SMW Stands with AAPI Communities

March 23, 2021

Racism and violence against people of Asian descent have a long history in this country, as do gender-based violence and attacks on immigrant communities. Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger condemns white supremacy, anti-Asian racism, and sexist and sexual violence against Asian American women. We express solidarity and support members of the broader Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. We further commit to examining ways that we ourselves might have participated in and/or perpetuated anti-Asian racism, and how we might support solutions to address the root causes of violence and hate.

Last week, a white gunman targeting Asian spas murdered eight people in Georgia, including six Asian women: Daoyou Feng, Soon Chung Park, Hyun Jung Grant, Suncha Kim, Yong Yue, Xiaojie Tan, Delaina Ashley Yaun, and Paul Andre Michels. Over the last year, Asian Americans throughout the U.S. have been harassed and attacked, sometimes fatally, including Vichar Ratanapakdee and Xiao Zhen Xie of San Francisco, and Pak Ho of Oakland. Racist scapegoating of Asians and Asian Americans throughout the pandemic has fueled such violence. Consider signing this petition from the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Association to call for a response to these incidents that centers the needs of Asian American women and elders. For thoughts about speaking with young people about anti-Asian racism, see this Slate parenting advice column by Nicole Chung. And to learn more about the complex and diverse experiences of Asian Americans in the United States, you can watch Asian Americans, a PBS 5-part series available online. Please join Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger in taking a stand against racism.