Stronger Together
We have looked on in horror as acts of hate continue happening across the nation. Asian Americans are being targeted, but so are members of the Latino, Immigrant, Black, LGBT+, and Religious communities. Supporting these victims and their communities is a top priority of LAvsHate and our partners.
To address the increasing wave of anti-Asian hate, we have partnered with local artist and renowned cartoonist MariNaomi to produce a larger-than-life comic strip as part of the effort to elevate awareness about the Asian American & Pacific Islander experience in Los Angeles.
But the illustrated piece is more than just a response to hate, it is a demonstration of what is possible when community members come together to stand in solidarity in the face of bigotry, heal from it, and recognize that by supporting each other we become stronger.
The building-sized mural depicts both the personal and the community experience of being targeted based on race - and the journey from hate to healing. "This project came to me right when I thought I was at my breaking point, after a woman who looked a lot like my obaachan got hate-crimed in my hometown. It feels good to do something, to make art about it. I was starting to feel hopeless,” MariNaomi.
The initial mural was revealed at an event in Rosemead on May 28, 2021 with remarks from Board of Supervisors Chair, Hilda Solis; CEO of Asian Americans Advancing Justice LA, Connie Chung Joe; Executive Director of Asian Youth Center, Michelle Freridge; Deputy Medical Director LA Care Health Plan, Dr. Alex Li; and Executive Director of the LA County Human Relations Commision, Robin Toma.
Following an outpouring of support, we have since commission two additional large scale murals, as well as having the comic wheat-pasted through LA County. It is not always easy to face hate, but art like MariNaomi’s reminds us all that we are Stronger Together.
If you are interested in seeing the mural in person you can visit the installation at:
Garvey Park (7954 Dorothy St, Rosemead, CA 91770)
Asian Youth Center (300 S San Marino AveSan Gabriel, CA 91776)
Iona Work (1500 Alhambra RdAlhambra, CA 91801)
Don Knabe Community Park (19800 Bloomfield Ave, Cerritos, CA 90703)
This work was made possible through our ongoing partnership with LA Care Health Plan and their incredible team who are dedicated to ensuring that all residents of LA County thrive.
