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Society for Asian Music
Statement on Anti-Asian Racism and Violence
March 26, 2021
We, the Society for Asian Music (SAM) Board of Directors, are appalled and troubled by the increase in hate crimes, racism, and violence against Asian and Asian American communities within the United States. We offer our deepest sympathy to all those whose lives have been touched by this violence, in particular to those whose loved ones were murdered on March 16, 2021, in Atlanta, Georgia.
As an organization specifically committed to the cross-cultural understanding of Asian and Asian American music and culture and whose membership includes many of Asian heritage, our reactions to recent events are particularly intense and personal. Although deeply saddened, we will not remain silent. We therefore:
- Condemn unequivocally all violence, especially violence rooted in the stereotyping of, and hatred toward, particular races and social groups, such as Asians
- Call upon our political leadership at the local and national levels to address this urgent crisis
- Support all efforts to provide protection and advocacy for victims of racism
- Stand in solidarity with the statements made and resources gathered by our larger sister organizations,
the Society for Ethnomusicology
and the Association for Asian Studies
As a small organization, we believe that we are stronger together. We therefore urge all our members to take care of each other and work in whatever capacity possible against discrimination and violence in all forms. Anti-Asian violence is but one of these.
The Society for Asian Music Board of Directors
(download this statement in pdf format)
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