In response to an increase in violence against the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community, the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) backed the Society of Asian Scientists & Engineers (SASE) in their statement denouncing all verbal and physical attacks against members of the AAPI community (or any other community based on their identity or heritage).
March 19, 2021
SASE and Allies Respond to Recent Atlanta Shootings
We join the nation in mourning this week’s shootings in Atlanta. As an organization that promotes and celebrates Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) visibility, it is difficult not to take this loss of life personally. It is especially heartbreaking because this is not an isolated occurrence, but rather the largest single incident in the unprecedented wave of targeted anti-Asian violence that has swept the globe during the past year.
In light of these ongoing events, we are compelled to reiterate our previous statement: we unequivocally denounce all verbal or physical attacks against members of the AAPI community or any other community based on their identity or heritage.
These victims are innocent, vibrant people whose stories deserve to be told. We call on law enforcement as well as media outlets to be more sensitive and mindful about how they portray violent crimes. Attempting to explain or justify a suspect’s behavior diminishes the value of these victims as human beings, and it amplifies the already devastating emotional toll on the victims’ families, friends and communities.
As tragic as each of these incidents has been, we hope that the widespread attention from this latest act of violence will serve as a watershed moment in our efforts to advance the perception and inclusion of the AAPI community on the national and global stage. Several allied organizations have aligned with our statement in solidarity with this vital cause. We are advocating for change at a systemic level to elevate the perspectives of all populations who have been underserved and underrepresented in our collective society.
By encouraging equality and allyship, we can more effectively dismantle the attitudes and behaviors that contribute to racially motivated violence. This goal is achievable with support and participation from people of all backgrounds and experiences. Please take a moment to check on your AAPI friends and colleagues, and listen to and learn from their perspectives. We look forward to the example that our actions now will set for the professional leaders that we are preparing for the future — a safe, equitable future based on respect for all cultures.
#ForwardTogether #StopAAPIHate
Respectfully signed,
The Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers (SASE)
The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE)
The Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
Out in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (oSTEM)
Related content:
- SWE Condemns Violence Against the AAPI Community
- Hidden in Plain Sight: Asian-American Engineers
- Podcast: The Experience of Being an Asian American Female Engineer
- Demand Equal Pay for AAPI Women!
- Asian Pacific American Heritage Month: Highlighting Asian American Engineers
