FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, March 17
Contact: Cory Fischer
[email protected]
202-524-0651
Bend the Arc Mourns the Murder of Asian Women in Atlanta Shootings
Jewish community rises in solidarity against the nationwide crisis of anti-Asian bigotry and misogyny
WASHINGTON – Bend the Arc: Jewish Action released the following statement in response to the shooting spree targeting Asian women at Atlanta-area spas on March 16, the same day that Stop AAPI Hate released a report documenting 3,795 anti-Asian racist incidents in the past year, 68% of which were reported by Asian women:
“Our hearts are broken by the horrific targeting of Asian American women at massage parlors in Georgia and for the eight people who were murdered yesterday,” said Stosh Cotler, CEO of Bend the Arc: Jewish Action. “Every person, no matter what we look like or where we come from, deserves to live with freedom, safety, and belonging. Across the country, AAPI Americans are being scapegoated, harassed, and assaulted — and a disproportionate amount of these attacks have been directed at Asian American women. All Americans must show up in solidarity to defeat this toxic combination of anti-Asian bigotry and misogyny.”
“This is a national crisis fomented by politicians who have chosen to point fingers and spread fear instead of taking action to keep everyone safe from the pandemic. Their words and rhetoric are once again echoing in gunshots, as they have in Pittsburgh, El Paso, and most recently in the halls of the Capitol building, and they must be held accountable.“
“As Jews, we know that freedom and safety for any of us depends on the freedom and safety of all of us. Our multiracial Jewish community rises in solidarity with our Asian family, including AAPI Jews, and all who are targeted by white nationalism to build a country that fulfills the promise of freedom and safety for all of us, no exceptions.”
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Bend the Arc: Jewish Action is uniting a movement of tens of thousands of progressive Jews across the country who are fighting for justice and equality for all. We are the only national Jewish organization focused exclusively on social change in the United States.