The University of Houston Libraries would like to collectively express our shock and sorrow at the tragic murders of eight people in the Atlanta area, six of them Asian women. We support our Asian and Asian-American library colleagues, members of the UH community, and the wider Asian and Asian-American communities in this time of grieving and outrage. We stand in opposition to racism, misogyny, hate, and the escalating violence perpetrated against Asian and Asian-American people over the past year. We recognize that anti-Asian hate and violence is not new, and is deeply rooted in US history. As we reflect on these troubling times, we recommit ourselves to the work of equity, inclusion, diversity, and anti-racism.

To join us in this commitment, please take action by raising your awareness of the harmful effects of anti-Asian xenophobia, taking bystander intervention training, or donating to anti-racist efforts. We ask that those who are not directly affected respect and acknowledge the pain that members of the Asian and Asian-American community may be experiencing.

Resources for Further Action

• Explore Anti-Asian Violence Resources (Includes statistics, ways to donate, resources to educate, etc.)
• Take bystander intervention training
• Donate to:
  • AAPI Community Fund (GoFundMe has compiled a comprehensive list of verified donation pages on its platform to support victims of anti-Asian hate crimes, provide safety resources to the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities, and advance research into the increased violence. The site has also launched the AAPI Community Fund, which will provide grants to AAPI advocacy organizations across the country.)
  • Stop AAPI Hate (This organization compiles reports of hate crimes against AAPI communities throughout the US, provides support to victims of these crimes, and produces reports on these incidents that help advocate for social and political protections for the communities.)
  • Asian Americans Advancing Justice (Fights for Asian-Americans’ civil rights and empowers the community through education, litigation, and public policy advocacy.)
  • AAPI Women Lead (Through the #ImReady Movement, AAPI Women Lead works alongside other BIPOC communities to empower Asian American Pacific Islander women to become leaders in politics, business, technology, and education, fighting back against the discrimination and violence that are all too common to AAPI women.)