Young Women for US continues to mourn the eight lives lost in the act of terror and hate carried out in Atlanta, Georgia on March 16th and the ten lives lost in the act of terror carried out in Boulder, Colorado on March 22nd. The scale of these tragedies is difficult to comprehend. Our community grieves and stands with all who are impacted, including the people who were killed, their family members and friends, those who were injured, those who were present for the attacks, and the Atlanta and Boulder communities. 

 

It is difficult to speak about the Georgia and Colorado attacks in one breath. We must recognize the depth of both tragedies and acknowledge the pain of each individually, despite their proximity in time to one another.

 

The Georgia attack was a hate crime, part of a pattern of rising hate crimes against the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. It was a manifestation of white supremacy, racism directed toward AAPI people, and patriarchal violence. We stand with and support the AAPI community, as well as other individuals and communities who have experienced race and gender-based violence.

 

As of now, there is much we do not know about the Boulder attack and we are sure to learn more in the coming weeks. We do know that no matter the motive, hate played a strong role on March 22nd.

 

Most importantly, we know this: Both attacks are reflective of a failure of U.S. culture and policy. As a society, our first priority should be remembering the individuals we lost in these acts of unconscionable hate. Our next priority must be a national recommitment to putting an end to white supremacy, race and gender-based violence, and all forms of gun violence.

 

How we can all help:

• Refer to this comprehensive list of resources to counter race-based violence against the AAPI community from the HAAPI ERG at Flexport.

• Begin/continue educating yourself on bystander intervention methods to address race and gender-based harassment and sign up for bystander intervention training.

• Access help if you are experiencing intimate partner violence and learn about ways to support others experiencing intimate partner violence on the National Domestic Violence Hotline website.

• Find additional resources on intimate partner violence here.

• Consider a donation to Asian Americans Advancing Justice in Atlanta, which supports, organizes and advocates alongside the AAPI community in Georgia and the broader southeast. You can also give to Red Canary Song, a grassroots collective that organizes for and with migrant communities and sex workers. If you want to specifically support organizations that empower AAPI women in leadership, consider the Asian American Women’s Political Initiative or AAPI Women Lead.

• Refer to this a set of resources from the American Psychological Association Division 17 to support folks who are impacted by mass shootings.

• Take action with Everytown for Gun Safety and tell the U.S. Senate to take action on background checks.