[AAA] In Support of the Asian American Community

[Samantha Cheung]

In light of the tragic event in Atlanta on March 16th and the recent rise of anti-Asian hate crimes, we, the MIT Asian American Association, want to offer our support to the AAPI community at MIT and beyond. Since the outbreak of COVID-19 last year, 3,795 reports of anti-Asian hate incidents have occurred, especially in elderly or economically disadvantaged communities. We understand that all of us have faced different challenges and endured different levels of pain. We understand that we are marginalized, fetishized, exploited, and held to the false standard of the "model minority." We understand that at times we are scared for ourselves, our family, and our neighbors. But even more than that, we understand that we come from a diverse, connected, and beautiful collection of cultures. We vehemently condemn all forms of prejudice and hate towards the AAPI community.


Although global acts of racism against AAPI have been present for decades, the current pandemic and socio-political landscape between Asia and the U.S. have presented additional challenges to understanding across cultures. The first step is to take care of yourself. Consult the resources linked at the bottom. Lean on your allies and find ways to support and be supported. Protect those with lesser power and privilege than you. Embrace your identity with pride. Last but not least, take steps to continue educating your peers beyond performative action.


AAA will continue to provide an outlet where those in pain can feel supported. We will connect anyone in need to additional resources on and off MIT campus so we can all get through these troubling times together. We want to invite members of all communities to conversations about identity, intersectionality, and how to work together towards greater change.


With love,


AAA Exec


Resources:


Reporting:

Stop AAPI Hate: stopaapihate.com

Stand Against Hate: Standagainsthatred.org

Massachusetts Asian American Commission: https://www.aacommission.org/report-a-hate-incident/

COVID-19 Racial Aggression Live Map: https://iamnotavirus.net/


If you have been attacked on the MIT campus, please contact the MIT Police at (617) 253-1212. You should also report this incident with the Institute Discrimination & Harassment Response Office at idhr at mit.edu. Some people wonder whether they should report cases that are not physically violent - there is no case too minor to report.


Mental health:

MIT Mental Health and Counseling: 617-253-2916

MIT MyLife Services: https://hr.mit.edu/worklife/mylifeservices; 844-405-LIFE

SPXCE: https://studentlife.mit.edu/impact-opportunities/diversity-inclusion/spxce

Asian Mental Health Collective: asianmhc.org

SAMHSA National Hotline: 1-800-662-HELP

Calhope Emotional Support Hotline: 833-317-HOPE

Crisis line: 1-800-273-TALK

Asian languages: 1-877-990-8585

Crisis text line: text "CONNECT" to 741741


Action and Support:

Atlanta Phone Banking: bit.ly/aaajphonebank

gofundme.com/aapi

gofundme.com/f/support-the-cause-against-anti-asian-violence

gofundme.com/f/victims-of-violent-crimes-in-the-bay-area

Advancing Justice Atlanta: advancingjustice-atlanta.org/donate

Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund: aaldef.org

Asian Pacific Environmental Network: apen4ej.org

Asian Prisoner Support Committee: asianprisonersupport.org

Filipino Cultural Center: filipinocc.org/take-action

API Equality Norcal: apienc.org

Oakland Vietnamese Community Center: oaklandvnchamber.com

Chinese Progressive Association: cpasf.org/new-donate

Asian Law Caucus: advancingjustice-alc.org

Stop AAPI Hate: stopaapihate.org


Resources from Kim Saira and John H. Dozier


?


Samantha Cheung

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Department of Mechanical Engineering | Sloan School of Management | Class of 2022

cheungs at mit.edu | 978-873-3737

sammicheung.com
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mailman.mit.edu/pipermail/aaa-announce/attachments/20210318/13c01359/attachment.html