You can support local nonprofits combating racism, misogyny and violence
What happened in Atlanta this week was tragic, senseless, and unfortunately, not an isolated incident. In February, I wrote a statement denouncing the surge in violent acts targeting Asian Americans in the Bay Area and across the country. Silicon Valley Community Foundation subsequently issued grants to three local organizations serving the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community to support their work in combating racism. We joined other philanthropic leaders in our region to publish a statement that underlined our commitment to eradicating systems that perpetuate racism. And we saw many of our peers –individuals, organizations and companies – rise up to voice their solidarity with the AAPI community.
Now, just a month later, we again confront the painful realities of violence, racism and misogyny that are all too prevalent in our communities. We are grieving with the families, friends and loved ones of those who were murdered in Atlanta, and we continue to stand alongside the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities during a time when they are facing indescribable pain, anger and fear.
This week’s horrific events in Atlanta are chilling because they make clear the deeper, more insidious implications of what is happening in communities across our country.
Of the eight victims from the mass shooting in Atlanta, seven were women, and six were of Asian descent. In this past year, there were more than 3,800 reported cases of anti-Asian racist incidents, according to Stop AAPI Hate. In 68 percent of those cases, the victims were female. The rising hate and violence in our country do not operate in silos of ignorance, gender or race. We are battling a complex and deep-seated intersectionality of racism, misogyny and white supremacy, all of which need to be addressed together if we are to create safer communities for every person – no matter their race, gender, or socioeconomic or citizenship status. In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., “An injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
We recognize that our collective work to eradicate racism and oppression against any marginalized group needs to be intersectional and collaborative. As such, SVCF is committed to using our position as a community foundation to amplify the work and voices of our community partners. Please take a moment to learn about and support the primarily local organizations shown here. They are carrying out critical work in issue areas that are not only relevant to current events, but that affect us all as a society.
Anti-Asian Racism
- Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Asian Law Caucus
- Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Atlanta
- Asian Americans for Community Involvement
- California Healthy Nail Salon Collaborative
- New Breath Foundation
- One Nation Commission
- Vietnamese American Roundtable
Domestic Violence
Support for Individuals and Families
- AAPI Women Lead
- API Equality - Northern California
- Asian Pacific Environmental Network
- Asian Women's Shelter
- Center for the Pacific Asian Family Inc.
- Hmong Innovating Politics
- Khmer Girls in Action
- South Asian Network
- VietRISE