Jewish World Watch is heartbroken by the murder of eight people in Atlanta on Tuesday night, six of them women of Asian descent. We stand firmly with the Asian-American and Pacific Islander community, and we will continue to offer our support in any way we can. As an anti-genocide organization, we know all too well that dangerous speech can move people to violence.
The tragedy in Atlanta this week did not occur in a vacuum. American history is riddled with examples of horrific violence and dehumanizing policies against Americans of Asian descent that sadly paved the way for this week’s murders. This attack and the alarming increase in violence against Asian-Americans around the country have been born from the escalating use of dangerous speech intended to divide us.
Jewish World Watch will continue to denounce dangerous speech, violence, objectification, fetishization, and dehumanization of all people – especially in memory of the women killed earlier this week. The recent outpouring of support for the Asian-American community is important, but we must do better when laying the groundwork for tolerance.
We stand committed to repairing a world broken by hate and intolerance. Such tikkun olam starts with caring for all of our neighbors. As we approach Passover, let us work in unity to plant the seeds of future redemption this country so desperately needs.