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Meng introduces legislation to promote teaching
of Asian Pacifi c American history in U.S. schools
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
Following a recent hate
crime against an Asian American
teenager, Senator Toby
Ann Stavisky was joined by
Queens elected officials on
Monday, May 10, to announce
a legislation to combat hate
crimes.
Stavisky held a press conference
at Real Good Playground,
located at 62-01 99th
St., with Assembly member
Andrew Hevesi and Councilwoman
Karen Koslowitz,
along with Miaoqing Lu and
her son, Leo Lu, the 15-yearold
victim who was assaulted
and called anti-Asian names
at the park. The attack is one
example of the rising violence
against the Asian American
community in the city and
across the country. Lu was
attacked by five teenagers,
three of whom have been arrested,
according to Stavisky.
“These perpetrators are
being charged and will, I
hope, be held accountable
for their actions. As legislators
we need to be doing
more to prevent these acts
from occurring and reoccurring,”
Stavisky said. “It is
not enough to simply punish
attackers after their crimes.
The ‘fear of the other’ is a
tool that has been used to
drive division within communities
for centuries. This
legislation will help educate
those who harbor baseless
resentments and prevent
them from acting out against
TIMESLEDGER | Q 14 NS.COM | MAY 14-MAY 20, 2021
others in hate.”
Stavisky has partnered
with Assemblywoman Rebecca
Seawright (D-Manhattan)
and is sponsoring
legislation (S6570) that would
mandate counseling and education
for anyone convicted of
a hate crime.
“Hate has no place in New
York state. In response to
the disturbing rise in hateful
acts of violence, including
attacks on my district
office, I have introduced legislation
(A1202) to mandate
‘anti-hate’ training, education
and counseling for every
person convicted of a hate
crime,” said Seawright, who
joined Stavisky at the press
conference.
Miaoqing said as racial
hate hits close to home, “Let’s
work together to eliminate
prejudice and hatred in our
hearts and create a friendly
and just society for our next
generation.” While her son
said, “We must learn to forgive,
forgive ourselves, and
forgive those who hurt us.
Help them grow, which also
helps us grow ourselves.”
The legislation has been
referred to the Senate Codes
Committee, with the Assembly
bill (A1202) was reported
out of the Assembly Codes
Committee and to the floor
for a potential vote.
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
In an effort to help combat
continued bigotry and hate
against Asian Americans, Congresswoman
Grace Meng
announced on Tuesday, May 4,
that she is reintroducing legislation
to promote the teaching
and learning of Asian Pacific
American history in schools
across the United States.
The Teaching Asian Pacific
American History Act
(H.R. 2283) seeks to provide an
understanding of the history,
contributions and experiences
of Asian Pacific Americans to
help eliminate the discrimination
and prejudice that the
Asian American community
has been forced to endure
not just over the past year,
but for decades. These teachings
include the many critical
achievements and vast contributions
that those of Asian
and Pacific Islander descent
have made to the U.S., and
the struggles and racism that
has long been directed toward
Asian Pacific Americans.
For generations, according
to Meng, Asian Pacific American
history has been poorly
represented or excluded from
the K-12 education system and
social studies textbooks.
“Asian Pacific American
history is an integral part of
American history, and this
must be reflected in what
our children learn in school.
Asian Americans have always
been seen as invisible or as foreigners,”
Meng said.
According to Meng, the effort
should not be limited to
the Asian Pacific American
community, and that all communities
of color must be better
represented in the history
lessons taught to students,
and expanding school curriculums.
The Teaching Asian Pacific
American History Act
would require grant applications
from Presidential and
Congressional Academies to
include Asian Pacific American
history as part of their
American history and civics
programs offered to students
and teachers. Every year, hundreds
of teachers and students
attend these academies, which
are funded by the U.S. Department
of Education, for an indepth
study in American history
and civics. Presidential
Academies are designed for
teachers seeking to strengthen
their knowledge of American
history, and Congressional
Academies for students who
aim to enrich their understanding
of the subject.
Meng’s legislation would
also encourage the inclusion
of Asian Pacific American history
in national and state tests
administered through the National
Assessment of Educational
Progress, and promote
collaboration with the Smithsonian
Institution’s Asian
Pacific American Center to
develop innovative programming
regarding Asian Pacific
American history.
Meng’s bill is pending before
the House Committee on
Education and Labor.
Congresswoman Grace Meng announces the official opening of the
Restaurant Revitalization Fund.
File photo by Gabriele Holtermann
Senator Toby Ann Stavisky (c.) speaks at a press conference at
Real Playground in Rego Park, where an Asian American teenager
was attacked. Courtesy of Stavisky’s offi ce
Stavisky announces legislation
to help combat hate crimes
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