At the highest levels of our federal government, the coronavirus has been associated with anti-Asian rhetoric that has fueled bias and acts of hate.

Labeling coronavirus as a Chinese or Wuhan virus perpetuates ugly scapegoating, dismisses the virus as something exotic and foreign and diverts attention from our country’s shockingly inadequate and delayed response to the spread of this disease.

In just one month, from March 19 to April 23, an online reporting tool launched by the Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council in Los Angeles aggregated nearly 1,500 reports of discriminatory acts directed against people of Asian descent. Reports include both physical and verbal assaults and have come from 45 states. The FBI has confirmed that incidences of hate crimes directed toward people of Asian descent are increasing. It is important to keep in mind that such crimes are typically underreported so the true scope of the problem is likely much more significant.

Unfortunately, anti-Asian and anti-Asian American racism and xenophobia is not a new phenomenon in the United States. But as the coronavirus pandemic escalates, so does the harassment, discrimination and violence directed at these communities. More than 30% of Americans have witnessed someone blaming Asian people for the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new survey conducted for the Center for Public Integrity.

While the spike in discriminatory acts is national, we can not and should not pretend that this anti-Asian bias is not happening here in Northampton, nor allow anti-Asian rhetoric to become normalized. As city councilors we are hearing reports from residents of Asian descent that they are being targeted for harassment in the Valley. Incidents of being watched, followed, stared at and verbally harassed result in our Asian American neighbors having to be in a constant state of hyper self-awareness and vigilance when they are in public, taking a huge emotional toll.

People who are targeted by race-based bias and hate experience trauma. Studies show that the trauma experienced by those targeted in acts of hate is significantly lessened when others call it out, denounce it and support those who have been targeted. Racists are attempting to recruit the rest of us into their mindset to justify their behavior. Pushing back against their narrative can demobilize racist attacks significantly.

With this in mind, we are pleased to report that a resolution passed by the Northampton’s City Council last week denouncing anti-Asian, anti-Asian American and xenophobic discrimination, taking an opportunity to show our support for our community members who are being targeted. The council did this in response to local reports of harassment as well as to condemn the anti-Asian rhetoric that has emanated from the top levels of our government, dangerously emboldening discriminatory acts of racism and scapegoating.

We are proud that the council has approved this resolution. We are sending a clear message that the Northampton is here for our friends, local business owners, neighbors and community members who are of Asian descent and that we refute anti-Asian rhetoric and bias in all forms.

The resolution also calls on the United States leadership to combat misinformation and discrimination that puts Asian Americans at risk and to commit to building a more inclusive, diverse and tolerant society.

U.S. Rep. Grace Meng and U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris have introduced similar resolutions in Congress. As local leaders we stand with them in denouncing the anti-Asian rhetoric and hate spiking in the age of coronavirus. As a community, we should all take every opportunity to reduce the impact of race-based trauma for our neighbors of Asian descent by speaking out against anti-Asian bias at every turn and ensuring that it is not sanctioned or welcomed here.

Karen Foster represents Ward 2 and Rachel Maiore Ward 7 on the Northampton City Council.