Dear Life Sciences Community,

Like all of you, I have been horrified to witness the increase in violence targeted at the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. The most recent murders of eight people, six of whom were Asian American women, highlight the devastating consequences of racism, misogyny, and the hateful mixture of the two. This is the latest of a growing number of attacks, including abhorrent attacks on the elderly. The sense of terror and vulnerability felt by members of our Bruin community shake us all to our core. The failure to name these acts as hate incidents exacerbates the anguish and anger of a community whose experience with oppression and violence has been ignored or denied. The Life Sciences community stands in solidarity with our Asian American Pacific Islander colleagues, students, staff, friends as we reject this and all forms of hatred. But “standing in solidarity” is not a passive act. We must commit to using our voices to speak out in coalition against all forms of racism and embrace our roles as allies.

We will continue to share resources to support the community as we do the work of deep reflection and actively reject all forms of hate and discrimination.

A few of these that provide support, space, and training are listed below:

Statements from UCLA Administration

Statement from Asian American studies department, Asian American Studies Center and the Center for the Study of Women

#StopAAPIHate

Hollaback Bystander Intervention Training and training for people experiencing Anti-Asian/American Harassment Training

Asian Pacific Islander Faculty Staff Association (APIFSA)

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Tracy Johnson
Dean, Division of Life Sciences