Asian American Community Firmly Stands in Support with George Floyd’s Family and our African American Community
On behalf of the Asian American business community and the undersigned Asian community organizations, we issue this statement to stand in support with George Floyd’s family following his tragic, unlawful killing. We strongly urge law enforcement to swiftly pursue justice and hold ALL individuals accountable for his death. We also voice our strong support for the members of our African American community, who must once again vocalize their grief and frustration over the historic, systemic, and pervasive racial discrimination in our communities.
The anger that is being voiced in our community and across our country is real, needs to be heard, and most importantly, change must occur. This change needs to be addressed at all levels, from our National leaders, to our local government, and to each of us individually. Enough is enough. The Asian American community is often seen as being pitted against the African American community in times of unrest, sitting on the sidelines and refusing to engage. We vocally and forcefully reject this narrative. It is up to all of us to constructively force change to happen and demand support from our own communities for our African American community. We must all ask ourselves, are we speaking up when we see and hear discriminatory acts and statements from our own group? Are we creating environments where direct conversations about race can occur? Are we teaching our future generations that change must occur and it must continue with them? Finally, are we demanding racial equality, inclusion and promotion from our business partners, leaders and law enforcement? If not, we are part of the problem.
In 2014, the St. Louis community was at the center of attention following the death of Michael Brown. In the weeks, months and years following his death, there was tremendous work done to improve racial equality in Ferguson. Just last night, we saw the long-fought fruits of this labor where Ella Jones, became the first female African American mayor of Ferguson. We must take the lessons we learned in 2014 and continue to advocate for change in our region and nationally.
Even while the Asian American community lives in fear of harassment and violence in public spaces due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we cannot and should not stay silent while our African American community is under attack. Just as in 1982, when the African American community came to our aid to augment our voice when Vincent Chin was murdered, we must stand firmly with them in these times of unrest. Unequivocally and unconditionally, we say to our African American community, Black Lives Matter. Your agony is our agony, your march is our march, and when you are victorious, we will celebrate with you. Because only when Black Lives Matter, can All Lives Matter.
“I think everybody understands all lives matter. I think the reason that the organizers used the phrase ‘Black Lives Matter’ was not because they were suggesting nobody else’s lives matter. Rather, what they were suggesting was there is a specific problem that’s happening in the African-American community that’s not happening in other communities. And that is a legitimate issue that we’ve got to address.” – President Barack Obama
- Asian American Chamber of Commerce St. Louis
- St. Louis Chinese American News
- Missouri Asian American Bar Association
- OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates St. Louis
- Saint Louis Vietnamese Community
Media Contact: Nguyen Violette, AACC St. Louis President (nguyenviolette@gmail.com 314-452-5748)
黑人的命也是命! 圣路易地区亚裔社团、媒体坚定支持George Floyd及非裔美人社区争取正义
【圣路易时报讯】圣路易地区亚美商会、密苏里亚美律师协会、美华协会、越南社区以及圣路易时报,6月6日联合发表声明,黑人的命也是命,唯有黑人的命也是命,才能做到所有人的命都是命。
声明中强烈支持George Floyd悲剧事件和他的家庭争取正义,同时强烈支持圣路易非洲裔美人社区,争取正义。
声明中表示,我们必须再一次发声,对历史上社区发生过的种族歧视表示悲痛和失望。
2014年,圣路易Ferguson市发生悲痛的Michael Brown事件。6月2日选举中,Ferguson市选出第一位女性非洲裔美人市长Ella Jones。我们应该由2014 Michael Brown事件中学习,并继续为改变我们的社区和国家继续发声。
就算现在亚裔社区有着因新冠病毒被暴力骚扰的恐惧,但是当我们的非裔美人社区遭受攻击时,我们不能保持沉默,就像在1982年陈果仁事件中,非裔美人社区站出来帮助我们争取正义一样。
毫无疑问和无条件的,我们要对我们的非裔美国人社区说:“黑人的命也是命!”,你们的痛苦也是我们的痛苦,你们的示威抗议游行也是我们的示威抗议游行,当你们取得胜利时,我们将与你们一起庆祝。 因为,只有达到“黑人的命也是命”时,才能做到“所有人的命都是命!”。