Salam (greetings of peace),
We are writing to you today with broken hearts and shattered spirits after the news of the violence that occured in Atlanta GA, causing 8 lives to end prematurely. Of the 8 victims, 6 Asian women and 2 were men. As North Carolina Muslims, we know that when the media goes unchecked and unchallenged, obvious hate crimes get reported as a “bad day” for white perpetrators and the humanity and of the victims are entirely erased. This is white supremacy at work.
We reject that narrative and invite you to instead learn about the lives of the victims and their community’s resilience. Learn their names.
Asian organizers and community members across the country have been speaking out against the rise in anti-Asian violence throughout 2020 and even far before then. For far too long their voices have been largely ignored. From the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882, to the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II, to the forced migration of refugees from U.S.-led military conflict in Southeast Asia, to post-9/11 surveillance targeting Muslim and South Asian communities, to ICE raids on Southeast Asian communities and Asian-owned businesses, Asian American communities have been under attack by white supremacy. As the Asian community mourns, we must do the work of educating ourselves and our respective communities about these injustices.
We are following the lead of Asian organizers in Georgia and across the diaspora as we learn about the lives of those that were lost, their families, their communities and how we can ensure nothing like this ever happens again.
We invite you to explore these resources and donate to support the families of the victims if you can. You can also learn more about NC Asian-led organizations like North Carolina Asian Americans Together, Kiran Inc and many, many more can be found here.
In solidarity and deep love,
Muslim Women For