President’s Statement on Violence Against the Asian American Pacific Islander Community

Wednesday, March 17, 2021

Bunker Hill Community College | Office of the President

The shooting in Atlanta yesterday that resulted in the death of six Asians, and the rise in attacks on the AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islander) Community across the nation have left many of us feeling outraged, disheartened, and fearful.  In mainstream press and social media, we hear reports of targeted acts of verbal and physical violence.  From our own students, we hear about experiences of aggression on and off-campus that have made them feel unsafe. With the recent attacks on elders in the Asian communities, in which respect for family and older generations is especially important, the physical and psychological insult is severely felt.

We must, as a community, bear witness to these acts of aggression and acknowledge the feelings of anger, sadness, and anxiety, and turn them into strength.  In these times of global pandemic and political strife, the massive increase in violence against AAPIs around the country, coupled with the continuing police and cultural violence against Black and brown people, further emphasize the need for solidarity amongst everyone.

The violence today against AAPI communities is not new. We see this long history of AAPI xenophobia from the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1886, the Japanese internment camps of WWII, the killing of Vincent Chin in 1982, to the present-day attacks over COVID.  We have overcome these personal and community attacks, and we will do so again. We must lock arms across our AAPI and BIPOC communities, and become indomitable in the face of exclusion.  We must respond to hate with love. We must strive to hear the voices of what Lincoln called, “the better angels of our nature.”

As we stand in solidarity with our AAPI community, I hope the information and resources below will be helpful to you.  Consultations on campus are available via Human Resources, the Office of Equity and Compliance, and the Dean of Students Team.  Available free training is also listed below.

• Stop AAPI Hate: Together We Can Stop It
• AAC-Community-Action-Guide (aacommission.org)
• National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association (NAAPIMHA):NAAPIMHA’s mission is to promote the mental health and well-being of the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities.
• Anti-Defamation League (ADL): Student Tool Kit: Responding to Hate
• National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA): The national victim assistance organization that provides resources, assistance and support for victims harmed by crime and crisis. Call 1-800-TRY-NOVA (879-6682).
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a free, confidential, 24/7 support for people in distress, as well as provides crisis resources and best practices for professionals. Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
• South Asian Network (SAN) offers free and low-cost individual, group, and family counseling. They will also provide referrals to other mental health professionals.

Beginning Friday, 3/19, you can participate in a number of free training workshops:

• Bystander Intervention to Stop Anti-Asian/American and Xenophobic Harassment Training
• Bystander Intervention 2.0: Conflict De-Escalation Training
• How to Respond to Respond to Harassment for People Experiencing Anti-Asian/American Harassment Training 

In the next few weeks, we will find time to gather and talk with one another.  Please be alerted to announcements to come.  

Wishing you peace as we move forward together.

Pam Y. Eddinger, PhD
President
Bunker Hill Community College