We are devastated by the acts of violence and anti-Asian hate crimes over the past year—and most recently in Atlanta where eight people, including six Asian women, were killed in shootings at three day spas.

Many are grappling with anxiety, anger, grief, sadness, and fear. We stand with our friends, family and colleagues in the AAPI community.

While the shooter (now in custody) claims that these acts were not motivated by anti-Asian hatred, that does not change the impact this has on our Asian American and Pacific Islander community members who have continued to experience the effects of rising anti-Asian racism and rhetoric.

Over the past year, there has been a disturbing rise in anti-Asian/Pacific Islander discrimination and violence in communities across the US. Sadly, the issue isn’t new but COVID-19 has been a convenient excuse for underlying hate to thrive.

There have been nearly 3,800 documented attacks against Asian Americans since the start of the pandemic just over a year ago. The NYPD reported that hate crimes motivated by anti-Asian sentiment jumped 1,900% in New York City in 2020, according to TIME. These acts include physical and verbal assaults, especially against the elderly, youth, and women, and have resulted in death, trauma, and fear across communities in the US, Canada, the UK and other places where the Asian diaspora exists.

We are writing today to condemn the violence and hatred against our AAPI brothers and sisters, and to let you know that MJA is here to support and connect anyone who is looking for community in this time.

There is also a broader community event focusing on the call to #StopAsianHate.

Community Conversation on Anti-Asian Racism and Violence | March 24, 5:00-6:30 pm | Hosted by the Asian Minnesotan Alliance for Justice

Join the Coalition of Asian American Leaders (CAAL) for a public event to hear from leaders and community members about anti-Asian racism occurring in Minnesota and nationwide. Speakers include: U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, MDHR Commissioner Rebecca Lucero, CAAL Network & Executive Director Bo Thao-Urabe, and others. Please click here to register or for more information


Sincerely,

MJA MN
Multiracial Jewish Association of Minnesota