The Clackamas County Commissioners on Friday joined voices across the country and the globe acknowledging — and calling for an end to — anti-Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) discrimination, harassment and violence that has been occurring across the country.
Commissioners noted the uptick in incidents of discrimination and violence that have been reported against Asian Americans in Oregon and the United States since the onset of Covid-19, which is believed to have originated in Wuhan, China.
But it is part of a larger pattern as well, officials said, one that predates the pandemic.
“We recognize that these events are not happening in a vacuum, but have been part of a long history of anti-Asian discrimination,” commissioners said in the statement. “To our Clackamas County Asian and Pacific Islander residents: We stand with you.”
Mass protests against anti-Asian violence have occurred in cities across the U.S. in the wake of a series of mass shootings that appeared to target Asian spas and massage parlors in Atlanta, Ga.
Eight people, six of whom were Asian women, were killed.
“We are committed to ensuring safe, healthy, and secure communities for all people of Clackamas County,” commissioners said. “We recognize that we have much work to do in this endeavor.
“We will continue to work toward the goal of ensuring that Clackamas County is a place where people thrive and have a sense of safety, connection, and belonging, so that everyone is honored and celebrated for the richness in diversity they bring.”
Commissioners vowed to continue to engage in the effort to combat racism and listen to the needs of adversely impacted communities.
They also promised to continue to partner with the Leaders for Equity Diversity and Inclusion Council, whose role is to elevate the voices of those who have been underrepresented and underserved.
Resources
Racial Equity Support Line: https://www.linesforlife.org/racial-equity-support-line/, 503-575-3764.
Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon (APANO): https://www.apano.org
Asian Family Center: https://irco.org/who-we-are/asian-family-center.html
Incidents can be reported to Portland United Against Hate at www.reporthatepdx.com, the Oregon Department of Justice at 1-844-924-BIAS and standagainsthate.oregon.gov and Stop AAPI Hate at stopaapihate.org.
Cover photo by Victoria Pickering, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.
