UC Davis ASA Public Statement on API Hate Crime
February 2021
We, the faculty and staff of Asian American Studies, condemn the anti-Asian racism and hate crimes that have impacted our community members. Recently, Vicha Ratanapakdee, an 84-year old Thai-American, lost his life by being shoved to the ground while walking in San Francisco. A 61-year old Filipino-American man, Noel Quintana, was cut in the face during his morning commute to work on the New York City subway. These are only a few examples of numerous attacks, and the Asian American community has suffered from it. This racist violence comes in the wake of anti-Asian/Chinese attacks in response to the COVID-19 virus that redirected frustration with the pandemic and lack of healthcare to Asian communities and were stoked by the xenophobia and anti-Asian racism of Trump.
These attacks are not unique. These are the result of white supremacy and intersectional oppression that minoritized people have been enduring for too long. An increase in policing and police budgets are not sustainable solutions. We reject securing our safety at the expense of others and criminalization of Black communities. We urge the government to invest in infrastructure and community-based solutions for stopping racism and systemic inequality. ASA faculty and staff want to underline our commitment to creating spaces where our students can discuss racism and the answers to fix the broken system in solidarity with marginalized people including, but not limited, to Asian American and Pacific Islander, Black, Indigenous, Muslim, and people of color communities.