The YWCA Berkeley/Oakland is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women,* developing leaders and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.
In response to the acts of violence against the Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) Community, the YWCA Berkeley/Oakland denounces the rise in anti-Asian hate and racism in solidarity with the AAPI Community and in solidarity with local organizers, advocates, leaders, educators, and policymakers who are working to address these issues for our communities. We must denounce and eliminate racism against the AAPI Community as well as uplift the AAPI Community and their demands.
Within this year, several elders have been targeted in Oakland’s Chinatown. These numbers on anti-Asian hate and attacks are also likely to be an undercount of what is happening. According to Stop AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) Hate reporting center, there have been 2,808 firsthand accounts of anti-Asian hate documented since the beginning of the pandemic. Based on these reports, 1,226 incidents took place in California, and 708 of those incidents occurred in the Bay Area alone. Moreover, San Francisco has witnessed the majority of incidents, while the cities with the second and third most incidents were San Jose and Oakland1.
Racism and white supremacy affects all of us and our communities, and the YWCA Berkeley/Oakland seeks to continue to uplift ongoing anti-racism work. Please support the AAPI Community by sharing and engaging in the incredible anti-racism work led by local and national organizations and groups below:
- Stop AAPI Hate
- Anti-Racism Resources for Asian Americans
- Coronavirus/Covid-19 Resources to Stand Against Racism
- Resources for the Asian American Community on Anti-Blackness
- Asian American Organizations Across the Bay Area Join Forces to Demand Action Against Violence (Statement and Signatories)
The YWCA Berkeley/Oakland takes a Stand Against Racism every day to educate, advocate, and promote social justice. On March 1st, 2021, we launched our 21 Day Racial Equity & Social Justice Challenge as a campaign to create dedicated time and space to build more effective social justice habits, particularly those dealing with issues of race, power, privilege, and leadership. We host annual Stand Against Racism and Week Without Violence events that uplift local leaders, organizers, and advocates and their dedication to anti-racism work. We encourage you to learn more about how we support young leaders and our local communities by following us on our website: ywca-berkeley.org.
In Solidarity,
YWCA Berkeley/Oakland Board and Staff
The YWCA Berkeley/Oakland is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women*, developing leaders and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. At the YWCA Berkeley/Oakland, we work to support full access and engagement for women* and girls* of color in our communities. Each of our YWCA Berkeley/Oakland Programs work to fulfill our mission, and are dedicated to doing so with passion, accountability, and care. *Our use of “girls” and “women” is used through the lens of gender expansiveness.
1https://www.kqed.org/news/11859965/700-anti-asian-hate-incidents-reported-in-bay-area-during-pandemic-true-figures-might-be-even-worse