Bay Area teen fashion designer organizes #StandForAsians rally
"This is unfair, this is unjust. It's shocking," said So. "It's not okay and we are not going to stand for it."
SAN MATEO, Calif. (KGO) -- By day, Ashlyn So is a middle school student on the Peninsula who is balancing the world of distance learning, with her role as an emerging fashion designer.
The 13-year-old has been featured at New York Fashion Week and you might remember her from earlier in the pandemic when she channeled her passion for fashion into making stylish masks for healthcare workers.
But lately, So has been paying close attention to the anti-Asian rhetoric and violence plaguing our community, which is something that has been weighing heavily on her heart.
"This is unfair, this is unjust. It's shocking," said So. "It's not okay and we are not going to stand for it."
RELATED: 'Condemning violence': Oakland Chinatown rally draws large crowd
Instead of sitting on the sidelines, So is stepping up by organizing a "Stand for Asians" rally at San Mateo Central Park on Saturday, Feb. 27 at 1p.m., bringing attention to what many say is a much-needed movement in these challenging times.
So added, "Many people reached out to support this cause and to help out the rally, help organize it, and that lets me know that our community is good."
RELATED: 'We are not targets': Hundreds rally in SF to condemn violence against Asian-American community
Her family is also providing guidance however they can.
"We're open to whatever ideas that she has, and (if) she's serious about it, then we're going to go for it, we're going to do this together, we're going to figure this out together," said So's mother, Angela Wu.
So is part of an up-and-coming generation that is more likely to not only speak out, but to take action against the wrongs they see in the world. Financial advisor and community philanthropist Jason Ting is hopeful that others take notice.
"It's the creativity of how the next generation makes an impact," said Ting. "They know the power of networking and highlighting what are the positive things we can do to make a difference to make things better."
WATCH: Daniel Wu, W. Kamau Bell discuss shocking crimes against Asian Americans
Having trouble loading the tracker above? Click here to open it in a new window.
VACCINE TRACKER: How California is doing, when you can get a coronavirus vaccine
RELATED STORIES & VIDEOS:
- How to register for COVID-19 vaccine in every Bay Area county
- Map: CA counties that can, can't reopen under new rules
- CALCULATOR: Find out how many people may get a COVID-19 vaccine before you
- VIDEO: When will I get the COVID-19 vaccine? We explain who goes 1st
- Updated number of COVID-19 deaths, cases in Bay Area
- Map shows everywhere you can get a COVID-19 test in the Bay Area
- How are Chinatown businesses surviving? Here's what we found
- From COVID-19 to Black Lives Matter, these 13 people defined the Bay Area in 2020
- COVID-19 Diaries: Personal stories of Bay Area residents during pandemic
- California EDD: The most commonly asked questions we get about unemployment and PUA
- How to tell the difference between seasonal allergies and coronavirus symptoms
- Here's which mask is better to protect from COVID-19
- First COVID-19 vaccine volunteers in US describe experience as Bay Area launches vaccine trials
- Coronavirus origin: Where did COVID-19 come from?
- What is a COVID-19 genetic, antigen and antibody test?
- What will it take to get a COVID-19 vaccine and how will it be made?
- What does COVID-19 do to your body and why does it spread so easily?
- Here's how shelter in place, stay at home orders can slow spread of COVID-19
- Coronavirus Timeline: Tracking major moments of COVID-19 pandemic in San Francisco Bay Area
- Coronavirus Doctor's Note: Dr. Alok Patel gives his insight into COVID-19 pandemic
