Racism Soars: ‘South Asians Are Under Attack!’ Alarming Rise in Hate Linked to Kamala Harris and Usha Vance’s Success

Racism against South Asians has skyrocketed over the past year, with online hate and threats of violence doubling as Vice President Kamala Harris and Usha Vance, the wife of Republican vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), rise to prominence. A new report from Stop AAPI Hate has sounded the alarm, revealing a troubling surge in anti-South Asian slurs, slogans, and xenophobic rhetoric, particularly as both women become more visible on the national stage.

The report found that from January 2023 to August 2024, the number of anti-South Asian comments surged from 23,000 to over 46,000. The steep increase in online hate coincides with Harris’s role as the first South Asian vice president and Usha Vance’s presence as the spouse of a leading Republican figure, both of whom have drawn the ire of racist groups online.

“We are extremely alarmed by the wave of hate that South Asian communities are facing today, both on and offline,” said Manjusha Kulkarni, co-founder of Stop AAPI Hate and executive director of AAPI Equity Alliance. “With the upcoming election giving our communities even greater visibility, it’s critical that we sound the alarm.”

The report reveals a stark reality: as South Asians gain more visibility in politics and public life, the backlash has intensified. August 2024 marked a peak, with 973 threats of violence directed toward Asian communities, 75% of which targeted South Asians. The rise in online threats against this community outpaced other groups, with Asian communities seeing a 52% increase in threats, compared to 45% for Jewish communities and 14% for Black communities.

The most controversial aspect of this surge is the link between the visibility of Harris and Usha Vance and the rise in hate. Both women, daughters of Indian immigrants, have become symbolic figures in the crosshairs of xenophobic and racist attacks. Online threats often feature harmful rhetoric such as “Go back to where you came from” and claims that people of Indian descent are “taking over.”

“This xenophobia hasn’t appeared out of thin air,” said Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), another prominent South Asian leader. “We can clearly trace it back to the hateful rhetoric and even slurs used by people in positions of power to otherize our community and so many others.”

While the rise in hate is alarming, it has also galvanized the South Asian community. Chintan Patel, executive director of the South Asian Impact Foundation, noted that the increased hate has motivated more South Asians to turn out at the polls. “The rise in hate has only strengthened our resolve to exercise our right at the ballot box and vote for leaders who will fight for a more inclusive democracy.”

Despite the challenges, South Asian voters remain committed to making their voices heard, with the upcoming election being a pivotal moment for the community. As hate crimes continue to rise, leaders like Harris and Usha Vance serve as both a source of inspiration and, unfortunately, a lightning rod for those who seek to divide through xenophobia.

The fight against rising racism continues, but so too does the growing influence of the South Asian community in American politics.