Our hearts go out to the loved ones of the 8 victims in the Atlanta shooting yesterday afternoon, including members of the Asian American community. CACF stands with Atlanta as they heal from the horrors of a mass shooting arising from hate.

Our fear and anger as an Asian American community is real. Our collective trauma has built up for more than a year as our community has been used as a scapegoat for a global pandemic and the fallout from an ill-prepared government. What we are seeing today is rooted in a history of racism in this country, and the real threat of white supremacy and white nationalism.

CACF remains committed to our values and to building a supportive and inclusive City. We continue to advocate for the inclusion of Asian Americans as a part of any movement for racial equity.  In order to do so, we must look at our country's history - at how Asian American acceptance as Americans has always been conditional.  How we were systematically dehumanized through laws such as the Chinese Exclusion Act, Japanese Internment, the 9/11 registry, and the Muslim ban. How the model minority myth erases our pain and struggles. 

And we need to see that the work of addressing anti-Asian racism head on must include working in solidarity with Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and other communities of color, as well as our white allies.  We at CACF continue this commitment towards ensuring the healing and well-being of all of our children and families.   

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Anyone who has experienced or witnessed anti-Asian violence or harassment can report it to the Stop AAPI Hate Reporting Center, and to the New York Attorney General's Office through their hotline at 1-800-771-7755 or email civil.rights@ag.ny.gov. Click here for a training on How to Respond to anti-Asian/American Harassment. For more information, click here.