Members of the Women’s Funding Network issued a statement of solidarity that condemns violence and systemic racism and misogyny against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI). The statement is a call to action for philanthropy to invest in, and value, AAPI lives. See the full statement here [link].
On March 17th a 21-year old White man murdered six Asian-American women and two men in a violent rampage in Atlanta, Georgia. As a global alliance of women’s funds, foundations, and gender justice funders and allies, we send our deepest condolences to the families whose loved ones were lost or injured.
We are devastated not only by the attacks in Atlanta, but also by the ongoing instances of anti-Asian hate and violence – particularly against women – since the start of the pandemic. We reject the remarks made by Captain Jay Baker of the Cherokee County Sheriff’s office in Georgia and his characterization of the man, as just “having a really bad day.”
We are clear that imperialist policy, misogyny, racism and anti-immigrant rhetoric in the U.S.—both historical and present day— are the roots of what made this violence possible.
We unequivocally stand against violence against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI). There can be no gender justice without racial justice.
Russell Jeung, professor of Asian American studies at San Francisco State University and founder of Stop AAPI Hate, told NBC that racist and sexist stereotypes about Asian women, including the infuriating misconception that they are “meek and subservient,” may cause some people to see them as an easy target. Misogyny, racism, and violence are deeply intertwined. We believe that how we call attention to these issues is crucial.
Stop AAPI Hate, a national coalition addressing anti-Asian hate amid the COVID-19 pandemic, has found that 68% of the attacks on Asian Americans in the past year targeted AAPI women, who have historically faced sexualized stereotypes and sexual violence. According to Dr. Melissa May Borja, a researcher affiliated with Stop AAPI Hate, for the incidents in which we know the gender of the perpetrator, men were the perpetrator in 68% of the racist attacks. We call on men to act as allies and hold individuals accountable.
We stand with our colleagues at Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy and Native Americans in Philanthropy who call on philanthropy organizations to invest — and value — the diversity of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. Specifically, by:
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Strongly repudiating violence against Asian American communities. Send a clear message about your institution’s position on anti-Asian violence and all hate-based actions.
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Disrupting the “model minority” and “perpetual foreigner” narratives alongside other racial and gender tropes that serve to divide rather than unify this nation.
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Supporting Asian American and Pacific Islander organizations as part of regular grant making and, also in advancing a more holistic racial and gender equity strategy.
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Honor and support cross-racial efforts that strengthen rather than divide the United States along racial lines.
As women’s funds, foundations, and gender justice funders and allies–we vow to work with all who envision a world free from the social systems and environments that perpetuate hostility and hatred toward marginalized genders in communities of color.
Below are additional resources to support the AAPI community:
● Anti-Asian Violence Resources
● Asian Resources with a list of hate incidents updated daily
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Signed by:
Elizabeth Barajas-Román, President & CEO, Women’s Funding Network
Marya Meyer, Interim Executive Director, The Women’s Fund Miami-Dade
Natanja Craig Oquendo, Executive Director, Boston Women’s Fund
Jennifer Lockwood-Shabat, President & CEO, Washington Area Women’s Fund
Roslyn Dawson Thompson, President & CEO, Texas Women’s Foundation
Gloria Perez, President & CEO, Women’s Foundation of Minnesota
Jennifer Steadman, Ph.D., Executive Director, Aurora Women and Girls Foundation, Inc.
Donna Haghighat, CEO, Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts
Michelle Legaspi Sanchez, Executive Director, The Fund for Women and Girls
Tanna Clews, CEO, New Hampshire Women’s Foundation
Stacey Keare, President, Girls Rights Project
Teresa C. Younger, President & CEO, Ms. Foundation for Women
Ana Oliveira, President & CEO, The New York Women’s Foundation
Janelle Cavanagh, Vice President, Development, Global Fund for Women
Kimberly Crichton, Executive Director, Maine Women’s Fund
Felicia Davis, President & CEO, Chicago Foundation for Women
The Equality Fund
RiseUp
Women’s Foundation of Mississippi
Urgent Action Fund
Sheri L. Scavone, P.T., EHSA, Executive Director, WNY Women’s Foundation [review]
The Peggy and Jack Baskin Foundation [review]
Women’s Fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation
Tania Turner, ED, Fondo Semillas
The Community Fund for Women & Girls at The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven
Sharon LaRue, Executive Director, The Kentucky Foundation for Women
Anna Beth Gorman, Executive Director, The Women’s Foundation of Arkansas
Tine Ward – Founder and CEO, Rockflower Partners
Women’s Fund of Omaha
Keri Koehler, Executive Director, Women’s Foundation of Greater Saint Louis
Global Fund for Women
My Lo Cook, Executive Director, Shadhika
Julie Castro Abrams, How Women Lead
Kelley Griesmer, The Women’s Fund of Central Ohio
