We call for justice for victims of racist violence.
True Colors United joins the people of Atlanta, Asian-Americans, and allies in mourning the victims of Tuesday’s shooting – in which eight people were killed. Six of the people killed were Asian, and all but one were women. Their names are Delaina Ashley Yaun, Xiaojie Tan,Daoyou Feng, Paul Andre Michels, Elcias R Hernandez-Ortiz, Hyun Jung Grant, Soon Chung Park, Suncha Kim, and Yong Ae Yue.
While the investigation into these events is ongoing, we cannot ignore the context in which they occurred. Over the past year, the United States has seen a rise in anti-Asian violence across the nation. Fueled by white supremacy and systemic racism and bolstered by the Trump administration’s scapegoating of Asians for the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, hate crimes targeting Asian Americans rose by 150% in 2020, with Asian American women twice as likely to be targeted. We know that, while violence against Asian-Americans is on the rise, it is nothing new in America – and is indeed rooted in the same white supremacy and misogyny that the United States was founded upon.
We recognize that in order to prevent and end youth homelessness, we must prevent and end systemic racism in all its forms. We believe that all people deserve to live in a world where they are safe and can be their true selves.
True Colors United calls on local and state governments to provide crisis intervention and mental and physical health resources to Asian-American and Pacific Islander communities. We call on governments not to respond with more policing, which inherently increases violence against people of color, but to commit themselves to seeking justice for all victims of racist violence.
Here are some resources we recommend if you’re struggling right now:
- Anti-Asian violence resources – This is an excellent list of educational resources, mental health support, places to donate to and more.
- Project Lotus – This youth-led organization aims to “destigmatize mental health in Asian American communities by tackling the model minority myth.” They have a lot of great resources.
- Free virtual space for Asian-identified People to gather; via Minka Collective