Statement on Violence Against Asians

Content warning: This message references anti-Asian violence; violence against women; and white supremacy

We are reaching out to you with deep sorrow and anger over the attacks on three Asian massage parlors in Atlanta, Georgia and the resulting deaths of eight innocent people, six of whom were Asian American women. These are individuals with families, who were loved and valued, who were just trying to earn a living. Our hearts are broken.

A young white male suspect is in custody and, while differing accounts about motivation are emerging, the shootings clearly targeted Asian massage parlors. This violence occurred in the wake of the recent attacks on other vulnerable members of our community, our elders. 

While the investigation in Atlanta continues, it is indisputable that racist violence against Asian Americans has a long history dating back to the first Asian immigrants. The recent exponential increase in violent attacks has been fueled by a former President who blamed the COVID pandemic on the Chinese.

We have a right to be angry, we have a right to demand justice. We know that anti-Asian racism and violence must be addressed in the context of dismantling structural and institutionalized systems created to maintain white supremacy. We are committed to this work.

We also know that recent events and what happened in Atlanta weighs heavy and may have you worrying about your own safety and that of your family and loved ones. We are here for you and encourage you to reach out to one or all of us should you need support.

In community and with great care,

Cindy Ng, Associate Dean and Scott J.J. Hsu Director of the Asian American Activities Center (A³C)
Jerald Adamos, Assistant Dean and Associate Director, A³C
Latana Thaviseth, Assistant Director, A³C

Faith Kazmi, Associate Dean and Director, Women’s Community Center
Edith Wu-Nguyen, Associate Dean and Director, New Student Programs; Resident Fellow, Okada House
Jeanne Tsai, Director of Asian American Studies and Professor of Psychology
Gordon Chang, Senior Associate Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education
anthony lising antonio, Associate Professor Graduate School of Education
Kathryn Gin Lum, Associate Professor of Religious Studies
Will Gow, Lecturer Asian American Studies
Marci Kwon, Assistant Professor of Art History
Victor Lee, Associate Professor Graduate School of Education
Christine Min Wotipka, Associate Professor (Teaching) of Education and (by courtesy) Sociology
Stephen Murphy Shigematsu, Lecturer Asian American Studies
David Palumbo Liu, Louise Nixon Hewlett Professor, Professor of Comparative Literature
Farzana Saleem, Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Education
Stephen Sano, Professor of Music
Sharika Thiranagama, Associate Professor of Anthropology
Sylvia Yanagisako, Edward Clark Crossett Professor of Humanistic Studies, Professor of Anthropology
Helen Hsu, Staff Psychologist and Asian American Community Liaison, Vaden Health Services
Marissa Floro, Program Manager, Weiland Health Initiative

Community Center Statements in Solidarity:

Women's Community Center: Community Letter condemning anti-Asian violence
Markaz: Resource Center: Solidarity with Asian & Asian American communities
El Centro Chicano y Latino: In Solidarity and Love with Asian & Asian American communities
Native American Cultural Center: Indigenous Solidarity with our Asian and Asian American Communities
Black Community Services Center Reflections-In Solidarity with our Asian and Asian American Communities

If you need support the following resources are available:

Report a hate crime:
Off-Campus:
https://stopaapihate.org/
https://www.standagainsthatred.org/

On-Campus: Acts of Intolerance

Counseling:

CAPS - Talk with a Psychologist
Well-Being @ Stanford - Talk with a well-being coach
Bridge Peer Counseling - 24/7 peer support counseling and support on the phone
Grieving at Stanford
Sexual Harassment/Assault Response & Education (SHARE): Education Team - Talk with staff members who are professionally trained in matters related to sexual violence, stalking, sexual harassment, gender-based discrimination, positive sexuality and healthy relationships.

General Resources:

Harassment & Hate Towards Asians, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders during COVID-19January 26, 2021 - President Biden’s Memorandum Condemning and Combating Racism, Xenophobia, and Intolerance Against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States

March 18, 2021 - White House Proclamation on Honoring the Victims of the Tragedy in the Atlanta Metropolitan Area

Anti-Asian Violence Resources

National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) Hate Crimes Resources

Movement Hub: created to amplify the on-the-ground activism and organizing within Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities across the country

Educational Resources:

Asian Organizations Across the Bay Area Join Forces to Demand to Demand Action Against Violence

Developed by graduate students of the Asian Pacific American Medical Students Association (APAMSA), the API Student Wellness Toolkit is a resource which aims to better summarize wellness resources that may be beneficial for API professional students.

Donate/Get Involved:

Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Atlanta
Venmo @asians4antiracism - Funds will be distributed to individuals and organizations.

AAPI Community Fund - benefits organizations for their leadership in the AAPI Community

Hate is a Virus - a movement to combat the xenophobia and racism against Asian Americans fueled by COVID-19 with primary goals to raise awareness of these issues across our Asian American community and stand in solidarity with communities beyond, educate and equip our community with tactical strategies on how to respond to the hate and racism, and raise money to provide relief to small, Asian-led businesses that have been impacted by COVID-19.

I Am Womankind - Womankind works with survivors of gender-based violence to rise above trauma and build a path to healing.

National Organization of Asians and Pacific Islanders Ending Sexual Violence - Created by API anti-sexual assault advocates to center the experiences of victim/survivors of sexual violence from the Asian & Pacific Islander communities.

Red Canary Song - Grassroots collective of Asian & Migrant sex workers organizing transnationally.

AAPI Women Lead - Along with #ImReady Movement, AAPI Women Lead aims to strengthen the progressive political and social platforms of Asian and Pacific Islander communities in the US through the leadership of self-identified AAPI women and girls.

Monsoon Asians & Pacific Islanders in Solidarity - Serves victims/survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking in Asian and Pacific Islander (API) communities

Maitri - Free, confidential, nonprofit organization based in the San Francisco Bay Area that primarily helps families and individuals from South Asia (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives) facing domestic violence, emotional abuse, cultural alienation, or family conflict.

National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum - Focused on building power with AAPI women and girls to influence critical decisions that affect their lives, families, and communities.

Asian Pacific Islander Equality - Northern California - Focused on building trans and queer Asian Pacific Islander power.

Prism Foundation - Dedicated to exploring critical issues that affect the Asian & Pacific Islander LGBTQ+ community and supporting innovative programs and individuals seeking solutions to those issues.