ASC Statement on March 16 Murders in Atlanta

Yesterday, March 16th, eight people were shot to death in Atlanta, six of whom were Asian women. This is a hateful act that we deplore and condemn in the strongest possible terms. Because the victims are Asian, this act of violence, following on other acts in different parts of the country, produces a threat that is profoundly serious and deeply felt by our community of students, faculty, and staff. The Asian Studies Center is in direct communication with the Pittsburgh branch of the Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates), a national civil rights advocacy and educational organization dedicated to advancing the social, political and economic well-being of Americans of Asian and Pacific Islander descent. We will work with OCA and other organizations to provide support to the University community and to the Asian American community of Pittsburgh. As we have done in the past week, we will continue to organize events to bring Asians and Asian Americans together in solidarity, educate ourselves and our community, and increase awareness to counteract the threat of racism, and advocate for social and political reform. To this end we are engaged in efforts to build solidarity through collaboration with Asian American organizations around the country dedicated to finding solutions to the root causes of prejudice, discrimination and hate crimes. As we come together in grief, mutual support and condemnation of the violence in Atlanta, we express our sincere condolences to the families, friends and co-workers of those injured and killed in this senseless act.