Like many of you, we at BAMA are saddened and dismayed by the tragic events and incidents happening all over the San Francisco Bay Area and around the country. Since the beginning of the pandemic, there’s been an increase in hate crimes and racist sentiment against Asian and Pacific Islander American (APIA) members of our community. Many of the victims are our elderly and many are women.
We at BAMA vehemently condemn these hate crimes, and we stand together against all violence, racism, and misogyny. At BAMA, we welcome everyone regardless of race, ethnicity, age, gender, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, economic status and other diverse backgrounds—this includes all students, staff, faculty, and the communities to which we all belong.
To learn more about how to support our Asian American peers at this time, the following article explains What You Can Do to Fight Violence and Racism Against Asian Americans and includes many ideas for how to prioritize safety, speak up, and be an ally. If you witness a hate crime and wish to report it, you can visit Stop AAPI Hate. If you would like to get more involved, you may want to attend Hollaback’s free bystander intervention training. A group called SF Chinatown Patrol have been doing weekly patrols through Chinatown in San Francisco, in hopes to deter attacks and prevent any violence. Additional organizations that support the fight against Asian hate can be found here.
If you have any concerns about this or related issues in the context of BAMA, please reach out to Simonida Cvejic, or to Angela Dombrowski, to share your concerns.
Thank you for your continued courage, generosity, and kindness in making the BAMA community safe for all. Stay safe and stay well.
