Ascend Stands in Solidarity With Asian American and Pacific Islander Communities

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

Ascend at the Aspen Institute is outraged and deeply saddened by the tragic shooting in Atlanta, GA that took the lives of eight innocent people, including six Asian-American women, last week. Our hearts go out to the families who have suffered such a profound loss as well as the broader Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community who are left grieving and in fear. We condemn this act of violence and recognize that these anti-Asian acts, which have been increasing around the country, are rooted in white supremacy and misogyny. We know that the paths toward realizing racial, gender, and economic justice are inextricably linked. Ascend stands in solidarity with the AAPI community in Georgia and across the country.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, we’ve seen an all-time high rate of hate crimes against the AAPI community, in which women are twice as likely to be targeted compared to men. We also know that the history of anti-Asian sentiment in the US long precedes the pandemic. As we collectively mourn this moment, we urge that justice be immediately served. We support our Network Partners, Fellows, systems-change leaders, and parents leading efforts in their communities to combat and address racial bias and violence. And we applaud the work of organizations who have been and are mobilizing to support those impacted and the families of the victims in Georgia, including the Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta, Asian American Advocacy Fund, and the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum.

We also invite you to further educate yourself and your colleagues about the long history of pernicious racism and stigmatization of Asian-Americans, and in particular the intersectional impact of bias and stigma across race, sex, and class on Asian-American women:

• The History of Anti-Asian Sentiment In the US – NPR (4-minute listen)
• For Asian American Women, Misogyny And Racism Are Inseparable, Sociologist Says – NPR (8-minute listen)

We stand with you as a field and community, and we will continue to invest in and center our work around marginalized communities and the leadership of families with low incomes.

Sincerely,

The team at Ascend at the Aspen Institute