The Stony Brook Center Chapter of United University Professions Statement Against Racist Misogynist Violence in Georgia
March 19, 2021
In a mass shooting motivated by both racism and misogyny, a white male murdered seven Asian women and one man on Mar. 16, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. We, the Executive Board and Delegates of UUP Stony Brook Center Chapter, speak out against and condemn all forms of racist and gender-based hatred and violence. In the last year, the previous U.S. Government Administration’s increased threats and rhetoric against China and other Asian countries, and repression against citizens speaking out against that violence in the U.S., has profoundly expanded a climate of anti-Asian racism. The Stop AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islanders) Hate organization received more than 3,500 firsthand accounts of anti-Asian American attacks and harassment in the last year. Our chapter’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee composed a resolution addressing the rise in Anti-Asian attacks in April 2020 and it is with a heavy heart that we address the attacks that took place this week.
Media outlets and Atlanta police have dismissed the severity of this crime, saying the shooter had “a really bad day for him and this is what he did,” and refused to label it a racially motivated hate crime.
Long Island local Asian and Asian-American residents have said that they perceive an increase in discrimination and hate incidents since the coronavirus crisis, and fear for their safety after nationwide attacks.
The UUP Stony Brook Center Chapter Executive Board categorically rejects white supremacy and all acts of hate directed at Asian communities as well as gender-based violence. We further express the utmost solidarity with Asian communities in the United States that are directly affected by this climate of racism, white supremacy, and hatred.
This Executive Board calls for unity and action against racism, bigotry and misogyny.
Our UUP Chapter stands along with all marginalized communities and communities of color. In order to address systematic racism, xenophobia, white supremacy, and sexism, and, we must condemn these acts of terrorism within our communities. In order to address systematic racism and sexism, we will work collaboratively with local organizations, campus groups, and union chapters, together in unity.
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Additional resources:
- Our statement is based on the resolution from United Educators of San Francisco shared via the UUP Statewide Women’s Rights and Concerns Committee
- https://www.uupsbu.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Diversity-Equity-Inclusion-Committee-Resolution-3_-Anti-Asian-Harassment.pdf?fbclid=IwAR0t1p8dgKMUuBvPOu6dYlMbDUIxmqzINwc390qjtZZFYR8jQX1yD8YR_VM
- https://uupinfo.org/communications/releases/210319.php
- http://scaaab.org/2021_solidarity_to_stop_aapi_hate_crimes
- https://www.newsday.com/long-island/asian-attacks-long-island-1.50179834
- https://www.newsday.com/news/health/coronavirus/long-island-asian-coronavirus-discrimination-1.43494092
Download the full Statement approved by the Stony Brook Center Chapter Executive Board against racist misogynist violence here: