The lanterns will shine along Edgemont Pond on May 21, 2021. (KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)

BY KATE ALBRIGHT and DIEGO JESUS ​​BARTESAGHI MENA
[email protected]

Approximately 1,200 white paper lanterns lit Edgemont Memorial Park on Friday evening to commemorate the victims of racial violence and injustice.

The Justice and Remembrance Lantern Festival, attended by nearly 1,000 people, was hosted by AAPI Montclair, a grassroots organization of more than 300 Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Montclair. The organization started two months ago in response to incidents of violence against Asian Americans across the country.

“It all came together in two or three weeks. It was a whirlwind, but it was also very enjoyable to see how much support the community has there, ”said Julie Kim, founding member of AAPI Montclair, to Montclair Local. “And I really hope it stays that way in the future.”

Kim told the crowd that Asian Americans living in and around Montclair need a community to “share our collective grief and fears” about violence, harassment and intimidation.

“Xenophobia is the fear and hatred of strangers and we are perceived as eternal foreigners, but this is our home,” said Kim. “We belong here.”

A Report released this month by the Stop AAPI Hate advocacy group Over the course of the pandemic, 6,603 bias incidents were reported against Asian Americans and islanders in the Pacific from March 19, 2020 to March 31 of this year. The number rose from 3,795 to 6,603 in March this year, says Stop AAPI Hate. That’s the same month that a 21-year-old man allegedly romped through three salons in Atlanta, killing 8 people. Most of the victims were of Asian descent.

Of the incidents referenced in Stop AAPI’s reports, 65.2% were verbal harassment, 12.6% were physical assault, 10.3% were workplace discrimination and 7.3% were online harassment.

Emcee Julie Kim listens to a speaker with her daughter on May 21, 2021. (KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)

The lanterns displayed in Edgemont will shine brightly and symbolize peace, forgiveness and reconciliation. May we all walk this path together, ”said Kim.

Several community leaders took the stage to share their experiences of racism and bullying as Americans in Asia or to share their support for the community.

Serena Lee – a student at Montclair High School and a former student at Glenfield Middle School and elementary schools in Hillside and Nishuane – spoke of the bullying she and Asian American counterparts experienced in their youth. She remembered a group of children who withdrew their eyes to make fun of the Asian children and were labeled “Strange Chinese Disease” in third grade.

“As an Asian-American kid in Montclair, I always felt a little out of place, even though we are a diverse bubble. I was exposed to racism and micro-aggression from my colleagues, and my teachers turned a blind eye, ”said Lee.

She enjoyed a lot of support after filming in Atlanta. “Most of all, my white colleagues were surprised. But that shouldn’t have been shocking, ”said Lee.

Asian families know the sting of racism

Alice Young shared her experience of raising her children in Montclair and said there had been a lack of Asian-American representation in the curriculum.

“I was surprised when my daughter came home from public school one day and asked why, when there were so many famous whites and blacks in American history. [but] There weren’t any famous Asian Americans, ”said Young. “And now, almost 35 years later, I’m happy that there are so many more Asian faces in the crowd and an even more diverse community. But I’m afraid of racism and violence against Asians. I carry this yellow whistle that says we belong, as a protection and a reminder that we all have to be climbers, not just bystanders. ”

Fairleigh Dickinson University professor and social science researcher Khyati Joshi co-authored a report for advocacy group Jersey Promise in 2019. “The State of Asian Americans in New Jersey.” She told the crowd on Friday, “We couldn’t believe that such a thing didn’t exist”.

The Montclair Schools superintendent said it was not enough to explain that you are not racist – you must act to fight racism. (KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)

She said Asian Americans make up 10% of the population in New Jersey, but reckoned 15% after the 2020 census numbers are complete. But the researchers found, “People feel invisible,” she said.

“No matter what job, what profession, what age,” said Joshi. “So it’s wonderful to be here and be visible. We’re not just part of history in the United States. We’re part of the story of racing in America where we’re marginalized. “

US Representative Mikie Sherrill, a Montclair resident and 11th District Democrat, said she was proud of the support she saw for AAPI members of the community.

“That really gives me hope. It gives me joy to see our church stand up against the hatred we see in so many places and in so many ways in this country, ”she said.

When AAPI Montclair met earlier this year, its leaders organized a group letter to Montclair school officials urging them to do more against anti-Asian prejudice and protect students who would soon be returning to school buildings for the first time in the pandemic. Headmaster Jonathan C. Ponds met with the group in April to discuss ongoing education and training and increased curriculum representation.

“‘I’m not racist’ is not good enough,” Ponds told those at the meeting on Friday. “Do more. Do more for us every day to do better for all Americans. Everyone in this country, in this world, deserves better. It will happen. It will happen here in Montclair. Our Asian-American Families and our students, we love you. You belong. This is your home. I will work for you. I work for you and your families. “

Montclair City Councilor Bob Russo told the crowd the local council had selected a member of the AAPI Montclair to serve on the Civil Rights Commission. The date will be announced soon, he said.

“I’m still in shock at how many people came out tonight to support us.” Amber Reed, one of the organizers, said at the end of the night. “It turned out to be such a nice experience and anyone could come out [an event] We just started thinking about it two weeks ago. And to see it take such beautiful shapes tonight is just overwhelming. I think I am still in shock from all of this. “

Editor’s Note: Amber Reed is married to Justin Jamail, a member of the Board of Directors of Montclair Local.

Lanterns line the paths at the beginning of the festival on May 21, 2021. (KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)Panels share part of the story of racial violence against Asian Americans on May 21, 2021. (KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)Superintendent Jonathan Ponds writes a message to a tape on May 21, 2021. (KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)The speakers stand for a photo dated May 21, 2021. (KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)AAPI Montclair members Serena Lee and co-founder Linda Kow will meet with Superintendent Jonathan Ponds on May 21, 2021. (KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)AAPI Montclair founding member Julie Kim, May 21, 2021. (KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)Congressman Mikie Sherrill, May 21, 2021. (KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)Bishop Carlye J. Hughes, May 21, 2021. (KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)The participants welcome May 21, 2021. (KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)Families will listen to the speakers on May 21, 2021. (KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)Montclair Orchestra mentors and members of the MET Opera Orchestra Katherine Fong and Dov Scheindlin, May 21, 2021. (KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)The audience listens to Katherine Fong and Dov Scheindlin on May 21, 2021. (KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)Mayuri Chandra reads the panels with information about violent racism against Asian Americans with her daughter Penna on May 21, 2021. (KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)Alice Young shares her experience raising Asian American children in Montclair on May 21, 2021. (KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)Alice Young speaks to the crowd on May 21, 2021. (KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)Families will listen to the speakers on May 21, 2021. (KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)The audience applauds on May 21, 2021. (KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)MHS sophomore Serena Lee, May 21, 2021. (KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)Superintendent Jonathan Ponds, May 21, 2021. (KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)Khyati Joshi, co-founder of Jersey Promise and co-author of the Report on the State of Asian Americans May 21, 2021. (KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)Linda Kow, co-founder of AAPI Montclair, May 21, 2021. (KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)Yimin You and Christina Qiu will be selling tote bags with the title “Asian Hate Stops Here” on May 21, 2021. (KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)From left Katherine Fong, Tristan Aniceto, Paul Swensen and Dov Scheindlin, May 21, 2021. (KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)The lanterns will shine along Edgemont Pond on May 21, 2021. (KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)