June 2, 2025
New report paints sobering picture of widespread anti-AA/PI hate fueled by anti-immigrant rhetoric and deepening systemic discrimination during heated election year
NATIONWIDE — Stop AAPI Hate today released its second annual State of Anti-AA/PI Hate report, which found that in 2024, 53% of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AA/PI) adults reported experiencing hate, including a staggering 74% of young adults aged 18-29. This compares to 49% of AA/PI adults who experienced hate in 2023. The data from the new report is based on the coalition’s latest nationally representative survey of nearly 1,600 AA/PI adults conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago from January 7-15, 2025. The new findings confirm that anti-AA/PI hate remained widespread and deeply harmful last year amid a contentious general election rife with xenophobic, racist political rhetoric.
The publication of the coalition’s report closely follows the U.S. Department of Justice’s unlawful decision to suddenly strip away over $810 million in public safety grants, impacting hundreds of community organizations working to stop hate, prevent violence, and support victims. Included was the termination of Stop AAPI Hate’s own $2 million grant, allocated by Congress two years ago as anti-AA/PI hate acts surged in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Stop AAPI Hate’s report illustrates the ongoing threat of racism and xenophobia to AA/PIs’ safety and well-being – making the Trump administration’s illegal funding cuts not only unjust but also dangerously counterproductive in the fight against hate and violence.
According to the survey, 40% of AA/PI adults who experienced a hate act in 2024 did not share their experience with anyone, not even friends or family, and 77% never reported the incident to a formal authority. Over a third (38%) of AA/PI adults who experienced a hate act said they needed some form of support but did not receive it, and 68% of those who received support said at least one form of support did not meet their needs.
Despite these harrowing findings, AA/PI adults continue to remain highly engaged and activated to combat hate. 83% of those surveyed expressed concerns about the nation’s current racial climate; 82% are optimistic about AA/PI communities power to end racism; and 67% are motivated to get involved in justice and equity efforts. These findings not only underscore the severity of the state of hate today and its devastating impact on AA/PI and all Americans lives, but also communities’ power and fortitude to fight back against hate in the midst of a political climate that seeks to instill fear and harm.
“When you’re attacked and then discouraged from seeking help, the trauma only deepens,” said Manjusha Kulkarni, Co-founder of Stop AAPI Hate. “Our new data makes clear that public institutions are failing to meet AA/PI communities’ needs. And rather than supporting the very organizations that provide vital resources to fight hate and safeguard our communities, we are seeing federal institutions like the DOJ pulling back and reducing critical funding that has already helped make a difference.”
Since Stop AAPI Hate’s inception in 2020, community reports to its hate act reporting center have played a pivotal role in documenting the vast types of hate AA/PIs are experiencing everyday. As with accounts shared in Stop AAPI Hate’s post-election report, the accounts in the current report show how anti-immigrant sentiment, fueled by Trump’s anti-immigrant agenda, is a driving factor of hate across the country. The new report includes stories of AA/PIs being harassed by offenders who question their identity and place in America, telling them to “go back to where they came from,” threatening deportation, and using racist slurs to suggest they don’t belong in this country.
“Me, my Asian girlfriend and Asian roommate have been targeted by our neighbor since we moved in. She has called us racial slurs, threatened violence such as stabbing us, sprayed chemicals on our doors (on video), created anonymous text messages and emails saying how ch-nks should be exterminated and really the list goes on. We have tried police reports and restraining orders and nothing has worked.” – Man, Chinese, California
“A person was saying hate speech in a public area. When he saw me enter a restaurant, he said, ‘Enjoy your last meal. You are getting deported.’” – Man, Taiwanese, California
“I was working at my store and a guy came in and started abusing me badly in front of other customers, saying I’m not welcomed here and calling me brown monkey and n-gger and many more bad words and asking me to fight with him and also disrespecting my culture and religion.” – Man, Indian, Virginia
“While walking to the train station … a man leaned towards my face and said ‘I can’t wait until Trump gets reelected so you all can go back to where you came from.’” – Woman, Chinese, New York
Other key findings from the 2024 State of Hate report include:
- Harassment (48%) and institutional discrimination (24%) were the most common types of hate acts experienced.
- Seventy-two percent of young AA/PI adults (ages 18–29) experienced a hate act in 2024.
- Seventy-seven percent of those who experienced a hate act did not report to a formal authority or agency.
- Seventy percent of those who experienced hate reported frequent stress, and 59% reported frequent anxiety.
At large, the report makes the case that simply encouraging reporting is not enough. All actors – electeds, philanthropy, community leaders — must continue to work together to ensure greater investment in culturally competent mental health care, trauma recovery services, community-based systems of support, and policies that prevent hate and help victims heal.
Last week, Stop AAPI Hate joined a new class action lawsuit against the DOJ for its attack on critical resources for communities most often targeted with hate and violence, including people of color, immigrants, and other vulnerable groups. The lawsuit was filed by Democracy Forward on behalf of more than 200 nonprofits committed to preserving justice, safety, and dignity for all.
“We joined this lawsuit against the DOJ because our communities are under attack, as our latest report makes clear — and we refuse to allow Trump and his administration to silence our collective fight to protect the safety, freedoms, and dignity of AA/PIs and all people,” said Cynthia Choi Co-Founder of Stop AAPI Hate. “This lawsuit is also a call to action – a moment for all who believe in justice and equality to stand with AA/PI-led organizations like ours. At a time when resources to combat hate are disappearing, our resolve is stronger than ever. We’re not backing down — and we urge our allies to join us.”
Stop AAPI Hate is committed to fighting back against hateful rhetoric and policies and raising awareness of how these policies impact our communities. If you have experienced an act of hate, report it here.
Read the full data analysis here for more information.
