Manhattan Beach Residents Unite Against Asian Hate

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA —Colorful works of chalk art highlighted with messages of love and support for the Asian American and Pacific Islander community adorned the driveways and sidewalks of dozens of Manhattan Beach residences on Saturday, April 24.

The MB Families Against AAPI Hate sidewalk chalk event + lemonade stand brought together hundreds of residents and local and state officials, as well as raised $5,380 for bystander intervention training.

The residents contributed bright artistic displays along streets all over town but particularly on Magnolia Ave., Curtis Ave., and 3rd Street.

Officials including California Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi, Manhattan Beach City Councilman Richard Montgomery, and Manhattan Beach school board members Jason Boxer, Jen Fenton, and Sally Peel addressed the neighborhood, strolled the streets, and mingled with the participants.

Event organizers Diana Skaar and Madeline Kaplan said that they were "beyond thrilled" with the participation and turn-out.

"Sidewalk chalk is not going to end hate, but [on Saturday], we had important conversations about the power of allyship and how bystander intervention training can make that a reality," said Skaar.

The money raised from the lemonade stand sales was donated to Hollaback!, a nonprofit organization that raises awareness about and combat harassment, both online and in-person, through intervention training, a photoblog, and grassroots initiatives.

"Everyone understands the concept of 'see something, say something,' but it is another thing to put it into action," Skaar said. "I have heard one too many stories of people doing nothing because they were afraid of their own safety or because they didn't want to get in trouble for being a good samaritan. Yet on the flip side, I know that sense of despair to be on the receiving end of hate and feel completely alone when those that witness it do nothing. That's why bystander intervention training is an important initiative."

Skaar is hoping to take this concept one step further by bringing it to school-age children. "I was thankful to have conversations with MBUSD School Board members to see where we can take this idea," Skaar said.

Kaplan and Skaar were introduced through mutual friend MBUSD board member Jason Boxer to coordinate the event. Together, they asked members of the community to make statements of compassion and stand in solidarity with the AAPI community by writing messages of support on their driveways. They actually met, in person, for the first time on Saturday.

Kaplan said she got the idea after emailing the Manhattan Beach Police Department with her concerns about AAPI hate in the South Bay. "The City highlighted its participation in the LA vs Hate program by sharing their MB vs Hate campaign on their Facebook page," she said. "I clicked through the link and that's how I got all the resources I needed to plan the event."

From there, she teamed up with neighbor Emma Hite for initial planning.

"I learned that my neighbor grocery shops for a South Bay friend who is fearful to leave her home because she was harassed with anti-Asian slurs," Kaplan told Patch. "I also found out that two other friends feel anxious while doing the activities they would normally think nothing of. I realized our Manhattan Beach Asian American and Pacific Islander community needs to know their neighbors stand with them against Asian hate."

Skaar was more than happy to participate. "As a Thai-American who has experienced racism in LA from as early as elementary school, I hoped that my bi-racial kids growing up in our beautiful MB community could be shielded from this," she said. "I was raised to internalize this pain, to be silent and to be strong. However, with the rise of anti-Asian hate crimes across this country, I realized that I can no longer shield my kids from racism and need to prepare them for it. I was appalled when my son came home from school one day with jokes he learned about 'chinky eyes' and Asian accents."

Skaar says she could no longer remain silent. "I've thought a lot about the healing power of allyship," she said. "It has made me realize how something as simple as a message of support, with no expectation to respond back, can mean the world."
She says she was "incredibly thankful" when she connected with Kaplan, a fellow mom.

"By writing messages of solidarity and compassion in our driveways, it is our hope that our neighbors and friends out on walks will feel supported knowing that hate is not welcome here in Manhattan Beach," Kaplan said.

Skaar says she hopes three things will be achieved as a result of the campaign. The first is that it increases awareness of the rising hate against the AAPI community and provides ways for the MB community to easily express their love and support.

"For me personally, I realized how increasingly difficult it was to go about my day-to-day routine while worrying about the safety of my elderly Thai parents and wondering if I had prepared my kids well enough for future jokes at the expense of Asians," she said. "It was hard for me to put on a face in front of my MB friends and neighbors and show that 'life is a beach' when internally I was worried about these things."

She also wants to spread a message of love and support to the MB AAPI community that Asian Americans do not have to internalize this alone. Her wish is that this campaign moves to other cities.

"In fact, on my social media, I've already received commitments from families from Orange County, Bay Area, Sacramento, and Oregon who are committed to spreading this message on their sidewalk," Skaar said.