Tracking hate crimes against Asian-Americans

According to FBI statistics, 3.3% of hate crimes in 2015 resulted from anti-Asian bias. Yet, as this NPR story tells it, Asian-Americans tend to “underreport hate incidents because they feel intimidated by law enforcement or are afraid of being seen as overly sensitive.” And, generally speaking, “racially motivated incidents that are reported are often filed as generic offenses and don’t show up in national data about hate crimes.” So the incidence is probably much higher – and is rising by some accounts.

Asian Americans Advancing Justice launched a website that will lower the barrier to reporting. Check it out here. Importantly, they’re working with the Southern Poverty Law Center to integrate their data with the SPLC’s Hate Map.

Today, I signed up to help Asian Americans Advancing Justice. Because I am one.