There is no way to describe the overwhelming loss of life that has taken place over the last week and its impact on the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community and the communities of Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay.
The new year, especially Lunar New Year, is usually celebrated with immense joy in our diverse AAPI community. Unfortunately, our community has faced much tragedy and trauma over the last several years, and we are in shock while we are mourning.
These acts of violence, during a time where Asian American families come to gather and celebrate, are creating feelings of fear. Yet at the same time, we are reminded of our communal strength and resilience as we work to heal during a difficult time.
In response to these events, Asian American Alliance of Marin will continue to support victims and communities through local advocacy, and social and racial justice work. We will continue to connect our AAPI community to mental health resources that are available in various languages and through a lens of cultural humility and proficiency. Finally, we will work to ensure our lawmakers support policies that restrict opportunities for gun violence to occur. Together, we will keep the communities of Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay in our hearts, while we recommit to our Marin AAPI community to act locally and work on solutions to prevent tragedies like these to happen again.
Resources to Strengthen our AAPI Community:
Stop AAPI Hate – Support Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay
Marin Behavioral Health and Recovery Services – Connect to Local Help and Information
Marin Outreach and Prevention Team – Building Resilience, Connections, and Hope
Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations – AAPI Mental Health Resource Guide
National Alliance on Mental Illness – NAMI Marin
2020 Solidarity Statement and Call to Action
Standing in solidarity for basic human rights and the elimination of structural racism is an ongoing quintessential moral position—and not merely a temporary political position. All members of the Board of Asian American Alliance of Marin (AAAM) express our deepest grief over the tragic loss of Black lives—most recently Tyre Nichols, but the list goes on—under the unjust fatal force of law enforcement. We denounce the historical and ongoing oppression of our Black brothers and sisters from state-sanctioned violence and systemic oppression. We also recognize that the fight towards freedom and equality for all Americans, especially those people of color historically oppressed in America, is truly what should be embodied in the freedom our country celebrates on the 4th of July.
The Board of Asian American Alliance of Marin recommits our organization’s mission of advocating for social and racial justice. We also commit to creating more opportunities for anti-racist reflections, dialogues, and actions in which all members of the Marin County community can participate.
Read our original solidarity statement here.
Asian American Alliance of Marin 