Asian American and Pacific Islander authors, bookstagrammers, and other members of the book business have launched a social media campaign, #StandUpforAAPI, intended to raise awareness of the ongoing violence and hate incidents targeting AAPI communities and put an end to the violence. The campaign was started by bookstagrammer Michelle Jocson, author Suzanne Park, and bookseller Jhoanna Belfer.

The weeklong campaign involves the following actions:

  • 3/22: Repost and share the Instagram post announcing the campaign in support of the authors and bookstagrammers in the AAPI community
  • 3/23: Take and post selfie holding a sign with the hashtag #StandUpForAAPI with a caption explaining why you support the AAPI community
  • 3/24: Put the support into action by writing to libraries to add more AAPI authors, thanking publishers that publish diverse authors you love and encourage them to publish more diverse books, making a book stack to support a cause, donating, or volunteering
  • 3/25: Post a book or a book stack highlighting AAPI authors who have made an impact on you
  • 3/26: Posting again with the hashtag #StandUpForAAPI and entering to win book giveaways run by participating authors and bookstagrammers

"We believe that reading about different cultures and communities can help us understand our common humanity, but we also wanted to include a call to action in our campaign, so people who feel like they want to do something—anything—can help make a difference," Park told PW. "With Jhoanna helping with the strategy and direction, and a small team of authors and bookstagrammers at the helm, we were able to rally authors, booksellers, bookstagrammers and allies to get this off the ground quickly."