Over 200 demonstrators, as well as numerous elected officials and community leaders, joined on Sunday at the Mary Jane Davies Green in Manhasset to protest violence against Asian-Americans in light of horrific acts in recent months.
The event was the idea of sisters Ada Shu, 14, and Ava Shu, 16, both students at Manhasset Secondary School, shortly after they heard about shootings in spas in the Atlanta area that left eight people dead, including six Asian women, in March. Several videos have also shown elderly Asian-Americans being pushed, kicked and thrown to the ground in New York City and San Francisco since February.
In addition, more than 3,800 anti-Asian incidents were reported across the nation in 2020, with a 149 percent increase in anti-Asian hate crimes in the 16 largest cities in the United States.
“I was shocked,” Ada Shu said in a recent interview. “And I know Manhasset is a pretty safe place, but I was still afraid for other people. And after that event, we saw a lot more of these hate crimes happening. That’s when I thought it was time to stand up.”
Together with friends, the sisters planned the rally over the course of a month, applying for permits, publicizing it via social media and receiving support from the Chinese American Association of North Hempstead.
“It was a really long process outside, but ultimately we were able to have a great turnout,” Ava Shu said in a phone interview.
Once the Shus and their friends arrived at the Davies Green before the start time, they saw a steady stream of community members gather, many with signs reading, “Stop Hate, Spread Love,” “Hate Has No Home Here,” “This is My Home Too!” and “Asians R Not Viruses.”
Elected officials, including U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove), State Assemblywoman Gina Sillitti (D-Manorhaven), U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens), North Hempstead Councilwoman Mariann Dalimonte (D-Port Washington) and Town Clerk Wayne Wink also attended in support, and Suozzi, Meng, Manhasset Superintendent of Schools Vincent Butera and CAANH president David Chiang gave addresses. The sisters also recruited their grandmother Liu Tee Shu, founder of the Chinese American Women’s Commerce Association, as a guest speaker before taking the microphone themselves.
“We Asians are not a virus, but racism and hate is,” Ada Shu told those gathered. “It is high time we stand up for justice as American citizens. The previous generations chose to remain silent but this is my generation, and we choose to stand up and fight. The future depends on us, so stop going for the vulnerable and the weak.”
Even with the rally being a success, the sisters say their work is not done.
“Maybe we can change one person’s opinion, that person can change someone else’s,” Ava Shu said. “And eventually we can change the whole community the whole time.”
“Even though this rally is over, we’re not going to just stop,” Ada Shu said. “Even if we’re not the ones getting hurt, the others who are don’t deserve this at all, and we should try to help them as much as we can.”
