STRIDE Statement of Solidarity with the AAPI Community
Scituate Together for Representation, Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity stands with other organizations and individuals in decrying the past year’s surge of hate crimes against Asians and Asian Americans. We recognize that this rise in violence is a result of deeply rooted systemic racism in the United States. We understand also the role that anti-Asian rhetoric and misinformation play in the increased number of actions taken against Asians, Asian-Americans, and Pacific Islanders (AAPI).
In particular, we mourn the loss of life in Atlanta this week, and we offer our condolences to the families and friends of the victims.
We denounce all forms of bias, racism, misogyny, and violence, and we stand in solidarity with the AAPI community nationwide and here in Scituate.
We call on law enforcement and the media to explicitly name racially and ethnically motivated violence as hate crimes.
We encourage our members to educate themselves about this country’s racism toward Asians, Asian-Americans, and Pacific Islanders. We ask our members to commit to learning, listening, and acting to dismantle racist policies and systems. We encourage our members to take action by:
Connecting with local AAPI-led businesses to let them know you support them; and
Engaging with elected officials and other leaders. Ask what they are doing to increase resources for intervention and prevention-based programs such as antiracism education and training in schools and police departments.
We suggest the following resources and learning opportunities for those who wish to learn more:
Massachusetts Town Hall on Anti-Asian Racism. March 25, 2021, 6:00 - 7:30 pm. Register here.
Bystander Intervention Training to Stop Anti-Asian-American and Xenophobic Harassment. Free training from Hollaback! In partnership with Asian Americans Advancing Justice.
Fact Sheet on Anti‐Asian Prejudice from the Center for the Study of Hate & Extremism
Asian American women shaken by Atlanta-area killings (Boston Globe)
Hate Crimes Against Asian Americans Are on the Rise. Many Say More Policing Isn't the Answer (TIME)
How to address the surge of Anti-Asian hate crimes (PBS News)
In times of crisis, anti-Asian violence is an American tradition (Berkeley News)
The long, ugly history of anti-Asian racism and violence in the U.S.(Washington Post)
NASW Calls for an End to Hate, Racism and Gun Violence Against Asian Americans (National Association for Social Workers)
STRIDE’s vision is for a community that is
free of bias, discrimination, and hate;
where differences are respected and affirmed; and
where all members of the community live in solidarity and are
seen, accepted, and valued for their unique contributions.