The recent attacks against Asian Americans in Georgia are unspeakable tragedies, elevating the fear and pain that the AAPI community has been facing in this country following sustained waves of discrimination tracing back to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Blatantly xenophobic and inflammatory language is unacceptable under any circumstance, and its use in the public dialog can have truly disastrous consequences. This kind of reprehensible language, and a deliberate choice by many to adopt a racist mindset, has caused a spike in discriminatory anti-Asian hate crimes. For members of the AAPI community in America, these regrettable experiences and the daily anxiety they induce are sadly not new or surprising – it is past time we all confront this reality together.
Public transit riders and people walking down the streets of New York City have encountered hostile assaults and across the country many members of the AAPI community now fear for their lives. According to the organization Stop AAPI Hate, there has been a documented pattern of recent attacks against the Asian community, reporting nearly 3,800 hate incidents in the U.S. since March 2020. These racist acts have roots in a shameful history of anti-Asian discrimination in this country. For the AAPI community and all its allies standing for equality and justice, these recent outbursts of hate and violence serve as an urgent reminder of the need to call out racism when and where we see it.
Not enough has been done to acknowledge this reality, let alone protect the AAPI community from it. If this heinous discriminatory behavior continues, our neighbors, friends, and co-workers will continue to feel unwelcome in places where they should feel safe and supported. Our rhetoric and our actions matter. The responsibility to stand up, protect, and act falls on everyone.
As an organization, Global Strategy Group is fiercely devoted to confronting racial and social inequalities. We are proud of our team and clients who are committed to creating a world that is equitable and inclusive. We stand ready to address issues of equity of all kinds, and encourage all our employees, clients, and colleagues to pause, reflect, denounce, and actively oppose anti-Asian racism.