October 9, 2024
Anti-South Asian hate in extremist online spaces rose steadily from January 2023 – August 2024, peaking as Kamala Harris and Usha Vance took the spotlight
Stop AAPI Hate sounds alarm: Rise in online hate signals rising hate on the ground
NATIONWIDE — Today, Stop AAPI Hate released a new report, “Empowered/Imperiled: The Rise of South Asian Representation and Anti-South Asian Racism,” that shows South Asian people in the U.S. are facing alarmingly high levels of hate ahead of the 2024 elections. It features an examination of online hate against South Asian communities in monitored Domestic Violent Extremist (DVE) spaces in the U.S. between January 2023 and August 2024, revealing a rise in anti-South Asian online hate over this time period as well as a spike in hate in August 2024 that coincides with the political ascendance of Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris and Usha Vance, wife of Republican vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance.
Key findings from the examination of DVE spaces in the U.S. from January 1, 2023 to August 31, 2024 include:
- There has been a steady rise in anti-Asian hate in extremist online spaces from January 2023 to August 2024. Among Asian American subgroups, South Asian communities were targeted with the highest volume of anti-Asian online hostility, with 60% of slurs directed at them.
- Anti-South Asian slurs in extremist online spaces doubled last year, from about 23,000 to over 46,000, and peaked in August 2024.
- Online threats of violence towards Asian communities reached their highest levels in August 2024, after Usha Vance appeared at the Republican National Convention and Kamala Harris was declared a presidential nominee at the Democratic National Convention.
- 973 threats of violence against Asians were observed in August 2024 alone — a 17% increase from the six month baseline. Of these threats, 75% were directed at South Asian communities.
- The growth rate of anti-Asian online threats of violence, including toward South Asian communities, is outpacing that of other groups. Online threats of violence increased by: 52% toward Asian communities, 45% towards Jewish communities, 14% towards Black communities, and 10% towards women.
A number of stories Stop AAPI Hate received in 2024 through its reporting center demonstrate that the anti-South Asian slurs and stereotypes found in extremist online spaces mirror language used during offline attacks on South Asian people. They include words, phrases, and sentiments such as: “India is a slimy country,” “Go back to India,” “terrorist,” and “dirty Indians.”
“We are extremely alarmed by the wave of hate that South Asian communities are facing today, both on and offline,” said Manjusha Kulkarni, co-Founder of Stop AAPI Hate and executive director of AAPI Equity Alliance. “South Asian people make up the fastest growing segment of the Asian American and Pacific Islander population. With the upcoming election giving our communities even greater visibility, it’s critical that we sound the alarm.”
Existing research suggests that the occurrence of acts of hate online – including in extremist spaces – correlates with the occurrence of acts of hate and hate crimes offline. It typically takes months or even years for data on in-person hate acts to be released, so online spaces serve as an important early warning system for what’s happening in real time to people offline as well.
The growing prevalence of anti-South Asian online hate in DVE spaces in 2023 and 2024 tracks with the rise in South Asian political representation this election cycle. In addition to Kamala Harris and Usha Vance’s growing public profiles this year, Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy also took the spotlight during the Republican primaries.
“The pre-election surge in anti-South Asian hate stems from a toxic political climate in which a growing number of leaders and far-right extremist voices continue to spew bigoted political rhetoric and disinformation,” said Cynthia Choi, co-founder of Stop AAPI Hate and co-executive director of Chinese for Affirmative Action. “It’s clear that their hate-fueled rhetoric has sparked a wave of racism and discrimination against South Asian people ahead of the elections — but we cannot assume this hate will stop once the elections are over. In fact, we’re bracing for a further rise in hate to come.”
Earlier research has shown that anti-Asian political rhetoric from leaders and other prominent voices stokes acts of hate, including offline and online hate. Stop AAPI Hate’s recent examination of online hate found statements that reflect such xenophobic and racist political rhetoric from various public figures, such as the phrase “go back to where you came from” and claims that Indian people are “taking over.” Relatedly, Stop AAPI Hate has received reports of attacks in which South Asian political figures are mentioned, such as: “Are you voting for the b-tch, Kamala Harris? […] You b-tches shouldn’t even be in this country.”
In addition to harmful election-related political rhetoric, South Asian communities today also continue to be harmed by intensifying anti-immigrant rhetoric from public figures as well as racist and Islamophobic rhetoric surrounding violence in the Middle East, including in Gaza and Lebanon.
The report also includes newly-disaggregated survey data from a report that Stop AAPI Hate released in September 2024, which reveals 43% of South Asian adults experienced an act of hate in 2023. Considering the current political climate and the ongoing backlash against increased South Asian political representation, the percentage is likely higher for 2024.
The report was released at a virtual briefing with South Asian U.S. Representatives Ami Bera, Pramila Jayapal, and Raja Krishnamoorthi as well as South Asian Impact Foundation Executive Director Chintan Patel.
“It is horrifying to see increasing rates of South Asian hate, especially as a backlash to the successes of individuals in our community,” said Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, (WA-07). This xenophobia hasn’t appeared out of thin air though. We can clearly trace it back to the hateful rhetoric and even slurs used by people in positions of power to otherize our community and so many others. That is why today we are sounding the alarm to say that as a country, we can and must do better.”
“As South Asian communities gain greater political representation, we are also confronting a disturbing surge in hate and violence directed toward our community,” said Congressman Ami Bera, M.D. (CA-06). “The recent attack on a Hindu temple in my district is just one example of the hate and threats targeting South Asian communities across America. In today’s contentious political climate, the presence of South Asian leaders is more important than ever–– not just to be seen, but to strongly push back against bigotry and ensure that South Asians are protected, respected, and treated with dignity in every corner of our nation.”
“While the increase in South Asian political representation has sparked a hate-fueled backlash, it has also galvanized South Asian communities to become even more civically engaged,” said Chintan Patel, Executive Director of the South Asian Impact Foundation. “As the fastest-growing voting blocs in many states, South Asians are turning out in powerful numbers. The rise in hate has only strengthened our resolve to exercise our right at the ballot box, and vote for leaders who will fight for a more inclusive democracy and champion diversity as one its greatest strengths.”
Read the full report here for more information, including: deeper insights into the data on anti-Asian online hate in DVE spaces, commissioned from social impact group Moonshot; solutions and recommendations for leaders and community members; first-hand accounts of relevant anti-South Asian hate acts submitted to Stop AAPI Hate’s reporting center; and more details on survey findings from September 2024 on the state of anti-South Asian hate and civic and political participation.
