'I feel really scared now': Local organizations taking a stand against Anti-Asian Hate Crimes

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Anti-Asian hate crimes increased nationally in 2020. Local organizations say these type of crimes happen in Wisconsin. 

“I feel really scared now actually, especially as an Asian woman, ”Jessica Boling said. She is the executive director of the Asian American Pacific Islander Coalition of Wisconsin.

They started the coalition last year in response to the rise of anti-Asian racism.

“We went in with this idea that we wanted to protect our community.”

However, she says the recent deadly Atlanta shootings were discouraging. 

“It’s kind of like our worse fears coming to light.”

The group held a rally Thursday, March 18, at city hall to raise awareness about anti-Asian American hate crimes and to honor the Atlanta victims.

“I think it’s been helping to get people to realize that it is happening here in Wisconsin.

According to the Stop AAPI Hate national report, nationally there were nearly 3,800 incidents reported between March 2020 and February 2021.

“I think that’s been part of the issue, Asian American racism isn’t always seen," Boling said.

“The verbal abuse, people just shouting out 'coronavirus' as you’re driving away or people just being called Chinese," Tammie Xiong said. She is the executive director of the Hmong American Women's Association. 

Xiong says her clients live in fear of being targeted everyday.

“A lot of our women are teaming up going to places together, very rarely do our women feel safe going anywhere alone.”