TEAM ADVANCE Statement on Anti-Asian/Asian American Violence
Friday, March 19, 2021
TEAM ADVANCE is deeply saddened by the tragic events that occurred on March 16, 2021. Eight victims, including 6 women of Asian descent, were killed in 3 connected shootings in the Atlanta community. This event is not isolated and represents an alarming increase in anti-Asian violence across the U.S. These acts of violence and discrimination, which have further intensified during the pandemic, are part of a longstanding history of discrimination and oppression impacting Asian American and Pacific Islander communities.
TEAM ADVANCE unequivocally condemns anti-Asian violence and stands against xenophobia, racism, discrimination, intersectional oppression, cisheterosexism, and misogyny. We affirm our support for members of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities and others that are deeply affected and hurting. We know that our words alone cannot express the sadness and impact of this tragic loss of 8 lives. Our affirmation of support and pledge of solidarity is also a call to action. As members of the UNC and broader community, we must acknowledge the impacts of these events on racialized communities and remain committed to the eradication of discrimination, racism, and systems of oppression.
Erin Malloy, M.D., Lead Principal Investigator
Director, Center for Faculty Excellence
Professor and Director of Medical Student Education, Department of Psychiatry with secondary appointment in Social Medicine, School of Medicine
Jaye Cable, Ph.D., Co-Principal Investigator
Senior Associate Dean for Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Professor, Environment, Ecology, and Energy Program and Department of Marine Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences
Kia Caldwell, Ph.D., Co-Principal Investigator and Special Assistant to the Provost for TEAM ADVANCE
Professor, Department of African, African American and Diaspora Studies, College of Arts and Sciences
Kelly Ryoo, Ph.D., Co-Principal Investigator
Associate Professor, School of Education
Patricia Parker, Ph.D., Senior Personnel
Professor and Chair, Department of Communication, College of Arts and Sciences
Gloria Thomas, Ph.D., Senior Personnel
Director, Carolina Women’s Center
Shauna Cooper, Ph.D., Faculty Fellow for Intersectionality and Gender Equity
Associate Professor and Director of Diversity Initiatives, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, College of Arts and Sciences
Joanna Foland, M.A., Research Project Manager
Center for Faculty Excellence
Susan Girdler, Ph.D., Advisor for Mentoring Program Development
Lead Principal Investigator, The PROMISE Study
CFE Faculty in Residence for Faculty Mentoring
Professor and Vice Chair of Faculty Development, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine
Brionca Taylor, M.A., Program Assistant
Doctoral Candidate, Department of Sociology, College of Arts and Sciences
Wenxin Zeng, Program Assistant for Data Assessment
Master’s Student, Information Science, School of Information and Library Science
Campus Statements and Calls to Action
UNC’s Asian American Center statement on March 16 Shootings (written by Heidi Kim, Director of the Asian American Center, March 17, 2021)
UNC Graduate School’s statement, Message of Solidarity with the Asian American Community (written by Suzanne Barbour, Dean of The Graduate School, March 18, 2021)
UNC leadership’s statement, Supporting the Asian American Community (issued by Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz, Provost Robert Blouin, and Special Advisor and Interim Chief Diversity Officer Sibby Anderson-Thompkins, March 9, 2021)
Resources
UNC Counseling and Psychological Services
UNC Asian American Center Resources
UNC Office for Diversity and Inclusion
What it Means to be Asian American at Carolina(Carolina Together)
Resources for AAPI Communities in NC(Collective Google Doc)
House Judiciary Committee’s Hearing on Discrimination and Violence Against Asian Americans (Convened on March 18, 2021)
Anti-racism Resources to Support Asian American and Pacific Islander communities (NBC News)
Asian Americans, Racism, and Antiracism in the COVID Era (Resource for talking with children, Embrace Race)
Additional Resources for Parents, Families, and Caregivers (Embrace Race)
Berkeley Expert: In Times of Crisis, Anti-Asian Violence is an American Tradition (UC-Berkeley News)