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Support Statement for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders
3/18/21
The McFarland School District is fully committed to creating and sustaining a school community where every child is a promise, and where all students, families and staff are safe, welcomed, and valued. As a district, we unequivocally condemn racism, hate speech, bigotry, and all forms of discrimination. These behaviors harm students - they harm all of us. There is no place for racism or any other form of discrimination in our community, and certainly not in our schools.
As a “We Are Many - United Against Hate” High School Chapter Member, McFarland High School would like to support the following statement in response to the March 16 Altanta shootings and escalating attacks on Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Students who have been impacted by this most recent event are encouraged to talk with their counselor in the Student Services Office, at mhsstudentservices@mcfsd.org, 838-4530, or by stopping in to set up an appointment.
For more information and resources about diversity, equity, and inclusion, please visit https://www.united-against-hate.org/resources-for-guiding-discussions-on-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-schools/. For more information on how to take action and support the AAPI community, please visit https://stopaapihate.org/.
March 17, 2021
Madison, WI
Contact: Masood Akhtar, 4everagainsthate@gmail.com
We Are Many-United Against Hate stands in solidarity with the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community in response to the March 16 Atlanta shooting and numerous other acts of hate since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the last year there have been almost 4,000 hate crimes or incidents of violence reported by the AAPI community across the country. The number is undoubtedly higher as many of these go unreported by victims. Many of these attacks have been on the elderly and women. Words and actions matter, and as a community we need to stand in support of anyone who is the target of racist, xenophobic, homophobic and other hateful acts.
We Are Many-United against Hate was started by Masood Akhtar, a Muslim American businessman from India, in response to the 2016 proposed Muslim registry. Since then, many high schools and colleges have started their own chapters around the state. What makes We Are Many-United Against Hate unique is its commitment to community engagement to help people work through prejudices and see our common humanity. It’s about overpowering hate.
We Are Many-United Against Hate is an organization of common people who are urban and rural, spiritual and secular, seeking equal protection for all, united against hate, bigotry and racism. We have joined together to replace acts of hatred with acts of love. Anyone who would like to join the movement can go to www.united-against-hate.org/join.
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