Candlelight Vigil Planned In Maplewood To 'Stop Asian Hate'

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — A candlelight vigil to "Stop Asian Hate" has been planned for Maplewood this Friday at the Memorial Park Duck Pond, from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

The vigil is one of several that has been planned this month in response to an increase in bias incidents against Asian Americans in the United States.

Another has been planned in Mindowaskin Park in Westfield this Saturday.

A report released earlier this month by the Center for the Study of Hate & Extremism at California State University showed incidents of hate and bias crime were up 149 percent against Asian Americans in 2020, compared to in previous years (the report is here). Many say the rise is linked to the current pandemic.

And this week, a study showed that bias incidents against Asian-Americans are on the rise in New Jersey. READ MORE: NJ Bias Incidents Against Asians Up 82 Percent

Incidents cited in media reports have ranged from comments such as "Go back to your country" to actual violence. Essex County political leaders had issued statements last week condemning the murders of eight women in Atlanta, including six Asian-American women.

Those included leaders in Maplewood (read more here).

You can read more about the rally here.

Related news:

• A Short Hills-based professor wrote a recent essay against Asian hate, and spoke to a reporter for the Record about her experiences. See those links here.

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