The Louis August Jonas Foundation stands in solidarity with the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. COVID-19 has exacerbated anti-Asian sentiments and led to a stark rise in hate crimes directed at Asian individuals. We condemn the murders in Atlanta of 8 people—7 of them women and 6 of them of Asian descent. Their names are Delaina Ashley Yaun, Paul Andre Michels, Xiaojie Tan, Daoyou Feng, Soon C. Park, Hyun J. Grant, Suncha Kim, and Yong A. Yue.
While this latest atrocity is forcing the country to take notice, it cannot be ignored that aggressions and violence towards Asian people have occurred in the United States for generations. Immeasurable are the long-term ramifications of The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and the Japanese Internment Camps in the 1940s. These governmental policies have insidiously trickled through time, impacting how Asian individuals are seen and treated in the United States.
Often in the wake of these tragic events, we are left feeling bereft, ashamed or angry but at the same time, not knowing where to begin to be part of positive change. The organization “Stop Asian American Hate” has published a list of how you can report incidents, educate yourself and take action locally. https://stopaapihate.org/actnow/ We encourage you to show your love and support for the people in your circles impacted by this hate and to learn more about the Asian American experience. “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” - Martin Luther King Jr.
Whether the acts are on the front page news or aggressions which go unpublicized, we are reminded that there’s a lot of work to do. We continue to be saddened by events of racism and misogyny. Our values at Camp have taught us that we have a role to play that contributes to lasting change. We are in solidarity with those who are marginalized and experience the pain and suffering of discrimination. There are too many victims of oppression and we have a lot to learn on how we can help make it better.