Department of English

We wish to express our deep sadness at the murder of eight people in Atlanta on March 16th, six of whom were Asian American women. We stand in solidarity with Asians and Asian Americans, who face unprecedented harassment and intimidation in this moment. Without qualification, we condemn violence of any kind, and we seek to dismantle misogyny and racism in all its forms. We denounce white supremacy, and we reject the anti-Asian rhetoric and scapegoating that has long been a feature of American life, but has been particularly severe since the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus. We recognize that racism and sexism are interlocking forms of power, and we must not stay silent in the face of verbal and physical assaults. We have a responsibility to condemn these violent actions and to do everything we can to ensure the safety of all people who are discriminated against. We offer our strongest support for the Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander communities and for women who face sexual harassment, intimidation, and discrimination, and we stand against prejudice in whatever form it takes through education, research, and public engagement. Read the full DEI statement.