On the evening of Tuesday, March 16, eight people were shot and killed in targeted attacks in massage parlors in Atlanta. Six of the victims were of Asian descent; seven of the victims were women. We mourn those who lost their lives to this racist violence, and hold their families and friends in our hearts during this painful time.

Mass shootings are far too common in the United States, and so is anti-Asian racism. These forms of violence are a scourge on our society. The Asian, Asian-American, and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community has experienced increased levels of xenophobia and racist attacks over the past year due to increased anti-Asian rhetoric. Since the beginning of the pandemic, there have been almost 4000 incidents reported to the Stop AAPI Hate reporting center, meaning that our country has averaged 77 acts of hate per week against the AAPI community since March 2020. And these are just the incidents that have been reported. Many of the attacks have been against those perceived to be vulnerable, like older adults and women.

We condemn violence and hate perpetrated against the AAPI community. We acknowledge the long roots of anti-Asian racism in this country, and the urgent need to name and fight against the violence and violent rhetoric against Asians.

Racism, misogyny, and white supremacy are a threat to us all. We commit to continuing our fight against these injustices through the work of our Center and to supporting our AAPI friends and colleagues.