Anti-APISA+ Violence and Bias

Dear LREI Community,

In the aftermath of yesterday’s ghastly murders of eight people in and around Atlanta – with six Asian women among the victims – I write to add LREI’s collective voice to the growing call for a robust and urgent response to the increasing level of anti-APISA+ (Asian, Pacific Islander, South Asian) violence and bias.  As a community, we abhor violence of any sort and grieve with the victims’ families and loved ones. This crime and all hate crimes are deplorable and demand a response.

While our elected officials have begun to speak out, more must happen; anti-Asian bias attacks must be addressed more forcefully by our leaders and government officials. Our role is to urge these officials to be more vigorous and vocal.  We must also look for ways to educate ourselves and our communities and to get involved, lending our hands and voices to these efforts.  (I have added resources below.)  As you learn of opportunities for participation in demonstrations, etc. I urge you to join and to bring others with you. Now is the time for all of us to be present and involved. While the topics are hard, our children must learn and participate, as well, in order to practice being responsible for others and to experience the power of collective action.

News outlets have begun to report on the killer’s motives. The authorities will take the time they need to decide whether these horrific murders are hate crimes under the law.  That said, the majority of the victims share a race and gender.  As a society, we have allowed the dehumanization of people based on their racial and gender identities, among others. This dehumanization and demonization of APISA+ people has been stoked on a national level. This must stop and we must all play a part in bringing these hate crimes to an end.

I urge you to speak with your children, as we have with middle school and high school students, and to be involved in all the ways that you can.  If your child needs support in dealing with the horrific nature of these crimes and we can be of help, please be in touch.

Peace,

Resources

• How to Talk to Asian American Youth about Racism
• Addressing Anti-Asian Racism with Students
• Representative Grace Ming on Anti-Asian Violence: 4-min
• https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/there-were-3-800-anti-asian-racist-incidents-mostly-against-n1261257
• “Asians are not a monolith“: (from@Asians4Antiracism)
• StopAAPI Hate