Statement read by Executive Director Nancy Gagnier and Board Chair Kelly Quirk at the Stop AAPI Hate Vigil in Maplewood

Nancy: I'm Nancy Gagnier, Executive Director, of the South Orange/Maplewood Community Coalition on Race. Our mission is to build and sustain a community that is racially, culturally and socially integrated and truly inclusive where there is equity and equality for all. All means all. We have to acknowledge that the work towards racial justice must include the voices of Asian Americans. That’s the hard work of solidarity as we fight white supremacy – intentionally being inclusive of all who struggle. Therefore, we must

• acknowledge the fears and validate the concerns that Asian American and Pacific Islander people are experiencing
• take a more intentionally inclusive and intersectional approach to address identity-based hate crimes, marginalization, and oppression
• work in solidarity to address anti-Asian racism

Hello: I'm Kelly Quirk, current chair of the board of the South Orange Maplewood Community Coalition on Race. I want to express gratitude to our neighbors for graciously allowing us to share space with you and stand together in solidarity against violence and racism toward our Asian American and Pacific Islander neighbors and community members. The Community Coalition on Race strongly condemns this racism and violence against Asian Americans.

(AAPI) individuals have suffered from racist treatment continuously throughout American history and the coronavirus outbreak provoked yet another form of racist treatment Asians and Asian Americans starting last January. And recently this racism is on the rise again across the country–ranging from verbal harassment, denial of service, boycotting of Asian-owned businesses, social media attacks, robberies, to violent physical assaults, hate crimes and murders.

And while we have issued statements condemning and denouncing this racism, statements are not merely enough.

Our organization is called to, and is committing to do more and to do better than we have in bridging and outreach to our AAPI community members: to work towards repairing past harms towards true solidarity and intentional inclusion for all, including our AAPI community members. We acknowledge and recognize we have work to do to live our values here, both as an organization, and as a community and we tonight commit to that work. From working on board representation, to working on our youth collective including the voices of AAPI youth.