Association for Behavior Analysis International

Expression of Support for the Asian-American Pacific Islander Community, 2021

We acknowledge with great sadness the continued rise of violence and discrimination against the Asian-American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community in the United States. Last week was another heavy time, in which we began grieving the loss and murder of eight people in Atlanta--including six Asian women--at the hands of white supremacy, misogyny, and racial violence.

Unfortunately, anti-Asian, anti-Asian American, and anti-Pacific Islander hate is not new in the United States. We have seen this pattern in the past, including the Rock Springs Massacre of 1885, the Chinese Massacre of 1871, the Watsonville Riots of 1930, the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, and Japanese incarceration camps, among many other atrocities. And today, we acknowledge with heavy hearts the thousands of anti-AAPI hate crime incidents that have been reported since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are some resources if you would like to know more about this history:

• A Brief History of Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and State-Sanctioned Violence
• Asian Americans (PBS Series)

We also know that the sexualization and victimization of women in general has an extensive and violent history that continues today, in the United States and across the world. As the details of the March 16 event unfold, we reflect on the acts of violence, sexism, and extremism that women have faced throughout history.

Today, we continue to mourn and take comfort with our loved ones. If and when you feel ready to move into action, here are some organizations that provide direction for activism in terms of grassroots efforts and direct assistance to various Asian communities:

• Healing Justice
• Asian Americans Advancing Justice
• Other sources compiled by New York magazine

While the specific incidents cited above took place in the United States, maltreatment of marginalized communities is clearly a challenge of worldwide scope. In these difficult times, we are not powerless in the face of threat. May we go forth as members of ABAI to model the compassion, care, support, and respect that all individuals deserve, and to bring the best of our science of behavior to bear on these pressing societal issues.