Amanda Nguyễn, CEO and founder of Rise, joins Cheddar News to talk about the AAPI Visibility Pledge urging lawmakers to take action against anti-Asian attacks. 

Between Bells

Calling Action with the AAPI Visibility Pledge

Welcome back to between bells everyone. One woman is making her voice heard in Washington. Amanda win created rise back in 2014, the nonprofit fights for the civil rights of sexual violence survivors. The organization has been a driving force in many social movements and has helped unanimously passed 34 laws. Now, Wynne is turning her attention to the needs of the A. P. I. Community and it's also pushing to make asian and pacific islander history months apart of the school's curriculum. Joining us. Now to discuss is Amanda Win herself Ceo and founder of Rise Amanda, welcome to the show. So New Jersey became the second state to sign teaching a api history into law. Why is it so important for other states to follow suit here? Well, first of all, thank you so much for having me and I just want to say that education is a core part of empathy building. So we want to be visible. We want people to know about, Yes, our struggles, the pain, but also our triumphs. I'm so proud of the organizers in New Jersey as well as in Illinois and California. And we're going to continue to fight to get our history heard in schools across the nation. So as of right now, your petition to teach a P. I in school systems has reached more than 43,000. The goal is 50,000. You're almost there, Amanda. Once that goal is reached, what's next? Well, it's 100,000, 200,000. Look, I think what's so important is getting the word out there. Um, and our pledge right now that anyone can take, especially allies um is on our website, it encourages people to uplift asian americans within their communities, whether that's going to support your local restaurant that you really like. Um or to learn more about our history, there are so many ways for people to get involved. Rise launched an ap I visibility pledge. Tell me more about that. Yes, as we really believe education, visibility, empathy. These are at the core things that can help stop asian heat. Um last year in February I turned on my camera and I asked people to stop Asian hate and over 11.4 million people responded to that. We got the white house to acknowledge the violence happening against our community. Um and ever since then we have been pushing and fighting for this movement to keep on spreading. Now I am very proud of the progress that we've made. I'm so deeply grateful to the allies that have stood up and I am calling on people not only for asian american heritage month, which is this month to go and take this pledge, but also for people to understand that we are all in this together. Um and this year we are renewing this pledge by having a focus on the intersection of race and gender. Um women asian women have unfortunately had the brunt of the hate that ap eyes face in this. Um in this time, the statistics are staggering. According to one study, 78% of Asian American women have faced discrimination in the past two years. And so I want people to understand that they're not alone and that anyone no matter who they're from, what community are from can be an ally to Asian Americans. There are a lot within the Api community that talk about the harm of the model minority myth. Can we talk about that a little bit Amanda, the stereotypes and the damage this can do to the society. Absolutely, The model minority myth refers to this idea that asian americans are meek, docile and won't speak up well, I'm here right now and I am speaking up. Um and we've seen so many of us share our stories, be vulnerable and voice our pain on top of that. I want to add that there are many stereotypes. Um for instance, there are perpetual foreigner stereotype, this idea where people ask where are you from? You know, really, where are you from when people belong here? They're americans. Um and of course yellow fever, this idea of objectifying asian female bodies and because of that objectification, the sexual violence, domestic violence that is subjected upon asian women. All of these things are things we could learn about and also take a stand against according to stop asian hate. Almost half of all incidents took place in public places. How do people become more effective allies for the api community? Well, I really encourage people to understand that there is so much agency we all have to stop and or be allies in these moments. Hollaback is an amazing resource they have what's called the five. These um these are tools for people to use in moments where they spot racism. So very quickly it's distract delegate direct document and delay. And I encourage people to look at hall back to learn more about these tools to be allies in these moments. And I have about 30 seconds left with you. What does api heritage month mean to you, Amanda? I want everyone to know that there are so many ways to be allies. Being anti racist is an action verb. Um and you don't necessarily have to start a whole rally, but it can be small actions like diversifying your social media feed following rise, taking the pledge, go supporting your local A. P. I. Business. There are so many ways to be a part of this heritage and to celebrate the fabric of what makes us a great place to be and that is our diversity. Um and so I want people to know the most powerful tool they have is our voice. So use it. Thank you for everything you do and thank you for being on the show. Amanda Wynn Ceo and founder of Rise