Thirteen years after the Sept 11 terrorist attacks, the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans is calling on citizens to "recommit ourselves to the fundamental ideals on which our country stands," the organization said in a statement.
Part of that return to fundamental ideals, according to the NCAPA, is a continued focus on combating discriminatory practices like racial profiling and government surveillance while also continuing to investigate hate crimes.
"For many South Asians, Muslims, Sikhs and Hindus, the post 9/11 environment has sparked a barrage of public bias and unjust policies," says the NCAPA.
A recently released report by the group South Asian Americans Leading Together found that hate motivated violence against Muslims and South Asians has increased I recent years. The SAALT report also found an increase in the number of xenophobic statements by politicians in recent years.
“Thirteen years since the tragic events of 9/11, our country still has a long way to go in addressing the backlash towards South Asian, Sikh, Hindu and Muslim communities,” said Gregory Cendana, Chair of NCAPA and the Executive Director of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance.