A Message from the CEO: On Addressing The Shooting In Atlanta

Over the last year, the San Benito County Community has worked together to combat the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in our county. Though the pandemic has been challenging for all of us, the Americans of Asian descent are experiencing a secondary crisis along with the arrival of COVID-19: a substantial increase of condemnation, hate, and harassment directed to them because of their ethnic background and origin. These escalating tensions regarding the Asian American Community have unfortunately resulted in some individuals being more than a victim of just harsh words.

On March 16^th, 2021, the nation bore witness to a violent and hateful act: six Asian American women, brutally shot to death during an attack on several spas in Atlanta, Georgia. This recent incident only exacerbates the rising concerns of xenophobia that many Asians in America are experiencing in our country.

We, the Community Foundation for San Benito County acknowledge this pertinent issue and wholeheartedly denounce all racial and xenophobic acts of harassment and violence towards Asian American individuals and communities.

We ask the community to remember that the things we have in common are what binds us together as one, regardless of our ethnicity or national origin. Our county is only strengthened by those of immigrant descent coming to America in search of a better life. We want to pursue that same growth in the hope of creating a better environment for our families.

Here are public resources and ways to join us in support of our Asian American communities:

• Read books on Asian American history from the San Benito County Library
• Watch the 2020 PBS series, Asian Americas (https://www.pbs.org/weta/asian-americans/)
• Volunteer and/or join an event