Hundreds Gather In Bridgewater For Stop Asian Hate Rally

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Hundreds of locals came out to the #StopAsianHate rally to support the Asian-American community in Bridgewater on Saturday.

The nonpartisan rally was organized by a group of Bridgewater-Raritan Regional High School students and garnered attention from officials in the township and beyond.

Some of the speakers and dignitaries at the rally included Bridgewater Mayor Matthew Moench, Bridgewater Councilman Michael Kirsh, Somerset County Commissioner Sara Sooy, Chair of Montgomery Township's Inclusion and Equity Committee Sadaf Jaffer, Somerset County Clerk Steve Pater, Bridgewater Council President Filipe Pedroso, Bridgewater Councilman Allen Kurdyla, Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District Board of Education President Jackie Barlow, Undersheriff of Somerset County Tim Pino.

Also present were candidate for Governor Gregg Melo, candidates for the Bridgewater Council Jennifer Feigley and Saad Toor, and President of Bridgewater Chinese American Association and Co-Chair of United Chinese Americans of New Jersey Henry Wang.

Pino spoke about the Sheriff's Hate Crimes Awareness & Prevention program, which is working to eliminate hate crimes in Somerset County.

"As a Bridgewater resident, it was a great honor speaking at this rally discussing Somerset County Sheriff Darrin Russo’s Hate Crimes Awareness and Prevention Unit," said Pino.

The rally was spurred by the rising violence against Asian-Americans including the most recent Atlanta, Georgia shooting.

"In the past year, Anti-Asian hate crimes have been at an all-time high with people from the elderly to young adults being attacked in broad daylight for their identities. According to Stop AAPI Hate, 3,800 hateful incidents directed to Asian Americans- not limited to crimes- have been reported in the past year," according to the students.

In addition to recognizing the victims of hate crimes, one of the student organizers Emily Lu called on "the elected officials, candidates and community leaders to take tangible actions to represent and celebrate Asian American stories and voices in local, state and national legislation. At the end of the day, we need anti-racist education in our school systems, we need to feel represented in our history textbooks and English novels, and we need support groups and resources in schools that discuss issues such as racial trauma."

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