Have you ever spotted someone being harassed, but didn't know how to help? The Chicago nonprofit, Asian Americans Advancing Justice is working to solve this problem.
It's happening everywhere. Not only in America but all over the world, Asians are experiencing a surge in hate crimes against them. Much like hate crimes rose against Muslims after 9/11, Asian Americans feel unsafe as they experience increased hostility and anger towards them since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
In Chicago, Mayor Lori Lightfoot has announced an increase in police presence to prevent crime against Asian-American and Pacific Islanders. But police can't be everywhere all of the time.
To show regular citizens how they can make a difference, Asian Americans Advancing Justice has begun leading webinars to teach the public how to safely intervene when they see harassment or a hate crime occurring.
Advancing Justice has partnered with the New York-based nonprofit Hollaback! and the Council on American Islamic Relations-Chicago (CAIR) to create a bystander intervention training program for the community.
What is the program?
It's an hour-long online course where participants can learn how to intervene and talk through various scenarios. Often, when we witness a potentially dangerous situation, we must make a quick decision as to how to act.
By letting participants play out possible scenarios, and discussing the pros and cons of different reactions, this Chicago-based program can help people find the coping tools needed to help diffuse tense situations.
During the training, participants learn:
- What are the five D's (distract, delegate, document, delay, and direct), and how to use them
- How to create a distraction when you see a victim being harrassed
- How to help a victim shortly after the crime was committed
- What are the types of aggression Asian-Americans are experiencing
- How can a bystander make a positive impact on a situation
- Roleplay and practice the five Ds in various scenarios
Why is this training necessary?
You may think it's instinctual to help someone in need and wonder why this training is necessary. For one thing, when you're in a difficult situation, you are much better able to act when you've prepared for it. And learning strategies for diffusing a potential crisis can help stop violence before it starts.
But there is also something else that sometimes occurs among crowds of people. It's a psychological phenomenon called the bystander effect that can leave witnesses to even violent crimes standing idly by, doing nothing.
It's the strangest thing, but the more people that are in a crowd, the less likely anyone is to act. It's because as the number of people goes up, our feelings of personal responsibility go down. Basically, everyone thinks that someone else is going to do something. And nobody acts.
Once you're aware of this phenomenon, you will feel responsible when you see bullying or harassment occurring. It often takes just one person speaking up for others to feel braver and follow suit.
When you step in against a harasser, you're putting yourself in danger. But by learning techniques for bringing down the tension when dealing with hostile people, you can reduce your chances of getting hurt.
How we can all help
The Chicago Advancing Justice seminars are designed for everyone. You don't have to be Asian-American to attend. We all need to pitch in and help against racial prejudice together.
Remember, if you see a dangerous situation unfolding to use your judgment and stay safe. Call for help if you need it, and make sure that you and the person that is being harassed can stay physically safe.
If you're interested in learning more about bystander training in Chicago, you can find their full schedule and register for free at the Advancing Justice website.
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