Statement on Current Racial Violence Against Asians

Our ASA Community is a proudly diverse one, and we know first-hand the great benefit that Asian and Asian American perspectives and achievements bring to our classrooms, our faculty and staff, and our reputation in the world. Our Chinese Cultural Events in January and February 2020 are but one testament to this fact. That some in our society fail to appreciate the contributions of Asian and Asian Americans, and worse, demonstrate hatred towards them is both ignorant and sickening.

Recently, we’ve experienced the horror of significant violence against the Asian community. Particularly, attacks against the most vulnerable, the elderly. Among others, Vicha Ratanapakdee, an 84-year-old victim, has died from his injuries. In New York City, several incidents have been reported, including the heartless attack in Midtown.

This Anti-Asian xenophobia has its roots in false stories and statements – especially those about the cause and spread of the Corona virus. Let us all acknowledge, reject and counter these stories and statements whenever we hear them now, as hateful words have consequences.

We must stand with the most vulnerable in our community if we are to continue to call ourselves that. We must express solidarity. In combating ignorance and misinformation, we will all be doing our part. In focusing on the positive, as we saw during the United Nations Peace Concert that was sponsored in part by ASA College, we can cohere the power of love to light up new hope for the future.

Please consider the resources below, provided by the City of New York, to aid us as we fight against this hate and support those who are suffering from this threat.

Stop Asian Hate – A Toolkit for Addressing Anti-Asian Bias, Discrimination, and Hate 

at https://www1.nyc.gov/site/cchr/community/stop-asian-hate.page#waony

Included resources:

• Stop Anti-Asian Hate Videos Featuring Asian New Yorkers and First Lady Chirlane McCray (video) 
• Chair and Commissioner Carmelyn Malalis Speaks Out Against Anti-Asian Discrimination (video) 
• Report Discrimination (Animated video)
• I Still Believe in Our City (Images) 
• We are one New York (Images)
• Fight Fear facts (Images)