After Violence, Office On Asian American Affairs Proposed In Ohio

COLUMBUS, OH — Following a mass shooting in Atlanta and increased incidents of hate crime against Asian Americans, two Ohio politicians want to launch a new commission on Asian American issues.

State Reps. Stephanie Howse, Democrat from Cleveland, and Tavia Galonski, Democrat from Akron, introduced legislation that would create the Ohio Asian-American and Pacific Islander Affairs Commission and the Office of Asian-American and Pacific Islander Affairs.

The commission and office would address injustices of the past and better understand the needs of Ohio's Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, the representatives said in a joint statement.

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“There are more than 350,000 Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Ohioans, who have the right to live the American Dream, right here at home with safety and security. Across the state we have witnessed countless incidents of violence, verbal abuse, and profiling against our sisters and brothers who identity as AAPI since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Howse said.

New data by Stop AAPI Hate reported 3,292 hate incidents against Asian Americans in 2020. After surveying more than 3,300 Asian Americans, researchers found that 68 percent had experienced verbal harassment between March 19, 2020, and February 2021. Eleven percent reported being physically assaulted.

Instances of Asian American hate originated in every U.S. state, including Ohio, the AAPI (Asian Americans and Pacific Islander) report said.

Ohio's new commission would:

• Gather and disseminate information concerning Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders
• Stimulate public awareness and advocacy of the Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders through education
• Coordinate and assist other public and private organizations that serve Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders
• Advise the governor, general assembly, and state departments and agencies on the priorities of Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders populations
• Promote the delivery of state services across diverse communities
• Provide resources for culturally appropriate organizations and language services

"Establishing this commission will ensure that previous and current injustices are addressed and rectified,” Galonski said.