Hopelink’s Statement Against Anti-Asian Hate Crimes

Over the past year, racially motivated hate crimes against Asians and Asian-Americans, involving both physical violence and racist and xenophobic rhetoric, have almost doubled in our community. We are deeply saddened and angered by the events that have recently brought this violence close to home, with the brutal attack of one of our Asian American community members and educators from the Northshore School District – which is being investigated as a hate-crime.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen how racist and xenophobic rhetoric, like the “Wuhan Virus” and the “Chinese Virus” have created a culture that makes it easier to commit violence against Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander bodies. We denounce all racist and xenophobic rhetoric, and we implore our community to do the same.

We stated in our Statement in Support of Black Lives Matters that “racism was normal.” We want to reiterate our commitment to not going back to “normal” after COVID-19; because if left to go back to “normal,” communities of color will continue to face racial and xenophobic harassment. Uprooting racism is imperative to the realization of our vision, a community free of poverty.

Advancing racial equity and safety for all will require a deep and fervent commitment to addressing racism in our personal lives, and the policies and practices that uphold our community fabric. We stand in solidarity with all those who are committed to making our community safer and more welcoming for our Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander community members and it is our charge to be a safe space for all.