August 15, 2017
APANO Condemns White Supremacist Violence in Charlottesville
APANO condemns White Supremacist violence that took place in Charlottesville, VA over this past weekend and we express our deepest sympathy to the protesters who fell victim to this act of terror. These acts of White violence have long been supported by our country’s institutions, policies, and leaders. The so-called “rallies” we experienced in Portland on 82nd Ave and downtown over the last few months have links to the same White supremacist, alt-right and neo-nazi networks. The acts and threats of violence must be rejected, and we understand that right now it is especially critical for White and non-Black communities of color to shoulder the efforts of countering the rhetoric and violence in ways we are able.
We also must recognize that it should not have taken what happened at Charlottesville to mobilize the masses - every day, Black, Brown, and Native communities experience the brunt of the violence carried out by White Supremacy. Every time something like Charlottesville takes place, we must remember those whose experiences are normalized or invisibilized: racial profiling, gentrification, zero-tolerance policies, the ‘war on drugs’, deportations, the Dakota Access Pipeline, to name a few. As we continue both processing what is happening and calling for action, let us not forget that White Supremacy is at the foundation of the United States’ formation, and we will not back down as the current administration continues pushing policies aligned with White Supremacist and Nationalist ideology.
APANO envisions a just and equitable world where Asians and Pacific Islanders are fully engaged in the social, economic and political issues that affect us. We act in solidarity with communities who experience oppression and recognize that our liberation is directly linked to theirs. We have a long journey ahead of us, and right now we hold our families, communities, and those attacked close in our hearts. Together, we are louder, stronger, and more powerful.
ESSENTIAL RESOURCE LIST
- THE CHARLOTTESVILLE SYLLABUS – UVa Graduate Coalition
- Essential Reading List: Charlottesville
- Fighting White Supremacy Means Owning Up to American History
- A Guide to Who’s Coming to the Largest White Nationalist Rally in a Decade
- Portland, Oregon police strive to contain the rising threat of Brood, a white street gang
TAKE ACTION
- Charlottesville organizers ask you to take these 8 actions
- Tell news media to stop doing PR for white nationalists in Charlottesville
- Provide support to Charlottesville
- Ten Ways to Fight Hate: A Community Response Guide
- SPLC campus guide to countering ‘alt-right’
- What We Need White Allies To Do About The White Supremacists In Virginia
WAYS TO SUPPORT LOCALLY
- Aug 17: Que es la Seguridad? / What is Safety? (OPAL Environmental Justice)
- Aug 18: Eclipse Hate: Solidarity with Charlottesville (Portland’s Resistance)
- Aug 19 & 26: Jade International Night Market (APANO & Jade District)
- Aug 19: Community Service And Feed - In (Don’t Shoot Portland)
- Aug 20: WALK with Refugees and Immigrants (Portland Parks for New Portlanders)
- Online: #UVALoveLetters: Send UVA Students of Color Notes of Love (18 Million Rising)
SELF CARE RESOURCES
