We Stand with the Asian American and Pacific Islander Community

 

The Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities has tragically seen an increase in targeted hate crimes and racist attacks, most recently are the six victims of Asian ethnicity, murdered in Atlanta. In our own Orange County community, 66 hate incidents have been documented in the last year and many more that are unreported. The most frequently reported hate crimes in Orange County were motivated by the race, ethnicity, and /or national origin of those targeted. These hate crimes exacerbated by anti-Asian rhetoric, blaming Asian people for the pandemic.

At Share Our Selves Community Health Center (SOS) we are disturbed and saddened by these recent events and prevalence of racist hate against the AAPI community. We do not tolerate racist and xenophobic language and actions that hurt and harm our targeted community members. We are a galvanized collective of community health centers, partners, and people refusing to be silent.

SOS has a mission that includes being an advocate for systemic change. To dismantle racist systems, we must learn, unlearn, and lift up and live in communities of equity and love. We fiercely and publicly stand against racism in all forms and are committed to fostering diversity, equity and inclusion in our organization and the communities we are a part of and serve.

Because our collective silence will protect no one.

 

In Solidarity,

Christy Ward

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

*Image Source: https://caasf.org/stop-aapi-hate/