Condemning Anti-Asian Hate and Violence

We at J-PAL North America stand in solidarity with Asian and Asian American communities as we grieve and condemn the horrific murders in Cherokee County and Atlanta and the recent surge in anti-Asian violence, discrimination, and rhetoric. These assaults, often targeted at women and elderly people in particular, have been propelled by disinformation and hostility during the pandemic, with more than 3,700 reported incidents of hate against Asian American and Pacific Islanders since the early days of Covid-19.  
 
We grieve for the victims of this wave of xenophobia and racism, which include those murdered in the Georgia shootings targeting Asian businesses: Daoyou Feng, Hyun Jung Grant, Suncha Kim, Paul Andre Michels, Soon Chung Park, Xiaojie Tan, Delaina Ashley Yaun, and Yong Ae Yue. We also mourn Vicha Ratanapakdee, who was murdered while walking on the street in San Francisco, and Pak Ho, who was murdered on his daily walk in Oakland. They are among countless other Asians and Asian Americans who have suffered from ongoing harassment and violence, which the wider public conversation is now only beginning to address.
 
Such acts, and the other effects of anti-Asian racism that have gone unacknowledged in the past, have contributed to a pervasive feeling of fear and dread in Asian and Asian American communities. We also acknowledge that for many—including J-PAL North America staff, partners, and affiliated researchers—anti-Asian racism and discrimination has caused acute suffering, often in silence, for a long time. 
 
We recognize and denounce anti-Asian prejudice as yet another form of the systemic, white supremacist racism that remains ingrained in our national institutions. As a research center working to advance equity and reduce poverty, we are committed to contributing to the systems-level change necessary to build a more inclusive and equitable society. We intend to do our part to continue the work of self-examination and change to combat anti-Asian prejudice as a foundational component of those efforts. Where we can, we will use our research and expertise to identify and amplify evidence-informed policies that can help in the fight against racism in all of its forms. We commend and seek to learn from the work of others who have been leading these efforts. 
 
Resources:
Asian Americans Advancing Justice--Atlanta   
stopAAPIhate.org
hateisavirus.org
laaunch.org