The COVID–19 Hate Crimes Act fights the surge in crimes against Asians.
Yet 63 Republicans voted against the bill. Which districts and what do they represent?
What's behind the surge in racist violence? What can voters do to elect people who will fight (and not stoke) racism?
Meet the 63 Republicans who voted against the bill
We took the list of Republicans voting against the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act and created a spreadsheet which also included their contact details from CLERK - U.S. House of Representatives.
This information was mapped using ArcGIS Online and overlaid with details of how many Asians were in those districts. This map can be freely shared with this link ( https://arcg.is/1bGjH8 ) or embedded in a website with this line of code < style>.embed-container {position: relative; padding-bottom: 80%; height: 0; max-width: 100%;} .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container iframe{position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;} small{position: absolute; z-index: 40; bottom: 0; margin-bottom: -15px;}
This is the basic map that acts as a building block for the StoryMap. It has all the facts without the storytelling components. Clicking on the map displays the Republican and the underlying details of the county including how many Asians live there.
Designing the StoryMap
We then used the free StoryMaps app to create a digital story with more background information, images, videos and links to actions that voters can take. The StoryMap can be freely shared with this link (https://arcg.is/0mP99L0) or embedded in a website with this line of code. < iframe src="https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/14f34e3d96914f57a945b9480164d188" width="100%" height="500px" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen allow="geolocation">
Cartoons cut to the chase
Cartoons distill issues like nothing else, and I included three in the StoryMap licensed from Political Cartoons.
Call to action
The StoryMap includes specific suggestions on how Asian voters can exert their business, financial and voting power to curb racism by electing officials aligned with their values.
Use your money and job for good. "Major corporations influence the political process through donations. For example, most major companies are members U.S. Chamber of Commerce which uses their dues to influence policy. Many corporations hide whether they are members and how much money they contribute.
Shareholders can create more transparency for corporate political spending. Companies like Amazon, Walmart, Exxon Mobil, and United Airlines will face shareholder resolutions that call on the company to disclose its indirect political spending, including contributions to trade associations and political non-profits. These resolutions are non-binding but can have a significant impact if they receive the support of more than 50% of shareholders. A resolution with majority support must be taken seriously because a majority of shareholders can also vote to replace the board of directors.
BlackRock and Vanguard are the two largest fund managers in the world. They both manage at least $16 trillion in assets –– that’s equivalent to more than “three-fifths of the U.S. GDP.” Owning shares in the majority of public companies, these companies wield tremendous influence over corporate behavior. A Vanguard or BlackRock vote can make or break most shareholder resolutions." - Popular Information
Do you work at or invest in firms that fund hate? Demand accountability.