Dolan Law Firm is appalled by the increasing displays of violence and hate targeting Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI), including the shootings in Atlanta which left eight dead, six of which were AAPI women, as well as the vicious attacks on elderly AAPI in the SF Bay Area over the last few weeks. Our deepest sympathies go out to the friends and family of the victims of these horrifying acts of violence.
Hate crime incidents against the AAPI community- particularly towards women – have increased to 150% in 2020 according to a report by Stop AAPI Hate, yet rarely are the perpetrators held accountable or charged appropriately for their crimes.
Dolan Law Firm’s Senior Associate Attorney and Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Director Mari Bandoma Callado said,
“I am outraged because the media has failed to call hate crimes for what they are and institutions rationalize racism and misogyny as a ‘bad day’. Discrimination and violence against the AAPI community are not new but the racialization of COVID-19 has inflamed anti-AAPI sentiments and contributed to a surge in anti-Asian hate crimes.”
Dolan Law Firm is committed to fighting against hatred and injustice. Mari is the President of the Filipino Bar Association of Northern California and serves as a co-chair of the Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Bay Area’s Civil Rights Committee (AABA-Bay). Chris Dolan, Mari Bandoma Callado and other Dolan Law Firm attorneys have represented victims of discrimination and hate-based incidents and are actively pursuing a case against Nike for discriminating against members of the AAPI community.
The Dolan Law Firm urges our statewide community to self-educate and support our AAPI brothers and sisters. The following is a list of resources we have compiled and distributed to our own staff in an effort to recommit ourselves to the fight for racial justice every single day:
Education and Action Resources:
- How to Take Action Against Anti-Asian Racism at Work and in Your Personal Life
- How to Best Support AAPI Women After the Atlanta Shootings
- Stop AAPI Hate – A non-profit organization committed to fighting hate-based action against AAPI communities nationwide. Report AAPI hate crimes directly through their website here.
- Asian Americans Advancing Justice, a nonprofit organization empowering Asian Americans to fight for justice in areas of housing, immigration, civil rights, labor rights and other areas.
- Guide to Bystander Intervention
If you feel you have been a victim of a hate crime, contact an attorney immediately to better understand your rights. Dolan Law Firm is committed to representing victims of hate crimes, harassment and discrimination that are members of the AAPI community and other marginalized communities statewide.
