SEAL stands with our Asian Americans and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities as targeted violence has escalated throughout the pandemic. The STOP APPI Hate Reporting Center documented 2,808 anti-Asian hate incidents in 2020, and over 700 of these occurred in the Bay Area alone, SEAL’s home region. These acts of hate are rooted in ignorance and biases that have been heightened by the ongoing global pandemic.
As previously stated in our Black Lives Matter statement, we can and must do better. We will continue to advocate on behalf of our diverse student populations, and especially our most vulnerable community members. In California, AAPI students account for the second-largest demographic of Dual Language/English Learners. We call upon policymakers and leaders to support these communities, particularly the victims and families affected by these incidents. This is a stark reminder that urgent action must be taken to protect our AAPI community from hate, discrimination, and violence. Only through the power of community care can that be accomplished.
We are inspired by and join the diverse coalitions that have come together to stand in solidarity with the AAPI community. SEAL’s mission– all Dual Language/English Learner students in California learn, thrive and lead– requires this collective commitment to creating a safe and inclusive society.
