Statement of Support for Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Community
Dear School of Pharmacy Community,
There has been a recent, alarming rise of hate crimes targeting the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community in America. Just in the last 2 months, an 84-year-old man from Thailand died after being attacked on his morning walk. A couple with a 2-year-old child was shot and robbed in Downtown LA. A 61-year-old Filipino man was slashed in the face on a subway in NYC, and a Buddhist Temple was set on fire and vandalized in LA’s Little Tokyo. And these are just a few examples. The reality is that xenophobic, anti-Asian sentiment is not new, and has only worsened since the start of the pandemic.
We denounce these hateful acts and stand in solidarity with the AAPI community.
In addition, health disparities within the AAPI community are widespread. Pacific Islanders rank third in terms of COVID-19 death rate, behind Native Americans and Black Americans. Filipinx registered nurses make up 4% of registered nurses in the United States but accounted for nearly one-third of all nursing deaths in 2020. Asian Americans also own a large share of small businesses in hard-hit sectors of the economy.
On Monday, March 8th we will be offering a space for support and processing for our AAPI community.
| AAPI Healing Circle: Community Dialogue and Support Monday, March 8th 4 p.m. – 5 p.m. Click HERE to join |
This is a closed, safe space for our AAPI community to process and discuss these triggering events, share feelings and experiences, and come together as a community. Dr. Danielle Colayco, a School of Pharmacy Alum and Executive Director of the Komoto Family Foundation will facilitate the discussion and share resources for healing. All who identify as part of the Asian American and Pacific Islander community are welcome.
For more information about these recent events:
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- ‘Alarming surge’ in anti-Asian violence across US terrifies community members | The Guardian
- Asian American health-care workers describe racist incidents – voices from the pandemic | The Washington Post
- Attacks on Asian Americans during pandemic renew criticism that U.S. undercounts hate crimes | The Washington Post
Resources for our AAPI Community:
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- @AsianMentalHealthProject – online community check-ins
- @WeAreMalikah – online healing circles for women
- @AsiansForMentalHealth – directory of AAPI therapists
- @MakingTheBodyAHome – online, self-paced racial healing course for POC
- Crisis text line: text HOME to 741741
- Suicide prevention lifeline: 800-273-8255
For information on how to report, respond to, interrupt, and be an ally to someone being attacked, here are some resources:
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- How to support Asian American colleagues amid the recent wave of anti-Asian violence | CNBC
- On Anti-Asian Hate Crimes: Who Is Our Real Enemy? | Medium
- Tools and Resources – Take Action Now to Stop Hate | Not In Our Town
- “We are American, too”: Hundred in New York rally against anti-Asian hate | CBS News
- When Hate Hits You: An Asian Pacific American Hate Crime Response Guide | Japanese American Citizens League
- Why we must talk about the Asian-American story, too | The Undefeated