STATEMENT: Plano Anti-Asian Incident Underscores Need for Inclusion of Asian History in Texas Social Studies Curriculum
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 25, 2022
Contact: Saatvik Ahluwalia
saatvik.ahluwalia@gmail.com
PLANO, TEXAS — Last night’s Anti-Asian assault in Plano is part of an ongoing trend of violence against Asian communities rooted in hatred and bigotry. It underscores the need for raising awareness and education about the longevity and contributions the Asian American Pacific Islander community has made throughout American history.
“The events in Plano remind me of stories my parents and their friends told me over and over in the wake of 9/11 - of fellow Americans seeing them as others and enemies. I’m grateful that the authorities are investigating the incident and urge our community join us in advocating for expanding how Asian stories are taught in our schools.”
- Saatvik Ahluwalia, Digital and Communications Director of Asian Texans for Justice
“We believe when Texans learn our stories in their social studies curriculum, it will counter the dehumanization and perpetual foreigner stereotypes for a new generation of Asian Americans. Education has the power to build the understanding and compassion that can eradicate Asian hate in our communities.”
- Ashley Cheng, President of Asian Texans for Justice
Asian Texans for Justice is a leader in the #LearnOurStories Coalition empowering Asians like student and ATJ summer civic engagement fellow Ayaan Moledina to testify to the State Board of Education in support of an Asian American History elective and more inclusivity in our general Social Studies curriculum. We request that the new curriculum acknowledge the enduring impact of the Patriot Act and associated War on Terror rhetoric on Arab and South Asian Americans, particularly of Muslim and Sikh backgrounds, be added to the U.S. History 1877 to Present framework.
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