March 17, 2021 – The Color Me Human Board of Directors is deeply saddened by the loss of eight lives to gun violence in the state of Georgia last night, six of whom were Asian American women, and we send our deepest condolences to the families and friends of these victims.
Racism and hate crimes against the Asian-American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) populations are deeply rooted in American history, and this event is an outgrowth of the well-documented rise in harassment and violence against Asian and Asian-American people since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a racial justice organization, we condemn this violence in the strongest possible way.
There is a clear and troubling correlation between this violent attack and an increase in white nationalist discourse and anti-immigrant rhetoric. We join our allies in the racial justice and gender equity communities in demanding justice for the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. We stand in solidarity with our AAPI brothers and sisters as we work toward a more just and inclusive society.