Huixin Tian has experienced racism here in Bloomington. As a fourth year Ph.D. student from China, Tian said the encounters escalated when Covid-19 hit America.
She coughed in a grocery store in early 2020, and people close to her started to stare. Some even jumped out of her way.
“I understand their fear,” she said. “But I also understand how they see me.”
Tian was one of 120 people who gathered at Sample Gates last Wednesday to spread awareness about anti-Asian racism. The Indiana Graduate Workers Coalition organized the rally after eight people were murdered in Atlanta on March 16. Six of the eight victims were Asian women.
Tian said there is no other choice but to protest now.
“Everybody is trying to be the nice person they can do in their everyday life,” she said. “But you don’t look for violence- the violence looks for you.”
Huixian Tian interview excerpts from Wednesday, March 24.
Simon Luo is a sixth year Ph.D. student from China and said he is fortunate to have not experienced violence. He said he used to feel safe in Bloomington, but no longer does.
But it’s not just Bloomington- its America.
Luo said Stop AAPI Hate reported 3,795 anti-Asian hate incidents in the United States between March 19, 2020 and February 28, 2021.
“With that kind of environment, you can’t really feel safe anymore,” he said. “Anywhere in the United States.“
Luo said the rally represents a larger collection of diverse people standing together in solidarity for the Asian community.
“What we’re doing here today is a very small step, but a step of voicing- of speaking out,” he said. “The crowd of people, there’s multiple different races, religions, different colors.”
To learn more about anti-Asian racism or how to become a better ally during Covid-19, visit asianresource.indiana.edu.
Simon Luo interview excerpts from Wednesday, March 24.
