Washington, DC (March 18, 2021)—On the evening of Tuesday, March 16, eight lives were taken in a senseless shooting spree in Atlanta, GA. Six of the victims were Asian women, marking yet another violent attack in a string of violent attacks against Asian Americans nationwide. At CSSP, we vigorously and loudly denounce violence of all kinds—but we particularly denounce violence targeted against groups who already experience disproportionate levels of discrimination including women, immigrants, and minorities.
Racism against the Asian American/Pacific Islander (AAPI) community is not new. Rather, it is woven firmly into the patchwork of our nation’s shameful, violent, and racist past. Incidents like the one in Atlanta have been on the rise for the past year as a result of persistent and false narratives blaming the COVID-19 pandemic on the Asian community. Many world leaders, including our former President, used these negative tropes to fan the flames of racism and wrongly scapegoat an entire community for a global pandemic. We are now seeing the poisonous fruits of that lie: according to Stop AAPI Hate, hate incidents targeting Asian Americans rose by nearly 150% in 2020, with Asian American women twice as likely to be targeted.
The victims of this crime and their families are in our hearts and minds and we will remember and honor their names. At CSSP, we continue to confront our country’s devastating history of White supremacy, racism, and discrimination. We are working to shed a bright light on our country’s racist roots that we must collectively acknowledge, understand, and, ultimately, eradicate. CSSP staff demand justice, safety, protection, and respect for ALL members of our communities—and, at this time when violence against them is at a zenith, especially the AAPI community. We are not safe until EVERYONE is safe. We are not free until EVERYONE is free. We are not a united country until EVERYONE’s identities are recognized and honored.
About CSSP. The Center for the Study of Social Policy (CSSP) works to achieve a racially, economically, and socially just society in which all children, youth, and families thrive. We translate ideas into action, promote public policies grounded in equity, and support strong and inclusive communities. We advocate with and for all children, youth, and families marginalized by public policies and institutional practices. Learn more at www.CSSP.org.