03/17/2021
CW: Racism, Violence
Dear residents,
Last night, eight people were killed by a white male gunman in Atlanta, six of whom were identified as Asian women. The names of these women are below:
-Delaina Ashley Yaun,
-Paul Andre Michels
-Xiaojie Tan
-Daoyou Feng
-Julie Park
-Hyeon Jeong Park
This news has been deeply upsetting for all of us, but it is particularly devastating for Asians, Asian-Americans and other marginalized groups. Research shows a clear rise in anti-Asian racism and violence since the onset of the pandemic as people look to place blame for COVID-19. From a report by Stop AAPI Hate, as shared by NPR:
"Crimes targeting Asian Americans have risen dramatically since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. Stop AAPI Hate, a coalition that tracks incidents of violence and harassment against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the U.S., reported nearly 3,800 instances of discrimination against Asians in the past year. The actual number could be much higher.â
While this increase in anti-Asian sentiment is disturbing, it is important to recognize that Asian communities in the United States have experienced racism throughout history, particularly in the Pacific Northwest. This is not a new phenomenon.
Asians, Asian-Americans, Desi and Pacific Islanders (ADPI) are a valued and integral part of our community. They are our friends, our neighbors, our peers, and our loved ones. They are us.
To our ADPI students and residents: we are with you. If you have been the recipient of anti-ADPI bigotry or racism, please let us know so we can link you with supports, or file a bias report here:
https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?UnivofOregon&layout_id=1.
For those wanting to show support to the ADPI community, take time today and this week to:
-Reach out to ADPI friends and loved ones to see how you can support them
-Educate yourself on the systemic issues faced by ADPI folks and work actively to address those issues in your own sphere of influence (you can begin with this list or resources: https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.com)
-Stand up to Anti-ADPI racism and bigotry in all its forms
If you have any questions or suggestions for community outreach, we are available. Please don't hesitate to reach out to our office.
Anti-Asian racism and violent attacks on Asian elderly have only increased in recent months. Since COVID-19 became news in the United States, hate speech and violence against the AAPI community has run rampant. In February 2021, attacks, particularly on elderly Asian Americans, have spiked. Unfortun...
