Statement of the DTBC Executive Board Regarding the Mass Murder of AAPI Community Members in Atlanta Last Week
Racist and xenophobic assumptions, false narratives, and violence against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have been persistent in the United States for an extended period of time. In 1893, the U.S. was complicit in the overthrow of Queen Lili’uokalani and the dissolution of the Hawaiian monarchy, later annexing the Islands against the will of Hawai`i’s people. During World War II, President F. D. Roosevelt established internment camps to detail people of Japanese descent under the false notion of preventing espionage. Following the acts of terrorism perpetrated by Al-Qa’ida in 2001, Middle Easterners andSouth Asians faced increased persecution and racism. Similarly, in 2020, Asian Americans were wrongfully perceived as responsible for the COVID-19 outbreak, with the spread of false narratives proliferated by the far-right, meant to diffuse hatred instead of fact. These are but a few examples of injustice against AAPI populations in our great nation.
The mass murder of AAPI community members in Atlanta last week is but the most recent continuation of racist and biased behavior and cannot be tolerated. Hatred produces further hatred, while education, innovation, and inspiration are at the core of diversity, equity, andinclusion. Last week’s attack invoked histories of racialized misogyny and racialization surrounding health crises in the U.S. and abroad, but it also highlights the need for deeper conversations and policy implementations that more holistically revolutionize andmodernize a society that remains connected to systemically racist ideals, favoring instead a more inclusive tomorrow for all.
The American Society of Criminology’s Division on Terrorism and Bias Crimes is committed to combating this fear and racism through education, the production of knowledge, and collaborations with both community & governmental stakeholders that strive for a brighter tomorrow. The ASC DTBC does not tolerate any harassment nor xenophobic behavior from or toward members, partners, or beyond. We, the Executive Board, strive for a truly diverse, inclusive, and equitable Society, and we call upon all institutions, scholars, practitioners, organizations, and Society at large to work collectively to ensure that we forge a path toward a brighter tomorrow, together.