NEA APIC's statement about the racist acts of violence in Atlanta:

Friday, March 19, 2021

NEA APIC is deeply saddened by the horrific events of violence and racism that happened in Atlanta. We grieve for Xiaojie Tan, Daoyou Feng, Julie Park, Hyun-jeong Park Grant, Delaina Yaun, Elcias Hernandez-Ortiz, and the two unnamed victims. The statements about 21-year-old Robert Long adds another layer of outrage to these acts of violence as Capt. Jay Baker stated that he was having “a really bad day...and this is what he did.” These statements downplay the fact that this act of terror is part of the larger role of white supremacy, xenophobia (and the very fact we are seen as foreigners), and the long history this country has of exoticizing, sexualizing, and scapegoating API women. The fact that these murdered Asian women are connected to sex work when all these businesses were legitimate massage therapy businesses says all that is needed about how Asian women are seen in this country.

We are deeply aware that our community is hurting. After a year of nearly 3,800 reported cases of racist attacks, with AAPI small businesses having the highest closure rate and AAPI workers having the highest long-term unemployment rate, we are mourning, we are scared, and we are angry. In the midst of this pain, we recognize the need for two things: resources to take action and having a safe space to gather and process these events.

Take action:

1. Sign on to our collective community statement: bit.ly/aaajcommunitystatement

2. Donate to support the victims and their families: bit.ly/DonateToGeorgiaAAPICommunity

3. Share crisis response resources. bit.ly/georgiaAAPIcommunitycare

4. Check out the #WeKeepUSSafe: APALA’s Resource Guide on Anti-Asian Violence

5. We have gathered resources on our website: https://nea-apic.com/aapi-resources/

6. Sign the petition calling on Capt. Baker’s resignation: chng.it/mTKyXmkmdK

Lastly, we agree with our siblings at Advancing Justice Atlanta: “During this time of crisis for our AAPI community, we call on our local and state government to provide robust and responsive crisis intervention resources, including in-language support for mental health, legal, employment, and immigration services. It is time for Georgia to invest in transformative justice that begins with cross-racial dialogue and community-building that address the root causes of violence and hate.”

We would extend that to all of our communities, to all of our local and state governments, and to all educational institutions.