Standing against Anti-Asian Racism and Violence

Dear Wheaton Community,

Yesterday’s violent events in Georgia were deeply disturbing and unfortunately represent a pattern of assaults, discrimination, hate and violence towards Asians and Asian Americans. There have been nearly 4000 hate incidents of many forms against Asian Americans reported over the past year. This rise in anti-Asian violence is alarming and reveals ongoing issues of racism against Asian American communities, exacerbated throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Below are some events and opportunities for the Wheaton community to learn more about this pressing issue and show our support, including one hosted by the Marshall Center this evening.

We stand with our Asian and Asian American community members against this shameful violence, prejudice, hate and discrimination. Wheaton is steadily working towards institutionalizing our rejection of racism, bigotry, and hate of all kinds and call on our community members to denounce any racially motivated and xenophobic acts of harassment and violence using our bias-incident reporting system.

EVENTS

Healing Space to Support Our Asian Community
Hosted by the Marshall Center for Intercultural Learning
Today, Wednesday, March 17 at 5 p.m. ET

Conversations about Anti-Asian Racism, Anti-Blackness; Race and Racism in the Black/Asian communities
Hosted by the East Asian Student Association and Black Student Association
Friday, March 19 at 6:30 p.m. ET

Massachusetts Town Hall on Anti-Asian Racism
Hosted by Commonwealth of Massachusetts Asian-American Commission
Thursday, March 25 at 6 p.m. ET

COVID-19 Community Memorial Service
Thursday, March 25 at 7 p.m. ET

Reading Resources
Stop AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander Initiative) Hate (PDF)
WBUR News: Asian Americans Experience ‘Far More’ Hate Incidents Than Numbers Indicate

We must support each other through these challenging moments. Please join us.

With appreciation and support,

Dennis M. Hanno, President
Kelsey Andrade, Assistant to the President and Secretary to the Board of Trustees
Gene Begin, Vice President for Marketing and Communications
Walter Caffey, Vice President for Enrollment and Dean of Admission & Student Aid
Merritt Crowley, Vice President for College Advancement
Shaya Gregory Poku, Associate Vice President for Institutional Equity and Belonging
Zachary Irish, Interim Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students
Meghan E. Kass, Vice President for Finance and Administration
Renée T. White, Provost