Pop star Rihanna marched alongside hundreds of others in New York City protesting the rising wave of hate crimes against Asian Americans.
Rihanna was also filmed sharing her Instagram handle with a fellow protestor, who appropriately reacted in disbelief
POP star Rihanna showed up to a Stop Asian Hate rally on Sunday, protesting the surge in anti-Asian hate crimes alongside hundreds of others.
The pop star joined her longtime assistant Tina Truong, who documented the protest via Instagram.
Before taking to the streets, Rihanna was photographed preparing by making a neon-green poster reading “Hate = Racism Against God!”
While dancing and mingling with fellow marchers at the march, she revealed the other side of the poster, emblazoned with “#StopAsianHate” in hot pink.
The star, who spoke out against the Atlanta massage parlor shootings on Instagram, attended the rally in New York City with her assistant.
She went mostly unnoticed during the protest, though Truong later posted a photo of the Fenty founder holding a sign that read “HATE=RACISM AGAINST GOD!” and “#STOPASIANHATE.”
Rihanna was also filmed sharing her Instagram handle with a fellow protestor, who appropriately reacted in disbelief.
It wasn’t the first time Rihanna has spoken out against Asian hate.
Following the Atlanta spa shooting, where eight people, six of whom were Asian women, were murdered, the singer took to Instagram. “What happened yesterday in Atlanta was brutal, tragic, and is certainly not an isolated incident by any means,” she wrote.
“AAPI hate has been rampantly perpetuated and it’s disgusting! I’m heartbroken for the Asian community and my heart is with the loved ones of those we lost yesterday. The hate must stop. #ProtectAAPILives.”
The attacks took place at two spas in the city and at a massage parlor in the suburb of Acworth, which is located approximately 30 miles north of Atlanta.
It has been confirmed that six of the victims were women of Korean descent, while the suspect, Robert Aaron Long is facing multiple counts of murder as well as aggravated assault.
According to ABC 7 New York, there have also been at least 33 anti-Asian hate crimes in New York City already in 2021, police reports have confirmed.
Rihanna has long used social media to speak out about racism and other social justice issues.
In September, she addressed the murder of Breonna Taylor and before that, posted a statement on the killing of George Floyd.
In 2012, she founded the Clara Lionel Foundation to combat inequality through education.
The organization also works to support criminal justice reform and voter rights. (NP)
Tags: #Rihanna, #hatecrimes, #AsianAmericans