Ardsley High School’s Asian Students Union to hold rally against anti-Asian violence

Asian students at Ardsley High School says anti-Asian violence across the country and close to home has left them on edge.

News 12 Staff

Mar 19, 2021, 10:17 PM

Updated 1,268 days ago

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Asian students at a Westchester high school will hold a rally this weekend to make their voices heard amid the rise in anti-Asian violence across the country.
On March 16, a 21-year-old gunman went on a shooting spree at several different spas in Atlanta, Georgia. Eight people were killed, including six Asian women.
In Westchester, an 83-year-old Korean woman was spat on and punched last week while walking in White Plains.
Asian students at Ardsley High School says anti-Asian violence across the country and close to home has left them on edge.
The school's Asian Students Union will hold a rally on Saturday at Pascone Park to raise awareness about xenophobia and uplift Asian voices.
"Our club feels like enough people in Westchester aren't really talking about what's happening…about the hate crime, like the hate crimes that are occurring against the Asian and Pacific Islander community," says student Megha Ravi.
Ravi adds that violence and bias against people of Asian descent is nothing new.
"The COVID-19 pandemic kind of amplified the racism, but the racism has always been there," she says.
A coalition made up of human rights organizations from Greenburgh, the Rivertowns and the Westchester Black Women's Political Caucus issued a statement in support for the student organizers of the rally.
The statement said in part, "Thanks to the Ardsley High School Asian Student Union for stepping up to spread awareness of the scourge of xenophobia and build support in Westchester for the Asian community."
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris went to Atlanta on Friday to meet with Asian-American representatives in the wake of Tuesday's shooting.