'Stop Asian Hate Solidarity Rally' Wednesday Evening In HoCo

COLUMBIA, MD — A Stop Asian Hate Solidarity Rally with AAPI Communities will be held Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. at Columbia Lakefront, 10275 Wincopin Circle. Participants must wear facemasks and practice social distancing.

On Monday, a woman reported being struck in the face by an unknown man while she was walking along a path near Indian Summer Drive and Summer Sky Path in Clarksville around 7:30 a.m. Monday. According to a police report, the victim is Asian.

She told Howard County Police that the man jogged up behind her and hit her as he passed by, which caused her glasses to fall off and left a mark on her face. According to a police report, the woman said the man repeatedly told her "I'm sorry I punched you." She did not require medical attention. The woman told police the man was white and in his 20s. She routinely sees him walking in the area and may have a developmental disability, she said.

The HoCo Coalition for Excellence, Unity and Diversity spoke out after the shootings in Atlanta, Ga., where six of the eight individuals killed were of Asian descent.

"We strongly condemn senseless violence and dehumanization of our brothers and sisters. This horrific tragedy occurs in the context of escalating attacks on the Asian-American community and a year-long wave of anti-Asian hate and bias across the nation. Unfortunately, Howard County is not immune from crimes targeting Asian identity. Just one month ago, on Lunar New Year, four Asian restaurants were burglarized and vandalized. The suspects have still not been found as of today. Most recently, a hate speech against Asian and Hispanic immigrants was delivered at a county's Racial Equity Task Force meeting," the coalition shared in a statement.

Columbia Association Board of Directors Chair Andy Stack and CA President/CEO Milton W. Matthews spoke out about the recent attacks on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders across the U.S.

"Every person of every background has the right to feel safe in their community. That includes Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community members who have been unjustly targeted by recent acts of hate," the pair said in a statement.

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball spoke out in support of the rally.

"Howard County takes pride as one of the most diverse and inclusive communities across the nation. Our Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community members have persevered through prejudice and exploitation, all while playing a vital role in our growth, culture and society. We are extremely disheartened by the violence in Georgia, which was targeted toward Asian Americans. Our hearts go out to families of the victims and those who may be suffering in silence," Ball said.

The county executive noted that officials "wholeheartedly oppose hate bias of any kind toward any of our minority communities, but especially amongst our AAPI community who have been subject to recent hate bias in Howard County and around our nation."