Filipinos among top nationalities targeted by hate crimes in US —group

Filipinos are among the top nationalities who have experienced abuses or hate crimes in the United States, a recent report by an anti-Asian racism coalition showed.

The Stop Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) national report dated August 12 showed that Chinese reported more hate incidents (43.5%) than all ethnic groups from March 19, 2020 to June 30, 2021. 

Following Chinese nationals were Koreans with 16.8%, Filipinos with 9.1%, Japanese with 8.6%, and Vietnamese with 8.2%.

From March 19, 2020 until June 30, 2021, the coalition already reported 9,081 racist and hate crimes against the Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders communities.

Further, the group said the number of hate incidents climbed from 6,603 in April 2021 to 9,081 in June 2021.

Of the number of incidents, verbal harassment cases is the highest with 63.7%, followed by shunning or avoidance of AAPI, with 16.5%.

In an online exchange with GMA News Online, Philippine Consul General in New York Elmer Cato said the surge behind the hate crimes can be linked to blaming Asians for the coronavirus outbreak.

"Since the virus originated in Asia, some people are blaming Asians for the outbreak," said Cato.

The Philippine Consulate General in New York had recorded at least 18 cases of hate crimes against Filipinos in 2021. — KBK/BM, GMA News