"Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can."
– Arthur Ashe '66
On behalf of the staff, we want to express our deepest condolences for all those affected by last night's attacks in Atlanta and the rise in anti-Asian hatred, the injustices for Black community members we have lost to police violence and other forms of racism that impact communities of belonging — all on the backdrop of the disparate impact of COVID-19.
Personally, from a conflicted and heavy heart, I want to simply say this: I hear you. I see you. I am here with you.
Often times, writing from our positionality as staff, it can be challenging to express the full humanity of what we are experiencing. But I would be remiss not to bring my full self into this moment for our community. I am angry. I am sad. I am fearful. As an Asian American who identifies as a person of color leading identity-based spaces in higher education, I feel compelled to organize and mobilize, but I also feel paralyzed with guilt and hopelessness. Am I doing enough? How do I do this in the right way?
I know some of you are feeling the same. I have received numerous texts, calls and emails from alumni like you, checking in on me and our team. It is humbling, inspiring and a strong reminder that we are all in this together. This battle against hate is not new. You all ignite a fire within me to find solutions to address these terrible issues that call for our solidarity.
We come to this work, not only as professionals, but with personal commitments to addressing oppression and fighting for social justice. I may not have the solution, but I know, as Bruins, we can find them together.
I’m here.
For now, I do want to share the voices of the Bruins that are giving me hope during this time. This issue features fearless leaders of our Bruin community that are at the forefront of the fight that is addressing anti-Asian hate.
Learn
Led by executive director Michelle Sugihara, J.D. '01,
Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment (CAPE) introduced a playbook, "Stop Asian Hate,"
for weeding out systemic injustices while planting seeds that engender new, greater socioeconomic equity.
Report '"Translate COVID," a multilingual resource hub created by the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, UCLA Asian American Studies Center and the UCLA Institute of American Cultures, lists resources to report hate incidents.
Understand Multilingual reporting on hate crimes is vital to understanding the full picture. Jeong Park '17 has compiled a Twitter thread of ethnic media outlets reporting on Tuesday's crime.
More Resources The UCLA Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion has compiled resources on anti-Asian discrimination. Our staff will also be holding space for alumni at a Dial-in Check-in on Friday at 5:30 p.m. (PDT).
