We are heartbroken by the violent events on March 16 that ended the lives of eight people, including six Asian women. As we collectively grieve and respond to this tragedy, we must lead with the needs of those most directly impacted at the center: the victims, their families and our Asian community as a whole. During this time of broader crisis and trauma in our Asian communities, we must be guided by a compass of community care that prioritizes assessing and addressing our communities’ immediate needs, including in-language support for mental health, legal, employment, and immigration services.  

One Voice Central Texas stands firm in denouncing white supremacy, misogyny, and systemic violence. We must invest in long-term solutions that address the root causes of violence and hate in our communities — toward innocent people, particularly working class — in communities of color who are disproportionately suffering from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.  The hypersexualization of Asian women and the broad normalization of violence against women of color and immigrant women make Asian women particularly vulnerable to being targeted by racially motivated violence and assaults. 

We are calling on our allies to stand with us in grief and solidarity against systemic racism and gender-based violence. Violence against Asian communities is part of a larger system of violence and racism against all communities of color, including Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities. 

In this time of crisis, let’s come together and build just communities, where we are all safe, where all people are treated with dignity and respect, and where all our loved ones thrive.

One Voice Central Texas Leadership