SOMSD Statement on Violence Against AAPI Community, March 22, 2021

Dear SOMSD Community,

We have been following the events and senseless acts of violence that have occurred against the Asian-American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community in Georgia, New York and across our country. As a community, our hearts are broken. We are disheartened over the senseless loss of life of eight human beings, six of whom were women of Asian descent. 

Over the past year, we have witnessed how words, fear, intolerance, and lack of empathy have led to a rise in hate crimes, injustice, discrimination, harassment, and bullying against the AAPI community.   Hate crimes against the AAPI community have been on the rise since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. A report released by “Stop AAPI Hate” revealed that there have been at least 3,795 hate incidents targeting the AAPI community between March 2020 and February 2021; more than 500 occurred in 2021.

The Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Ronald G. Taylor, shared, “On behalf of the Board and District leadership, we condemn any acts that would seek to diminish the worth of any one group due to their race, gender, nationality or heritage….”  The deaths of these eight people, six of whom were Asian American women, on Tuesday in Atlanta was an unspeakable tragedy for the families of the victims, first and foremost, and also for the AAPI community, who have been faced with high levels of racial discrimination.”

As a District, we stand in solidarity with our AAPI community, our staff, students, families, community partners, and any group that has faced injustice and racism. There is no place for hate and discrimination in our community and schools.  The victims of this shooting were mothers, wives, daughters, aunts, friends, a grandmother, an Army veteran, and a husband. We will not forget the names of those whose lives were tragically cut short on Tuesday, March 16, among them:

1. Soon Chung Park, 74;
2. Hyun Jung Grant, 51;
3. Suncha Kim, 69; 
4. Yong Ae Yue, 63;
5. Delaina Yaun, 33;
6. Xiaojie Tan, 49;
7. Paul Andre Michels, 52; and
8. Daoyou Feng, 44.

Internal Resources for Students:

We encourage members of our student/parent community to reach out to their school social workers and/or counseling department for individual & group counseling services for students.

1. Elementary Schools:  Click here for more information: bit.ly/SOMSDElemSW
2. Middle School & High School:  Your child’s  Guidance Counselor can provide counseling for your child, connect you with resources available in the Secondary Schools as well as provide referrals to an outside therapist.  Students with IEP’s should contact their case manager.

Additional external resources.

• Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Parents and Teachers

• How to Talk to Your Kids About the Atlanta Shootings & #StopAsianHate

• After Atlanta: Teaching About Asian American Identity and History (links to more resources included in the article)

• Stop Asian Hate Ebooks and Printable Resources

• How to Respond to Coronavirus Racism | Learning for Justice

• Teaching About Anti-Asian Racism and Xenop#StopAsianHate: Teaching Resources & Our Commitment to Anti-Racism — Pear Deck

Dr. Ronald G. Taylor, Superintendent of Schools

Dr. Gretel Perez, Assistant Superintendent, Access & Equity

South Orange & Maplewood Board of Education