We are heartbroken by the senseless shootings of eight people, including six Asian American women, yesterday in Georgia. We know a few of their names so far: Delaina Ashley Yaun, Paul Andre Michels, Xiaojie Tan, Daoyou Feng, Hyun J. Grant, Suncha Kim, Yong A. Yue, and Soon C. Park. But we know this unspeakable tragedy is just the latest in an alarming rise in violent attacks against Asian Americans across the country. Chung Ho, Juanito Falcon, Yong Zheng, Vicha Ratanapakdee, Christian Hall, Angelo Quinto, and others have also lost their lives because of racist hate that our country has far too often allowed to fester.
As we stand in solidarity with our Asian American and Pacific Islander colleagues, families, community members, educators, and students who are coping with and speaking out against xenophobia and racism, we recognize that condemning this act of white supremacist terrorism is not enough. For too long, our institutions—including the public education system—have treated Asian Americans as a “model minority,” a monolith not worthy of care, value, and attention. This perception is inaccurate—and it’s also dangerous. Yesterday’s violence did not emerge from nowhere, and we cannot and should not treat it as if it did. Words are not enough. We must all do our part to step up and listen to, support, and truly value the many diverse, vibrant communities that comprise the Asian American population.
We commit, in our own work and with school system partners, to lift up the voices of Asian American students and families as they combat not only this wave of violence, but the unique educational challenges they face as more schools reopen. To learn more on how you can stand in action, visit stopaapihate.org.
