Local News

Rally held, alarm devices handed out to members of AAPI community

Many showed up at the rally to take a stand against violence and racism targeting members of the AAPI community.

People hold signs decrying racism as they gather around the Parkman Bandstand on Boston Common to attend the National Day of Solidarity Against AAPI Hate rally on Monday afternoon. Erin Clark/Globe Staff

By Arianna MacNeill

June 1, 2021

2 minutes to read

In an effort to combat hate directed toward Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, a rally was held on Boston Common Monday that included the blowing of bright yellow whistles.

The gathering was part of The Yellow Whistle Campaign, a national effort to bring awareness to racism and violence directed at members of the AAPI community.

“The Yellow Whistle is a symbol of self-protection and solidarity in our common fight against historical discrimination and anti-Asian violence,” the campaign’s website says, noting that the color yellow has been used in racism directed at Asians. “The whistle is a simple gadget with a universal purpose — to signal alarm and call for help — for all Americans.”

Other cities across the country also planned rallies, according to The Boston Globe. Monday was the last day of AAPI Heritage Month.

“We should not be silent,” Esther Lee, a speaker during the rally, told the crowd.

Racism and violence has been directed toward the AAPI community throughout the pandemic and has sparked other rallies. A mass shooting in Atlanta left six Asian women dead back in March.

“The fires of racism have been burning in our country for far too long, 400 years in fact, and we will not let this stand in Boston,” Acting Mayor Kim Janey said during Monday’s rally.

Prior to Monday’s event, a group of teenagers handed out safety devices to Asian American seniors in Boston’s Chinatown on Saturday. The group of volunteers had raised about $4,000 to buy the alarms and handed out over 700 of them, according to WCVB.

The group went to three senior housing complexes and also handed out the devices at the Chinatown entrance, WCVB reported.

“I really just wanted to help the Asian American community in Boston as much as I could,” Ryan Ho told the news station. “We’re definitely sad about what’s going on.”

The group says they want to raise more money to buy more alarms.

Here are some more photos of Monday’s rally: