Hamilton adds anti-Asian racism resources to city’s COVID-19 website

Hamilton’s coronavirus website has added a stronger message against anti-Asian racism, as well as links to resources, after a request from a citizen committee.

On Tuesday, Marlene Dei-Amaoh, the chair of the city’s committee against racism, said their request to update the language and added resources was agreed to “pretty quickly.” The request was made to the city’s audit, finance and administration committee on June 3.

The hamilton.ca/coronavirus page now includes a bordered section with the heading, “Speak Out Against Anti-Asian Discrimination.”

The text includes a message, “Although the COVID-19 pandemic began in China, the virus does not infect people by race. COVID-19 can infect anyone. Unfortunately, during this pandemic, many people with a heritage from China and other Asian countries have experienced anti-Asian racism and discrimination. It is only with the support of those around us that we can educate others and end this senseless hate and discrimination.”

Links to covidracism.ca, elimin8hate.org, and a Government of Canada page about anti-Asian racism are also included.

Previously, the message was headed, “Choose Solidarity,” and stated that “persons of Chinese heritage (and other Asian countries) have voiced concerns about the potential for discrimination.”

The committee against racism had noted.,“The Choose Solidarity message on the (city’s) webpage provides a positive message about inclusiveness and solidarity, (but) it does not acknowledge anti-Asian racism.”

The covidracism.ca website has tracked 1,088 anti-Asian hate crimes since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.