Seattle is experiencing one of the most consequential events in our City’s history: the COVID-19 pandemic. Our community has been resilient and dedicated. We are looking out for one another and working together to flatten the curve and protect our most vulnerable communities and those on the frontlines of this pandemic.
But at stressful times such as this one, fear and anxiety can lead to acts of hate and xenophobia. The COVID-19 crisis has resulted in a surge of anti-immigrant sentiment, racism, and xenophobia directed at communities of color and immigrants and refugees in our city. Our community members have reported property damage, vandalism, physical and verbal threats, and other forms of hate. These hateful acts drive us apart when we should be coming together to support one another. We’re in this together, and we have to look out for each other. Watch Mayor Durkan’s video condemning violence or harassment against anyone, including our Asian and Asian American residents:
We’re better than this. As a city we must focus on and amplify facts about the virus and how it spreads, while lifting up communities and supporting the needs of our most vulnerable.
If you experience or witness an act of bias, report it to the Seattle Office for Civil Rights anti-bias hotline at 206-233-7100. You can also report online at seattle.gov/reportbias. Reporting is easy and can be done anonymously.
We also know that one of our best tools to combat bias is solidarity and strength. Today and every day, the City of Seattle condemns asks of hate and violence, and we refuse to let it take hold. As part of our #SeattleTogether campaign, we’re launching a new effort that denounces anti-Asian hate and bias, shows strong support for immigrants, refugees, and people of color, and directs people to the City’s bias reporting hotline.
We invite you to join the City in sharing and participating in this campaign. Share your solidarity and reject bias on social media with #SeattleTogether. Alone we can reach a small audience. Together, we can reach all of Seattle.
Let’s show the community and the world that there is no place for bias and hate in Seattle.
