March 29, 2021

NYCCC Statement Condemning Anti-Asian Violence and Racism

The Board, staff, and teaching artists of the New York Chinese Cultural Center (NYCCC) are deeply saddened and angered by the increasing violence against the Asian American and Pacific Islander community since the beginning of the pandemic. Our hearts go out to all the victims and their families. The hate and division must end. NYCCC is committed to help close that divide by sharing Chinese culture through the arts with public performances and other programs that promote beauty and understanding.  

While we serve the general public to build cross cultural understanding and appreciation of Chinese arts, we also support the Chinese-American and Chinese immigrant populations in NYC to give them a community that acknowledges and celebrates their culture. This is especially important now given the pandemic and the rise of anti-Asian hate crimes in NYC.  

During the pandemic, according to Stop AAPI Hate, there have been over 3,800 reported incidents of anti-Asian hate crimes across America. Data compiled by the Center for Study of Hate and Extremism and Voice of America show anti-Asian hate crimes increased by almost 150% in 2020 in 16 of the most populous cities in the U.S. NYC had the highest year-over-year growth in anti-Asian hate crimes with an 833% increase, and many incidents are not even reported. Many folks in the Asian community are already struggling with job loss and health impacts. Now with these violent attacks, our community is even more under siege. The recent murders of eight people in Atlanta with six of the victims being Asian women create further fear and stress in our community. We at NYCCC will promote love and understanding through our programs to bring communities together and bridge the cultural divide. We stand with the BIPOC community to condemn these violent acts. Hate has no place in America. During this challenging time, we will support our NYCCC community, including our students, teachers, performing artists, and fellow AAPI community and cultural organizations. 

Education is an agent for change and NYCCC will inform, engage, educate, and provide performances showcasing Chinese culture through the language and beauty of the arts. These difficult times require us to work even harder to help our community and to engage and interact with all of NYC to promote Chinese culture. We will stand strong with other community organizations to help end the violence.

Our work at NYCCC has spanned almost five decades, providing a platform for Asian and Asian American voices, particularly those of artists, to be heard and valued. In 2021, we will commission artists to create new works in dance, music, and visual arts to express their reactions to the anti-Asian violence and their hopes for the future. We are in the process of applying for funding for these projects. If you wish to support these projects and our work at NYCCC, please donate, join our classes, or contact us to book a performance or workshop. #StopAsianHate
 
Below are some resources you might find useful.

Reporting a hate crime or discrimination:

 
About New York Chinese Cultural Center

Founded in 1974, the New York Chinese Cultural Center (NYCCC), a nonprofit cultural and educational institution, is dedicated to deepening the understanding and appreciation of Chinese culture through the arts in the global and local communities. NYCCC fulfills its mission by offering professional classes, workshops, and performances while nurturing creative and innovative new works through artist residency programs that reflect the rich cultural heritages and diverse communities of today.

For more information, visit  www.nychineseculturalcenter.org or call 212.334.3764. 

NYCCC is supported, in part, with public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the city council, City Council Members Hon. Margaret Chin, Justin Brannan and Mark Treyger, Gale A. Brewer, the Manhattan Borough President, New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.
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