Small Businesses stand in solidarity with AAPI business owners, customers and neighbors

On the alarming rise of hate crimes against the Asian-American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community, including attacks on Asian-owned businesses, Main Street Alliance leadership had this to say:

“The member businesses of the Main Street Alliance and our fellow small business owners throughout the country are deeply disturbed and saddened by the increasing hateful rhetoric and violence aimed at our Asian neighbors and small business members. This swell of hate and fear permeating our national dialogue is dangerous, as we saw just yesterday with a deadly attack in Atlanta. We believe it must be met head-on with clear statements of principle from local business owners because we are leaders in our communities. And we urge federal agencies to swiftly implement the White House’s Memorandum Condemning and Combating Racism, Xenophobia, and Intolerance Against Asian Americans and Pacific Islands in the United States.

America must be a place where people from all nations, races, genders, and creeds seeking freedom and opportunity feel welcome and can build safe, prosperous lives for themselves and their families. When politicians and pundits target people in our communities for political gain, when they fan the flames of hatred and fear, when they attack our neighbors, friends, family members, fellow business owners, employees, and customers, we must stand up and make our voices and our values heard loud and clear: 

We stand united against hate and violence. We stand with our Asian neighbors and family. We stand with refugees and immigrants in our community and our Latine, Muslim and African American community members. We respect women and we value Black lives. We welcome everyone. There is no place for hate in our businesses, our homes, or in our country.”

Over the past six years Main Street Alliance members have supported these statements by hanging All Are Welcome Here signs and posters, declaring #HateHasNoBizHere in their business windows. If you feel safe enough to do so and would like to show solidarity, you can download a poster for free.