California Educator

April/May 2021

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A S O U R N A T I O N grieves the murder of eight people, including six Asian women, on March 16 at three metropolitan Atlanta health spas, educators are rising to support the Asian Amer- ican community, #StopAsianHate, and fight white supremacy and misogyny. e killings are among the latest incidents in a rising tide of hate and violence directed at the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. A report released in mid-March by Stop AAPI Hate showed about 3,800 reported hate incidents β€” nearly half in California β€” between March 19, 2020, and Feb. 28 of this year, ranging from verbal abuse to physical assault and refusing service for being Asian. "As the child and grandchild of proud Asian American immigrants, I am heart- broken by the racism and violence directed toward th e Asian Am erican and Pacific Islander communities in recent months β€” things that have always existed but have only now generated nationwide attention," says CTA Board member Telly Tse. "ese acts are grim reminders of the urgency of all of us standing together against hate, racism and violence." "While there are no words to express the sorrow we feel by the pain and loss in our Asian American communities here in California and across this nation, we stand in strong solidarity condemning these racist, hateful acts of violence deeply rooted in white supremacy," says CTA President E. Toby Boyd. "Today, we say to all who hear this: Not one more life!" NEA President Becky Pringle says we all need to be united. "When our livelihoods, our safety and our security are threat- ened, we must come together to address hate and violence. All of us are safer when we address hate and bias, and recognize when we work across racial differences, we are stronger." Despite having to fight long-standing battles against racism, hate, discrimination and even internment, Asian Americans have played vitally important roles in building our state and nation. e recent rise of hateful rhetoric coupled with former President Trump's labeling of COVID-19 as the "China Virus" has contributed to an America where last summer 3-in-10 Asian Americans reported having experienced racial slurs or racist jokes since the start of the Educators Rise to Support AAPI Community The time is now to #StopAsianHate By Julian Peeples Joe Brusky/Overpass Light Brigade "Racism and violence toward the AAPI communities have always existed but have only now generated nationwide attention." β€”CTA Board member Telly Tse 36 cta.org Advocacy

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