IEDC statement condemning anti-AAPI violence

IEDC’s board of directors and staff extend our deepest sympathies to the victims of the recent mass shootings in Atlanta and Boulder, and to their friends, families, and broader communities.

Two mass shootings in the span of one week is not the “getting back to normal” that Americans have been hoping for. Unfortunately, such outbreaks of violence in the United States are no longer surprising.

Mass shootings affect all Americans—not just the victims, those who share their characteristics, or the community in which the violence occurred. These acts of violence also impact the way we view our nation and the choices we make in how we live our lives. They leave us feeling a mix of grief, confusion, fear, and vulnerability.

Especially vulnerable at the moment are Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI), against whom acts of violence have increased over the past year. The most visible and tragic of these acts was the murder of six women of Asian descent on March 16.

The rise in acts of hate toward the AAPI community is, sadly, linked to false ideas surrounding the onset of the pandemic. Nearly 3,800 incidents of name-calling, shunning, and assault, among other acts, have been reported in the United States over the last year, according to reporting center Stop AAPI Hate. If you see or hear of an act of violence against another Asian American or Pacific Islander member of our community, please report it to the Stop AAPI Hate center website.

It should go without saying that Asian Americans are as integral to the fabric of American society as people of any other background or identity, with equal rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Yet we must continue to repeat this belief and show it through our actions.

IEDC has been deeply involved in diversity, equity, and inclusion work over time, committing further to these efforts over the past year through the creation of a permanent committee on Racism and Economic Development. Prioritizing inclusion is not just the right thing to do, it’s the smart thing for economic development. Everyone has something to offer to the overall health and well-being of our businesses and communities, and deserves the opportunity to participate with safety and respect. No community can afford to leave some of its members out. Unless we succeed together, we aren’t succeeding at all.