELED AN ELDERLY ASIAN WOMAN TO THE GROUND ON A NEW YORK CITY STREET.

IN A RECENT BOSTON UNIVERSITY ONLINE SURVEY, 70% OF THE YOUNG ASIAN AMERICANS WHO RESPONDED SAID THEY OR THEIR FAMILY MEMBER HAD SUFFERED COVID-19 DISCRIMINATION.

ANOTHER 15% REPORTED PHYSICAL OR VERBAL ASSAULTS.

WHY IS THIS VIOLENCE CONTINUING TO HAPPEN?

AND WHAT CAN BE DONE TO STOP HATE AGAINST ASIAN AMERICN PACIFIC ISLANDERS?

JOINING US: MICHELLE WU, COUNCILWOMAN-AT-LARGE FOR THE CITY OF BOSTON-- COUNCILWOMAN WU IS THE FIRST ASIAN AMERICAN WOMAN TO SERVE ON THE COUNCIL AND THE FIRST WOMAN OF COLOR TO EVER SERVE AS COUNCIL PRESIDENT; CAROLYN CHOU, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ASIAN AMERICAN RESOURCE WORKSHOP; BETHANY LI, A SENIOR ATTORNEY LEADING THE ASIAN OUTREACH UNIT AT GREATER BOSTON LEGAL SERVICES; AND EDWARD HSIEH, EDITOR OF THE "SAMPAN" NEWSPAPER-- HE'S ALSO THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER AT ASIAN AMERICAN CIVIC ASSOCIATION.

WELCOME TO ALL OF YOU.

SO I WANT TO START WITH THE ATLANTA MURDERS AND THE IMPACT, BECAUSE ALL OF YOU WOULD SAY TO ME, THIS IS VOYAGES THAT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR SOME TIME.

BUT THE ATLANTA MURDERS REALLY HIGHLIGHTED IT IN A WAY THAT IT SEEMS, THE GENERAL PUBLIC REALLY DID NOT RESPOND TO BEFORE.

BETHANY, WHY DO YOU SUPPOSE THAT WAS?

>> IT WAS SO VISIBLE, RIGHT?

AND I THINK THAT ALREADY, IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE PEOPLE WERE TALKING ABOUT ANTIASIAN VIOLENCE, SUDDENLY YOU HAVE EIGHT PEOPLE WHO ARE MURDERED, MOST OF WHOM ARE ASIAN WOMEN.

AN REALLY WHAT'S IMPORTANT ABOUT THAT MOMENTS I THINK IS ALSO YOU SEE THE INTERSECTIONS OF, YOU KNOW, WORKERS, PEOPLE POTENTIALLY WITH, YOU KNOW, IMMIGRATION STATUS THAT IS, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE -- THERE'S INTERSECTIONS OF A LOT OF THINGS.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT GENDER, RACE, IMMIGRATION STATUS.

AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY WHAT HIT HOME ALSO FOR ALL OF US WHO WORK WITH LOW INCOME ASIAN IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES.

THAT IS, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THESE WORKERS HAVE BEEN GOING TO WORK THIS ENTIRE TIME, DURING THE PANDEMIC, WHEN MANY OF US HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WORK AT HOME.

AND SO THAT, I THINK ALSO HIT HOME FOR ME.

>> Crossley: SO MICHELLE WU, THERE IS A HISTORY IN THE UNITED STATES OF VIOLENCE AGAINST -- AND DISCRIMINATION AGAINST ASIAN AMERICAN, PACIFIC ISLANDERS.

FIRST BRIEFLY JUST SHARE SOME OF THAT HISTORY SO PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

>> IT'S BEEN A CYCLICAL EXPERIENCE FOR SO MANY SUBCOMMUNITIES WITHIN THE ASIAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY AND OVERALL, TO FACE THE SENSE THAT WE ARE PERPETUAL FOREIGNERS OF THIS COUNTRY, CONSTANTLY ASKED WHERE ARE YOU FROM?

WHERE ARE YOU FROM?

TO FACE THE TRUTH, THERE HAVE BEEN ASIAN AMERICANS IN THIS COUNTRY FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

THE ACT WHICH WAS SPECIFICALLY TARGETED TO AN ETHNIC GROUP TO THE INTERNMENT OF JAPANESE AMERICANS DURING WORLD WAR II, THE HATE CRIMES AND VIOLENCE FUELED BY ECONOMIC STRAINS AND SENSE OF EXCEPTION AGAINST ASIA IN THE 1970s TO POST-9/11 TARGETING OF THE SIKH COMMUNITY.

SO WE'VE SEEN A CYCLICAL EXPERIENCE OF SCAPEGOATING, OTHER-ING AND VIOLENCE AGAINST ASIAN AMERICANS.

>> Crossley: BUT WHAT YOU CALL UNCONSCIONABLE IS THE LINKING OF FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP OF ASIAN-AMERICANS TO COVID-19.

BEFORE YOU RESPOND, LET'S TAKE A LISTEN TO FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP.

>> AWL DIFFERENT NAMES.

WUHON WAS CATCHING ON, CORONAVIRUS, RIGHT?

KUNG-FLU.

MAYBE THAT'S A QUESTION YOU SHOULD ASK CHINA.

DON'T ASK ME, ASK CHINA THAT QUESTION.

WHEN YOU ASK THEM THAT QUESTION, YOU MAY GET A VERY UNUSUAL ANSWER.

YES, BEHIND YOU PLEASE.

>> Crossley: WHAT WAS THE DAMAGE DONE BY THAT MICHELLE WU?

>> YES, THIS WEAPONIZING AND UNCONSCIONABLE BLAMING OF ASIAN AMERICANS AND LINKING OF A CERTAIN GROUP OF PEOPLE TO THE DEVASTATION CAUSED BY THIS PANDEMIC, THE STRAIN AND ECONOMIC LOSS AND LIVES LOST, THIS HAS REALLY ACCELERATED THE HARM THAT HAS BEEN DONE AND WE FELT THIS IN BOSTON VERY EARLY ON.

EVEN BEFORE THE VIRUS WAS SPREADING IN THE UNITED STATES, WHEN THE NEWS WAS JUST STARTING TO COME, THE WAY THAT THIS FORMER ADMINISTRATION WAS DESCRIBING IT, REFERRING TO IT, CONNECTING IT TO A SPECIFIC GROUP OF PEOPLE.

WE SAW THE TOLL IN CHINATOWN, WHERE BUSINESSES IMMEDIATELY EXPERIENCED A HUGE DROP IN BUSINESS WITH RACISM AND DEAN EXEEN RACE XENOPHOBIA.

>> Crossley: BY THE WAY, BEFORE ATLANTA IT WAS 149% UPTICK AGAINST ASIAN AMERICANS IN THE LAST YEAR BECAUSE OF SOME OF THIS KIND OF LANGUAGE.

YOU JUST RECENTLY DID A FACEBOOK TOWN HALL 3,000 PEOPLE ENGAGED WITH THAT.

WHAT WERE SOME OF THE TOP THINGS YOU WERE HEARING ABOUT THE FEAR IN THE COMMUNITY AND THE ANGER I WOULD IMAGINE?

>> YES, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, FOR OUR COMMUNITIES THE FEAR AND THE ANGER IT GOES FAR BEYOND THIS YEAR, RIGHT?

OUR FOLKS ARE WORKING-CLASS FOLKS, ARE IMMIGRANTS, ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR.

AND EXPERIENCE, YOU KNOW, ALL THOSE KINDS OF VIOLENCE, RIGHT, FROM WAGE THEFT TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TO DEPORTATION, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE RISE OF THIS YEAR.

FOLKS ARE SCARED AS BETHANY SAID TO GO TO WORK.

ALL THE LOW WAGE WORKERS WE KNOW WHO HAVE TO GO TO WORK EVERY DAY.

AND WE REALLY WANT TO BUILD COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS, WAYS WE CAN ALL SHOW UP FOR EACH OAT AND MAKE SURE PEOPLE FEEL SAFE AND DO THE THE THINGS THEY NEED TO DO TO SURVIVE, AND GET AT THE STRUCTURAL ROOTS OF ALL THE THINGS PEOPLE EXPERIENCE.

>> Crossley: WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

>> ONE IS INEQUITABLE COVID RECOVERY RIGHT?

HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITIES AND OTHER LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, WORKING CLASS COMMUNITIES OF COLOR HAVE ACCESS TO HOUSING, NOT GETTING EVICTED, A LOT OF US HAVE DOING ALLOT OF WORK TO GET FOLKS ACCESS TO CULTURALLY RELEVANT FOODS, LANGUAGE ACCESS ACROSS SERVICES.

THESE ARE BASIC THINGS THAT WHILE WE MAY FEEL LIKE OH THEY DON'T ADDRESS THIS MOMENT, THEY DO BECAUSE THESE ARE THE UNDERLYING SYSTEMS THAT IMPACT OUR PEOPLE'S EVERYDAY LIVES.

>> Crossley: SO EDWARD YOU ARE AN EDITOR OF A NEWSPAPER.

ONE THING THAT SHOULD BE NOTED IS AS I MENTION THE AMAZING UPTICK IN VIOLENCE THERE HASN'T BEEN A MAJOR INCIDENT IN GREATER BOSTON THAT WE KNOW OF THAT'S BEEN REPORTED.

SOME PART OF THAT COULD BE THAT HEY, THIS IS GREAT, IT HASN'T HAPPENED HERE AND NOBODY WANTS TO HAVE IT HAPPEN HERE, I WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT THAT.

BUT HOW ARE PEOPLE HOLDING THEMSELVES TOGETHER WITH THAT KIND OF HOLD YOUR BREATH WHEN YOU'RE WATCHING IT EVERYWHERE ELSE?

BY THE WAY THAT DOESN'T MEAN THERE'S NOT STUFF HAPPENING ON SIDE STREETS THAT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT.

IT'S JUST THAT A MAJOR INCIDENT HAS NOT BEEN REPORTED HERE.

BUT AS A PERSON WHO IS EDITOR OF A NEWSPAPER WHAT ARE YOU HEARING?

>> SO WE HAVE HEARD OF MINOR INCIDENTS, AND ALSO THE BOSTON PUBLIC -- POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS REACHED OUT TO US, ASKED US TO REPORT TO THEM IF ANYTHING HAS COME UP.

THEY'VE ACTUALLY SET UP A TASK FORCE LINE.

AND SO I THINK THERE IS THAT SENTIMENT THERE, MAYBE THERE IS SOME UNDERREPORTING.

BECAUSE I THINK IT MAY BE ACTUALLY A CULTURAL EVENT, GENERALLY SPEAKING, I DON'T WANT A PASS THE BLANKET STATEMENT BUT IN THE PASTE ASIAN CULTURES HAVE TENDED NOT TO TURN TO OFFICIALS TO REPORT THINGS BECAUSE THERE IS A COMBINATION OF PUBLIC CHARGE FEAR, SORT OF THE WAY WE'RE RAISED AND IT IS A CONCERN THAT WE HAVE HERE THAT THERE IS NOT ENOUGH BEING TOLD.

ALSO I THINK FROM THE NEWSPAPER STANDPOINT WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS THAT THIS IS THE HEIGHTENED LOOK OF WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN HAPPENING FOR MANY, MANY MONTHS AND YEARS NOW.

AND I THINK WE NEED TO TELL MORE STORIES.

AND FOR EXAMPLE, AN EXAMPLE THIS JUST HAPPENED TO OUR NEWSPAPER, WE PUBLISHED A SPEECH WE DID WITH SENATOR MARKEY THE OTHER DAY AND INSTANTLY WITHIN THREE SECONDS WE HAD ABOUT A DOZEN COMMENTS THAT WERE VERY NEGATIVE AND ANTI-ASIAN ON FACEBOOK.

IN THE PAST THAT MIGHT HAVE JUST BEEN BRUSHED OFF AS OKAY, IT'S THE INTERNET, WHATEVER.

NOW IS THE TIME WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT INCIDENTS LIKE THAT, TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND IT'S NOT APPROPRIATE TO BLAME ASIAN CITIZENS FOR THE CORONAVIRUS, WE'RE NOT THE SOURCE OF THAT.

IT'S BIGGER THAN THAT.

THERE HAS TO BE MORE COMMUNICATION NOT JUST OUT TO OTHER CULTURES AND TO OTHER ETHNICITIES, BUT TO OTHER COMMUNITIES OF CHINATOWN AND GREATER BOSTON.

>> Crossley: I NOTE THAT -- I REALLY WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THE LEVEL OF FEAR THAT HAS INCREASED ACROSS THE COMMUNITIES, PARTICULARLY AMONG THE ELDERLY, BUT THERE ARE YOUNGER PEOPLE WHO ARE LOOKING AT THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO TRY NEW WAYS OF RAISING AWARENESS.

NOT AMONG JUST THE ASIAN COMMUNITY, THE ASIAN-AMERICAN, PACIFIC ISLANDER COMMUNITY, BUT BEYOND THAT.

BECAUSE THEY'VE SEEN THE IGNORANCE THAT EDWARD WAS JUST MENTIONING.

SO A LOT OF PEOPLE, AS WE'VE HEARD, ANECDOTALLY, ARE MOVING TO SOMETHING THAT BLACK AMERICANS KNOW WELL, CALLED THE TALK.

IN THIS SEGMENT, TAKE A LOOK.

>> Crossley: BELT ANY, REPOND TO THAT.

THOSE -- BETHANY, RESPOND TO THAT.

THOSE KIDS ARE FIVE AND SEVEN, THOSE ONES YOU DON'T SEE, OFF CAMERA.

>> WE'VE TALKED A BIT ABOUT WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING BUT TO BE HONEST, WE'VE 00 CHANCE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON WHERE BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT AND THE PROTEST FROM OVER THE SUMMER.

SO THEY UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS VIOLENCE THAT OCCURS AGAINST COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

AND WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO CONNECT THAT IN A WAY, YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS, THAT IS BOTH HOPEFULLY NOT TOTALLY SCARY BUT ALSO HELPS THEM TO UNDERSTAND HOW IT IS THAT COMMUNITIES OF COLOR ARE EXPERIENCING VIOLENCE.

WE HAVE LITTLE BLM SIGNS -- >> Crossley: BLACK LIVES MATTER, YES.

>> IN OUR WINDOW THESE LITTLE KIND OF STUFFED ANIMALS THAT THEY MADE, RIGHT?

SO THEY UNDERSTAND THAT -- THEY UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS THIS INTERCONNECTEDNESS.

THE INTERESTING THING I THINK ALSO HAS BEEN HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH GRANDPARENTS, PARENTS, ELDERLY PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY, RIGHT?

BECAUSE I THINK NOR THE FIRST TIME THEY ARE WALKING OUT OF CHINATOWN, THAT THIS MAY NOT BE OKAY RIGHT NOW, I MIGHT BE BEATEN UP.

SO THAT HAS, TALKING TO THEM ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO BE SAFE, AND THEN IT'S FUNNY, RIGHT?

WE ARE ALSO TALKING ABOUT POPULATIONS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED MORE POVERTY FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

AND YOU KNOW ONE OF THE RESPONSES MY GRANDFATHER HAS GIVEN ME IS I HAVE A CANE.

I CAN BEAT UP.

IT HAS BEEN AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION ACROSS GENERATIONS.

>> Crossley: CHAIR E-CAROLYN CHOW, WHAT HAVE YOU HEARD FROM PEOPLE GIVING THE TALK OR PEOPLE RECEIVING IT?

>> I RECESS DONATE RECESS FLAILT WITH WHAT BETHANY -- I RESONATE WITH WHAT BETHANY SAID.

THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE INVISIBLE, HAVE SO LITTLE ACCESS, WHEN TWARD WAS TALKING ABOUT THAT FEAR -- WHEN EDWARD WAS TALKING ABOUT THAT FEAR, YOU CAN'T DO THINGS LIKE CALL THE POLICE.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK -- AS BETHANY SAID, RIGHT, THIS IS A MOMENT AND IT'S ALSO, WE UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S CONNECTED TO A BROADSER MOMENT PO OF RACIAL RECKON IG -- BROADER MOMENT OF RACIAL RECKONING.

SO YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS IS A HUGE YOU OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO BUILD SOLIDARITY AND FOR ASIAN-AMERICANS TO BE PART OF THIS MOVEMENT FORP RACIAL JUSTICE, RACIAL RECKONING.

AND THE ONLY OTHER THING I'D SAY IS, I'VE BEEN FEELING LIKE YOU KNOW STOP ASIAN HATE AND HATE IS A VIRUS, FOR ME DON'T GET AT THE HEART OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO WHICH IS TO MOVE TOWARD A DIFFERENT WORLD, TO MOVE TOWARD A JUST WORLD, TO MOVE TOWARD A WORLD WHERE FOLKS' BASIC NEEDS ARE MET.

YES, I WANT THE VIOLENCE TO CEASE, I WANT PEOPLE TO FEEL SAFE BUT I WANT PEOPLE TO FEEL SAFE AND LIVE WITH DIGNITY IN SO MANY WAYS.

I HOPE WE CAN TAKE THIS MOMENT TO TALK ABOUT THE REAL THREAT BUT ALSO DREAM ABOUT WHAT A REAL FUTURE COULD LOOK LIKE FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.

>> Crossley: EDWARD.

>> I JUST WANT TO TOUCH ON THE MESSAGING TO THE YOUNGER GENERATIONS.

I LOOK A LOT YOUNGER THAN I AM.

I MENTOR A LOT OF HIGH SCHOOL WRITERS FOR THE NEWSPAPER.

WHAT I FIND THAT'S A LITTLE SHOCKING IS A LOT OF THEM ARE NOT AWARE OF A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE MENTIONED, THE INTERNMENT CAMPS OR THE BACK ISSUES THAT WE'VE FACED IN PAST GENERATIONS, THE RAILROAD, YOU KNOW, WITH BOND SERVANTS BEING TORTURED AND THE EXCLUSION ACT.

THEY HAVE SEEN SUFFERING BUT THEY DON'T REALIZE HOW DEEP IT IS.

AND THAT HAS TO BE PART OF THEIR EDUCATION SO EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS WHERE THE SYSTEMATIC ROOTS ARE COMING FROM.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD REALLY FIDUCIARY TOWARDS THE LEADERSHIP, OF THE CAPITAL TO TALK ABOUT THOSE THINGS AND ACKNOWLEDGE THOSE THINGS SO THAT WE CAN TALK ABOUT HOW DO WE UNDO WHAT'S BEEN DONE IN THE PAST.

AND IT'S JUST INTERESTING BECAUSE SOME OF THE YOUNGER GENERATION LOOK AT THE MODEL MINORITY MYTH AS A GOOD GOOD THING, YES WE'RE PRIVILEGED, YES, WE'RE ABLE TO GOOD TO A GREAT COLLEGE BUT THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THEY GOT TO THAT POINT.

SO I WOULD REALLY PUSH FOR THAT MYTH TO BE DEBUNKED, BOTH THROUGH EDUCATION AND ALSO TO LOOK AT THE SYSTEMS IN PLAY THAT CONTINUE TO PROMOTE THAT.

>> Crossley: SO THE MODEL MINORITY MYTH MICHELLE CAN BE DANGEROUS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND, YOU KNOW, I WAS JUST REFLECTING AS WE'VE BEEN HAVING THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE TALK, YOU KNOW TO THE EXTENT THAT MY PARENTS GAVE ME A VERSION OF A TALK WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, IT WAS VERY SHORT, RIGHT?

THERE WAS EXPERIENCES, SOME OF MY MOST VISCERAL CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES, BEING OUT IN THE WORLD, STRANGERS SHOUTING SLURS OR MIMICKING SOUNDS OF EAST ASIAN LANGUAGES OR PULLING OF EYES.

THE TALK FROM MY PARENTS WAS ALWAYS JUST KEEP YOUR HEAD DOWN, WORK HARDER, RIGHT, FEEDING INTO IN SOME WAYS THIS MODEL MINORITY MIST, WE CAN JUST MAKE IT IF WE JUST OUTPERFORM OR WORK HARDER OR STAY SILENT OR JUST TRY TO GET THROUGH IT.

I HOPE WHAT THIS MOMENT REALLY AWAKENS IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS OUR CITY IS THAT EVERYBODY MUST HAVE A VOICE THAT IS HEARD.

AND WE CAN'T JUST WORK HARDER AND KEEP EVERYONE ISOLATED.

WE'VE SEEN THE IMPACTS OF THIS KIND OF ISOLATION OVER THE LAST YEAR MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE, AND NOW IS REALLY THE MOMENT TO EMPOWER DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION FOR EVERYONE TO BE INVOLVED IN OUR PROCESSES, TO BE VISIBLE DOM BUILD THAT INFRASTRUCTURE, NOT JUST WITHIN INDIVIDUAL COMMUNITIES BUT BETWEEN COMMUNITIES AS SO MANY OF THE PANELISTS HAVE BEEN SAYING.

>> Crossley: SO YOU MEANT SMALL D DEMOCRATIC ENGAGEMENT BUT ON THE LARGER DMENT DEMOCRATIC ENGAGEMENT PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS ISSUED A SERIES OF RULE CHANGES THAT WOULD DIRECTLY IMPACT THE ASIAN-AMERICAN, PACIFIC ISLANDER COMMUNITY.

HAVING TO DO WITH ACCESS AND LANGUAGE IN CERTAIN AREAS, HAVING TO DO WITH ACTUALLY MAKING SURE THAT IT IS CLEAR THAT THERE IS A BAN OR VIOLENCE IN VARIOUS -- THERE IS A WHOLE LIST OF THINGS THAT HE CAN DO, THAT HE HAS DONE.

HOWEVER, IN THE CONGRESS ITSELF, SENATOR MAISEY HIRONO PUT FORTH A BILL THAT SAYS PLEASE SUPPORT AND LET'S HAVE LEGISLATIVE ACTION THAT THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE, SHE CAN'T GET ANYBODY TO BACK IT -- SHE CAN GET SOME BUT NOT ENOUGH TO GET IT PASSED.

HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT?

I'LL START WITH YOU MICHELLE.

>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE VISIBILITY TO CONTINUE LIFTING UP THIS ISSUE AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF THE LEADERSHIP THAT'S HAPPENING ON IT.

I WOULD REINFORCE WHAT'S BEEN SAID TODAY, ALMOST THE TIME WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HATE CRIMES AND ENFORCEMENT IT'S TOO LATE, REALLY.

AND WHAT WE NEED TO BE FOCUSING ON ARE ENERGY, RESOURCES POLITICAL WILL ON IS STABILIZING COMMUNITIES, CREATING THE SOCIETIES, THE ECONOMIC ATMOSPHERE, SO THAT EVERYONE CAN LIVE SAFELY AND JOYFULLY, NOT IN FEAR, OF THEIR WORKING CONDITIONS OR HOUSING INSTABILITY OR LACK OF TRANSIT ACCESS OR BREATHING IN POLLUTION.

AND SO THERE ARE SO MANY FAST ET CETERA OF THIS THAT DATE BACK -- FACETS OF THIS THAT DATE BACK FAR LONGER THAN COVID CAME CAME ON THE SCENE.

MAKING SURE THAT WE CONNECT EVERY COMMUNITY TO THE CHANCE TO THRIVE AND LIVE IN A SUSTAINABLE BEAUTIFUL CITY.

>> Crossley: CAROLYN I'D LIKE TO YOU RESPOND TO THE ISSUE OF ALLIES AND THE IMPORTANCE THEREOF IN THIS MOMENT AND BEYOND.

BECAUSE WE SADLY KNOW THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE THE LAST TIME WE TALK ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

>> YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK THAT THIS IS A MOMENT, AS COUNCILOR WU WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT, THAT WE KNOW IS POSSIBLE AND IS NEEDED, I THINK THAT THAT CAN BE A REAL PRIORITY IN THIS TIME.

AND I THINK PART OF IT IS YEAH, FOLKS UNDERSTANDING THE WAY -- AND LEARNING ABOUT THE WAY ASIAN AMERICANS HAVE BEEN RACIALIZED AND HAVE THE WHITE SUPREMACIST SYSTEM HAVE CREATED THESE WEDGES BETWEEN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

INTENTIONALLY.

TO MAINTAIN THE SYSTEM.

AND SO WE REALLY NEED TO HEAR EACH OTHER'S STORIES, FIND THE PLACES WHERE OUR ISSUES INTERSECT, WHICH IS VAST, WHICH IS ALMOST ALL OF THEM, AND PUSH FOR THAT CHANGE TOGETHER, THAT'S GOING TO IMPACT ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES.

AND DO THE RACIAL HEALING WE NEED TO DO.

I THINK WE CAN ALL DO BETTER IN ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES, OF TAKING ACTION AS A ABOUT BYSTANDER OF DEESCALATING ISSUES WE SEE AND I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF WORK TO DO AND I THINK THAT WE KNOW THAT SO MANY OF THESE ISSUES, SO MANY OF THE POLICY CHANGES CUT ACROSS OUR COMMUNITIES AND THERE IS SO MUCH OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD TOGETHER.

>> Crossley: BETHANY, ALLIES.

>> WE SEE THIS IN OUR WORK EVERY SINGLE DAY, RIGHT?

WE SEE THIS IN DEPORTATION WORK.

WE SEE THIS IN HOUSING WORK.

WE SEE THIS IN YOU KNOW, WAGE THEFT, EMPLOYMENT STABILITY WORK, IN LANGUAGE ACCESS, IN PUBLIC EDUCATION.

AND I THINK WHAT COUNCILOR WU WAS SAYING EARLIER, THIS REACTION TO THE MOMENT, THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME IMMEDIATE RESPONSE, RIGHT?

FROM THE LEGISLATIVE OR OTHER ANGLES.

AND I THIS HONESTLY, THE -- I THINK HONESTLY, THE RESPONSES, IT TAKES SO MUCH MORE WORK THAN THAT TO BUILD THE SAFER WORLD, THE SAFER COMMUNITY AND TO BUILD THAT ACROSS RACIAL LINES.

AND IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT PUTTING UP SIGNS THAT SAY STOP HARASSMENT IN SCHOOL, RIGHT?

IT'S ACTUALLY ABOUT -- IT'S ACTUALLY ABOUT LEARNING THESE HISTORIES, RIGHT?

READING CHILDREN'S BOOKS ABOUT THE INTERNMENT CAMP.

UNDERSTANDING WHAT SLAVERY MEANS.

FROM THE TIME THAT PEOPLE ARE IN KINDERGARTEN FORWARD.

AND THEN CONTINUING TO BUILD THOSE TYPES OF CONNECTIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS IN OUR WORKPLACES.

BECAUSE OTHERWISE, I THINK -- AND I THINK IT'S HARD, RIGHT?

I THINK IT'S HARD TO VISUALIZE THAT.

BECAUSE THOSE TYPES OF CHANGES, SOMETIMES WE DON'T SEE UNTIL 20, 30 YEARS LATER, RIGHT?

SO IT'S HARD TO BE ABLE TO SAY I'M MAKING THIS CHANGE RIGHT NOW.

BUT I THINK THOSE ARE SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT CHANGES TO BE MAKING.

>> Crossley: EDWARD SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS, ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE HEARD OVER AND OVER AGAIN IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS, IS HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT ASIAN-PACIFIC ISLANDERS ARE NO LONGER SEEN AS INVISIBLE.

NOT ONLY ADVOCATING FOR THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES BUT IN SPEAKING BACK TO SOME OF THIS VIOLENCE.

WOULD YOU ADDRESS THAT?

>> SURE.

I MEAN THERE ARE SEVERAL ANGLES, ONE OF THE BIGGEST ONE THAT IS MY PERSONAL PET PEEVE IS THAT FOR A LONG TIME WE'VE BEEN KEPT SILENT BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN CAST AS THE WEAKER CROWD OR WE'RE ALSO THE MODEL MINORITY, THE GREAT WORKERS RIGHT?

HOLLYWOOD HAS HAD A LONG TREND OF CASTING CHINESE AS COMIC RELIEF, PEOPLE COCK TO US FOR THOSE REASONS.

THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING ELSE WE DO TO CONTRIBUTE TO AMERICAN SOCIETY OR THEY MARGINALIZE IT IN THEIR MINDS AND DON'T ACKNOWLEDGE ITS.

IN TERMINATION OF SPEAKING OUT WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT IF WE DON'T KEEP TALKING TO LEADERS THIS ISSUE WON'T STAY AT THE FOREFRONT.

WITH MY OTHER HAT ON AS COO, WE HELP 4,000 PEOPLE A YEAR WITH SOCIAL SERVICES AND ALL OF THEM ARE LOW-INCOME AND MOST OF THEM ARE IMMIGRANTS.

WE ARE A PREMIER JOB TRAINING GROUP AND WE ARE FORTUNATE TO WORK WITH SOME GROUPS COMFORTABLE THEY HAVE DIVERSITY ISSUES NOW.

THAT'S ONLY BECAUSE THE LEADERSHIP AT THE TOP OF EACH OF THOSE COMPANIES IS WILLING TO TRY TO INCREASE ASIAN AND OTHER ETHNIC GROUPS IN THEIR LEADERSHIP FORCES.

SO WE NEED TO KEEP TALKING TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS BECAUSE THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT YOU KNOW, IN SOME UNFORTUNATE WAY TO BE A VOICE THAT'S HEARD YOU INDEPENDENT KIND OF HAVE TO BE PRIVILEGED.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE STAGE TO BE ABLE TO SAY THINGS.

IF YOU DON'T AND IF YOU ARE NOT HEARING IT FROM OTHER INDIVIDUALS YOU'RE NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE REAL ISSUES THERE.

CRSES INVISIBILITY, MICHELLE WU, YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS.

>> I THINK SO MANY OF US HAVE KNOWN THIS FEELING OUR ENTIRE LIVES OF JUST NOT BEING REPRESENTED IN MAINSTREAM MEDIA AND NEWS REPORTS.

AND SO THIS IS THE CRUX OF IT.

EVERY PERSON IN OUR CITY, EVERY FAMILY, EVERY COMMUNITY MUST FEEL SEEN, VALUED, TREASURED AND CONNECTED TO EVERY OTHER COMMUNITY.

THIS IS THE TIME TO ACTUALIZE IT THROUGH EVERY POLICY.

>> Crossley: THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THAT IS THE END OF OUR BROADCAST AND THE END OF OUR SHOW.

THANKS TO ALL OF OUR GUESTS AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

STAY WITH US AS WE CONTINUE OUR CONVERSATION ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.

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