Rise in Online Hate Against South Asians Amid 2024 Election Campaign

In the United States, the 2024 presidential campaign has seen increased visibility for South Asian figures, notably Vice President Kamala Harris and Usha Vance, wife of Republican candidate JD Vance. This rise in representation has coincided with a troubling increase in anti-South Asian racism online, as reported by Stop AAPI Hate. The organization documented a significant surge in online threats of violence against Asian communities, particularly targeting South Asians, with 973 reports in August 2024 alone. This spike aligns with key political events, including Harris's nomination at the Democratic National Convention and Vance's appearance at the Republican National Convention. The report highlights that the toxic political climate, fueled by extremist rhetoric and disinformation, has exacerbated the situation. Cynthia Choi, co-founder of Stop AAPI Hate, emphasized that the hate-driven discourse has led to a wave of discrimination against South Asian individuals. The data indicates a doubling of anti-South Asian slurs on social media from January 2023 to August 2024, reflecting a broader trend of hostility. Moreover, the FBI has noted that anti-Asian hate crimes have not returned to pre-pandemic levels, suggesting a persistent issue exacerbated by inflammatory political narratives surrounding the coronavirus. The organization warns that the rise in online hate may foreshadow an increase in real-world incidents, as the data collection on in-person hate crimes lags behind. As the election approaches, there are concerns that the current climate of hate may not dissipate post-election, with expectations of further escalation in discrimination against South Asian communities in the future.