FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Howie Berman
703.894.2900 ext. 106
This week, eight people were murdered in Atlanta, Georgia—six of the individuals were women of Asian descent. Our hearts go out to the victims and their families.
ACTFL is outraged by the increasing instances of racism and violent hate crimes perpetrated against Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) people across the United States. A recent study from the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at CSU-San Bernardino showed that anti-Asian hate crimes surged by 149% in 2020. AAPI communities have been unjustly scapegoated and demonized by many in this country over the COVID-19 pandemic.
We unequivocally reject all forms of racism, hate, and xenophobia. These ideologies have no place in our society.
As we stated last June after the murder of George Floyd, as language educators, we must demonstrate to our learners that our differences are to be cherished and respected and we must create anti-racist learning environments. When we see hate, we must speak out against it.
Our Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander educators and learners are a tremendous source of pride, inspiration, and strength. Their contributions to this community make us more vibrant as a collective.
ACTFL stands in solidarity with the AAPI community.