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TweetAs our nation continues to battle a pandemic, there is an ongoing increase in anti-Asian hate crimes, resulting in the tragic shooting in Atlanta two weeks ago. Throughout the past year, nearly 4,000 hate-related incidents against Asian Americans have been reported with a growing number of older adults, specifically women, being targeted (Stop AAPI Hate 2021).
With the safety and wellbeing of older adults at the forefront, Keiro partnered in the first half of 2021 with local community organizations to increase public safety and awareness.
If you experience any hate crimes, report here: https://stopaapihate.org/reportincident/
1. Tips for Safety
In partnership with Little Tokyo Service Center, Keiro is widely disseminating these safety tips, in multiple languages, to raise awareness and keep our community members safe. We encourage all community members to share these tips and more importantly, remain aware of your surroundings when going outside. We should not have to be fearful when going out but we do need to remain vigilant.
FIVE TIPS
- Be aware of your surroundings. Limit distractions, such as phone use.
- Walk in groups while conducting errands, whenever possible.
- Speak out in a loud and firm voice if you are being followed or threatened.
- Seek help immediately. Ask others to call 9-1-1 if assistance is needed.
- Report the incident to someone you trust. Also report any anti-Asian incident you experience or witness (even if it is not a crime) to stopaapihate.org. Stop AAPI Hate is a community group that is gathering information on all anti-Asian incidents across the country.
Basic Tip Flyers
Below is a flyer that summarizes these safety tips for going out. This tip sheet is provided in partnership with Keiro and Little Tokyo Service Center.
Situational Awareness Flyers
Here are flyers about having situational awareness when going out:
Observe & Report Flyers
Here are flyers about having observing and reporting when going out:
2. Online Webinars for Safety
With the safety and wellbeing of older adults at the forefront, Keiro hosted two Virtual Keiro Forums to share safety tips and guidelines for us to feel safer and more aware when we go out in public. The videos are available below
Situational Awareness with Ron Ito
Being aware of yourself within your surroundings is critical for your own personal safety. Retired LAPD detective Ron Ito, and Keiro’s Program Analyst Kent Marume, engaged in a Q&A-style discussion on best practices.
Observe and Report with Brian Kito
Part two of the Senior Safety series includes Little Tokyo Public Safety President Brian Kito, and Keiro’s Program Analyst Kent Marume, who engaged in a Q&A-style discussion on best practices for observing and reporting.
3. Supporting Koban
Keiro will be working closely with Little Tokyo Public Safety Association/Koban to ensure safety of residents and visitors of Little Tokyo, which is home to thousands of Asian American older adults.