OCA URGES PROACTIVE MEASURES BY SCHOOLS TO END BULLYING DUE TO CORONAVIRUS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

19 February 2020

Contact: Eiley Fong | Communications Associate

202.223.5500 | eiley.fong@ocanational.org

Washington, DC - OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates released the following statement today, in addition to a response made on February 3, 2020, regarding anti-Asian and anti-Chinese sentiments and actions due to the coronavirus:

Asian Americans are increasingly being targeted as public health threats, amidst knowledge that for persons outside China, the risk of exposure to coronavirus is low. Recent news in California demonstrates the alarming escalation of anti-Asian bullying, with a high school student physically assaulted by his peers at school. The student was immediately sent to the hospital’s emergency room for treatment. Federal school data shows that AAPI students already have the highest rates of classroom bullying, and recent fears and misinformation around coronavirus are likely to fuel the bullying of AAPI students.

OCA is calling on school districts, superintendents, Parent Teacher Associations, school administrators and staff to take proactive measures to educate students surrounding coronavirus and reinforce or implement preventative measures against race-based bullying. Bullying and harassment, especially in a school environment, are never acceptable; these actions based on racism and false information are particularly deplorable.  

“It’s crucial that schools and administrators around the country act now to prevent further  bullying and harassment of AAPI students rooted in racism and misinformation about coronavirus,” said Rita Pin Ahrens, OCA National Executive Director. “Schools are responsible for the safety of all students and need to recognize these fears around coronavirus are manifesting in the classroom and must be addressed before more children are victimized and harmed.  OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates stands ready to work with school leaders to address these issues.”

OCA urges individuals and families who have been bullied or harassed due to fears around coronavirus to report these incidents at aapihatecrimes.org.

OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates is a national civil rights organization dedicated to improving the social, political, and economic well-being of Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs).

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