The outcome of the 2024 Presidential Election has millions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders nationwide bracing for the dangers of the next Trump administration.
At our recent virtual town hall, we brought together movement leaders, elected officials, and everyday people to answer questions many of us have, including:
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- What is at stake over the next four years?
- How can we protect ourselves and the people we love?
- How can we get involved in the fight against hate and Trumpism?
You can view a recording of the town hall here. Keep reading for a list of resources we shared on our virtual town hall to learn more about the threats we could face under the next Trump administration; the information we need to protect our civil rights and mental health; and the direct actions we can take to keep our communities safe.
WHAT’S AT STAKE OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS?
PROJECT 2025: THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S POLITICAL AGENDA
Project 2025 is a far-right extremist, authoritarian blueprint for the remaking of the United States. And now that Donald Trump is preparing to return to office, it’s becoming clear that Project 2025 is the foundation for his administration’s agenda.
These policy proposals aim to tear down the rights and freedoms of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and other targeted communities by eliminating common pathways to legal immigration, gutting civil rights protections, and introducing tariffs that will make living expenses soar for working families.
Learn More:
Read our full analysis to learn more about the impact of Project 2025 — and how it could impact AAPI communities.
THE CURRENT STATE OF ANTI-AA/PI HATE
During his first term, Stop AAPI Hate found that Trump fueled a dramatic rise of anti-AA/PI hate when he recklessly blamed Asian people for the COVID-19 pandemic. Our latest research reveals that Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders continue to face alarming levels of racism and discrimination today.
Our most recent report, Empowered/Imperiled, shows that anti-South Asian racism increased during this election cycle, reaching its highest point when South Asian political figures — like Kamala Harris and Usha Vance — came into the spotlight.
Meanwhile, our inaugural State of Anti-AA/PI Hate report shows that a staggering half of all AA/PI adults have recently experienced an act of hate. But there is hope. We also found that experiences with hate motivate AA/PI people to take action against racism.
The implications are clear. If Trump allows racist and anti-immigrant political rhetoric to define his second term, as it did during his first, we must brace for a rise of anti-AA/PI hate and come together to rise up against it.
Read More:
Learn about the impact of anti-South Asian hate and new research on the growth of anti-South Asian hate in extremist online spaces.
Learn how AA/PI people experience hate, the impact on AA/PI victims, and key motivators for political activation and civic engagement.
HOW CAN WE PROTECT OURSELVES?
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS
Civil rights protect all of us — no matter who is in the White House. Keep reading for multilingual resources on your rights as an activist, an immigrant, and while interacting with law enforcement.
Disclaimer: These resources are being provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice.
FOR PROTESTS, MARCHES, AND DEMONSTRATIONS
Right to Protest Fact Sheet (Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund): This printable fact sheet covers topics like how to protest safely and engage with law enforcement. It also includes referrals to local (New York City) and national bail funds.
Available in English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese.
Protestor’s Rights Resource (American Civil Liberties Union): This digital and printable guide offers best practices for organizing a protest, attending a protest, and other scenarios for activists and demonstrators.
Available in English and Spanish.
Know Your Rights While Protesting Fact Sheet (Council on American-Islamic Relations Philadelphia): This printable fact sheet includes know your rights information for immigrants and citizens alike.
Available in English (CAIR’s multilingual hub provides additional know your rights resources in Bengali, Bosnian, Dari, Farsi, Pashto, Somali, and Urdu).
Know Your Rights While Protesting (Immigrant Edition) (National Immigration Law Center): A downloadable resource describing your rights and best practices when it comes to digital security and interacting with law enforcement.
Available in English, Spanish, Arabic, Simplified Chinese, Korean, Tagalog, and Vietnamese.
Protesting Guide (National Lawyers Guild): This printable booklet is a comprehensive guide for activists at political demonstrations and marches. In addition to know your rights information, it also includes referrals to bail funds and legal assistance.
Available in English, Spanish, Arabic, and Farsi.
On-Campus Protesting Guide (National Lawyers Guild): This printable resource offers ideas for low, medium, and high-risk actions and best practices for student protestors.
Available in English.
FOR IMMIGRANTS
Know Your Rights with ICE Fact Sheet (Immigrant Defense Project): This fact sheet tells you what to do in the event ICE shows up at your home or stops you on the street or in your car. Printable Flyers, infographics, posters, and booklets available.
Available in English, Spanish, Arabic, Bangla, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Hindi, Korean, Punjabi, Tagalog, and Urdu.
Know Your Rights with ICE Fact Sheet (National Immigration Law Center): This downloadable fact sheet and website describes your rights in the event ICE visits your home.
Available in English, Spanish, Arabic, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, and Korean.
Preparing For An Immigration Raid Resource Page (Informed Immigrant): This page has videos and suggested resources on what to do in the event of an ICE raid at home or at work.
Available in English.
Know Your Rights with ICE (Asian Americans Advancing Justice Atlanta): This page has downloadable social media graphics and printable mini-cards to use and share in the event of an ICE raid at home.
Available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Hindi, Khmer, Korean, Thai, Urdu, Vietnamese, Bengali, Burmese, Dar/Farsi, Gujarati, Nepali, Karen, Pashto.
Volunteer Guide (Immigration Advocates Network): This interactive map shows volunteering opportunities by state to assist immigrant-serving organizations.
Available in English.
National Immigration Legal Services Directory (Immigration Advocates Network): This interactive map shows nonprofit organizations that provide free or low-cost immigration legal services by state.
Available in English.
FOR POLICE INTERACTIONS
Know Your Rights When Stopped By Police Resource (American Civil Liberties Union): This online resource outlines various scenarios and what to do when you are stopped by law enforcement. Scenarios include: stopped by the police in public, pulled over by the police, the police are at your door, arrested by the police, and the police violated your rights.
Available in English and Spanish.
Know Your Rights When Encountering Questions From Law Enforcement Fact Sheet (American Civil Liberties Union): This is a printable resource for knowing your rights when encountering questions from law enforcement. Questions include: do I have to answer questions asked by law enforcement officers, are there any exceptions to the general rule that I do not have to answer questions, can I talk to a lawyer before answering questions, and more.
Available in English, Spanish, Arabic, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Hindi, Farsi, and Urdu.
Know Your Rights During Law Enforcement Interactions Guide (Council on American-Islamic Relations California): This short blog post describes your rights when visited by federal law enforcement agents and best practices when stopped by police officers on the street, in your car, when arrested and taken to a police station, or if mistreated.
Available in English.
Know Your Rights During Police Interactions Youth Guide (National Center for Youth Law): This printable guide for youth shows what to do when interacting with a police officer, sheriff, or school resource officer, including your rights when police stop, detain, question, or search you. Note: Although this resource specifically refers to a California law (SB 203), it contains best practices applicable regardless of state.
Available in English.
Information for Scientists, Scholars and Researchers Contacted for their Alleged Connections with China (Asian Americans Advancing Justice): This printable resource describes your rights when approached by law enforcement, such as the FBI. It contains specific tips for scientists, scholars, and researchers who are questioned by their employer, funder, or the government about their connections to China.
Available in English.
CONFRONT MIS/DISINFORMATION
Online misinformation is a growing problem — one that runs rampant across AAPI immigrant communities. Keep reading for multilingual fact checks, news literacy trainings, and other resources to stop the spread of misinformation and disinformation. (For related resources, visit our Community Resources page.)
FACT CHECKING
(Chinese Fact Check)
(Vietnamese Fact Check)
(Hindi and Bengali Fact Check)
(Tagalog Fact Check)
TRAININGS
News Literacy Test: This educational hub features simple exercises and activities to increase your media literacy, and protect yourself from misinformation and disinformation.
PROTECT YOUR MENTAL HEALTH
Caring for your mental health is an essential first step in showing up to defend our communities. Keep reading if you or someone you know is in need of mental health assistance in light of the election results. (For related resources, visit our Community Resources page.)
HEALING CIRCLES
- Post-Election Listening Sessions (National AAPI Mental Health Association): Free and virtual sessions are available for all AAPI participants through 2025.
- Peer-Led Wellness Circles (Asian Mental Health Project): Virtual events for queer people, caregivers, and other parts of the Asian American community.
- Queer Support Group (UTOPIA Washington): A monthly peer support group for LGBTQIA+ people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and cultures.
MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDER DIRECTORIES
- Directory of AA/PI Mental Health Providers (National AAPI Mental Health Association)
- Directory of Asian Therapists (Asian Mental Health Collective)
- Directory of South Asian Mental Health Providers (South Asian Mental Health Initiative & Network)
TRAININGS
Mental Health First Aid Course: This virtual first aid course teaches AAPI people how to assist others experiencing a mental health crisis.
HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED?
REPORT AN ACT OF HATE
We operate the nation’s largest reporting center tracking acts of hate against Asian American and Pacific Islander (AA/PI) communities.
Available in English, Lao, Tagalog, Tongan, Hmong, Vietnamese, Thai, Korean, Chinese, Hindi, Khmer, Punjabi, Samoan, Japanese and Marshallese.
SIGN THE PLEDGE
With Trump’s re-election, Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and other targeted communities are bracing for another four years of escalating hate and oppression. The President’s own words and actions make clear that his administration will abuse its power to fuel hate and advance an extreme agenda at the expense of communities like ours.
Join us in pledging to stop anti-AAPI hate, protect our rights and freedoms, and take a stand against Trump’s dangerous, divisive vision for the future of our country. Those who sign the pledge will receive information from Stop AAPI Hate about direct actions everyday people can take, including petitions to sign, guidance for contacting your legislators, information about protests and rallies, and more.
It will take all of us working together to confront and defeat the threat that Trumpism presents to AAPI communities. Thank you for joining the movement — and doing what you can to forge a more united, equitable path forward for all.
We need your help to defend Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders from attacks, now more than ever.
Your donation will help us defend the civil rights of AAPI communities, continue to document anti-AAPI hate through our reporting center, and push back against the racism and xenophobia we know will be coming from the Trump administration.
Post-Election Resources to Defend Against Trumpism
Critical resources and opportunities to take action ahead of the incoming Trump administration