Pepper Spray for My Community in Chicago

Violence against Asians, especially the elderly, in the U.S. has surged drastically since the start of the pandemic. To understand how serious this issue is, Asians are scared to go to Chinatown, a community built to give a safe space for its community members.

 

Our community is often a target because many of our community members do not have the physical capability to defend themselves or sufficient English proficiency to report these assaults to the police. As a result, our justice system fails to punish the perpetrators.

 

Therefore, in response to this disturbing wave of xenophobia and hate crimes, we are raising money to purchase and distribute pepper spray for free to the members of our Chinatown community in Chicago. In addition, we believe it is crucial to have the resources to equip ourselves with non-lethal self-defense weapons to defend ourselves in Anti-Asian attacks and other dangerous situations.

 

Teaming up with Project: VISION, an after-school youth center serving Greater Chinatown and surrounding communities, we hope to provide at least 100 pepper sprays for the community. We will distribute the pepper spray during May, Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, to recognize the contributions and influence of Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans to the history, culture, and achievements of the United States.