AAPI Youth Rally Organized by BPC 7th Graders

AAPI Youth Rally_1

The Asian American Pacific Island Youth Rising Rally & March in support of the AAPI community, organized by BPC 7th graders Mina Fedor and her friends Anna Hill, Bee Norton Tsang, Juno Yu, and Mila Cavagnaro, drew over 1,200 attendees to Berkeley’s Aquatic Park on Sunday, March 28.

Student speakers protesting violence against the AAPI community were joined by Berkeley City Councilmembers Rashi Kesarwani & Rigel Robinson, Jane Bahk, author of Juno’s Jar, Elaine Dang, Board Member, Act to Change and Annie Wang, Community Relations, #HATEISAVIRUS who all spoke out against hate crimes.

Hundreds of rally-goers then marched to the pedestrian overpass over I-80 and held signs over the highway, drawing honks of support from traffic below.

“We as Youth have a chance to build our future, to raise our voices, and demand change…Today, my call to action is for each of you to take one lesson home. With that call to action, make your voices heard. This [rally] began with a little idea. At first, I wanted to hang a sign on the footbridge overlooking the highway with a message for our AAPI community. I didn’t imagine that it would turn out to be what it is today.” – Mina Fedor

If you would like to read more about the event, please see the media coverage below:

Berkeleyside
San Jose Mercury News
KPIX SF Bay Area
Daily Cal