Like you, I was horrified by Wednesday's murders of eight individuals, including six Asian American women, in Atlanta. Sadly, research from the coalition Stop Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Hate shows a clear rise in cases of violence and discrimination against Asian American groups during the pandemic. The crisis has attracted the attention of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, which will hold hearings today into these acts of hatred. NOVA is a federally recognized Asian American Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI), and this violence is impacting our students, colleagues, friends and neighbors. NOVA condemns all acts of violence, discrimination, racism and intolerance, and we stand with the Asian American Pacific Islander community.
My message today is plain. We cannot leave the work of addressing racism and bias to others: this work is ours.
Resources:
NOVA’s Office of Wellness and Mental Health
Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism’s Research on AAPI Surge in Hate Crimes
Guide to Responding to COVID-19 Related Racism – Learning for Justice Organization
National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association
Asian Americans Advancing Justice
Bystander Initiative, which provides free training that provides skills for identifying and deescalating instances of anti-Asian American harassment and xenophobia.
Northern Virginia Community College is the largest institution of higher education in the Commonwealth of Virginia and one of America's largest community colleges. NOVA enrolls more than 75,000 students at its six campuses in Alexandria, Annandale, Loudoun, Manassas, Springfield and Woodbridge, and through NOVA Online. For more information about NOVA and its programs or services, call 703-323-3000 or visit the College's Web site, www.nvcc.edu.