Once again, Americans are confronting the consequences of unaddressed systemic racism in this society. Too often, intolerable acts of racist bias, discrimination, and hate, culminate in shocking interpersonal violence as well as the shocking mass violence that occurred in Atlanta just one week ago, on March 16, 2021.
On that day, eight people lost their lives when a white gunman targeted Asian American operated businesses, in what many view as an act of racial terrorization. Six of the victims were Asian American women.
At PACEs Connection, we feel it is vital to name and condemn the racist core of this violence. Avoiding the evidence of heightened anti-Asian bias, violence, and the enduring unaddressed systemic racism in American society, only further revolves the cycle of psychological and physical violence many in this society must navigate on a daily basis.
When we name it, we can change it.
Prior to this horrific incident, several incidents of physical attacks against Asian Americans were profiled in the national media, such as these in New York and San Francisco, just a few of several in recent weeks. These attacks can be viewed in the context of a long history of anti-Asian discrimination and violence in America.
These recent high profile attacks occur against a backdrop of increasing anti-Asian discrimination, as shown in this report by the organization Stop AAPI Hate.
“Stop AAPI Hate received reports of 3,292 incidents that occurred in 2020. This total is higher than our previously reported number of 2,808 because additional 2020 incidents were reported retroactively in 2021. Stop AAPI Hate received reports of 503 incidents that occured in 2021.”
To honor the lives lost on March 16, we must continue to increase our knowledge of these histories, the trauma they cause, and our commitment to changing our attitudes, behaviors, and policies accordingly.
PACES Connection Equity Statement
PACEs Connection is an anti-racist organization committed to the pursuit of social justice. In our work to promote resilience and prevent and mitigate PACEs, we will intentionally embrace and uplift people who have historically not had a seat at the table. PACEs Connection will celebrate the voices and tell the stories of people who have been barred from decision-making and who have shouldered the burden of systemic and economic oppression as the result of genocide, slavery, family separation, forced relocation, mass incarceration, red lining and all other practices, policies and institutions that have traumatized marginalized groups. These groups include people of color, people living with mental health and substance use challenges, people living with disabilities, and members of the LGBTQI community.
To learn more about racial trauma and how you can become a change agent, check out the following resources:
- Review the Stop AAPI Hate website for reports, publications, and news articles which track and contextualize anti-Asian discrimination
- Click here to learn more about the history of anti-Asian hate and related acts of violence in America.
- PACEs Connection Anti Racism Resource List
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