ACRS statement on Wing Luke vandalism, home invasions targeting Asian residents
It has been a difficult, sad, and trying few weeks for our community.
We have seen our communities being harmed, disregarded, and ignored. For many of us, our ask is simple: that we have the right to live safe and healthy lives free from violence.
Over the past few months, a series of home invasions have targeted Asian residents in South Seattle, leaving many of our clients and community members scared and angry. There have been 14 invasions reported. We feel deeply sad that our most vulnerable community members are being targeted in their homes, places intended to be a safe space for most of us.
Last week, we received word that our beloved Wing Luke Museum was vandalized in an act of anti-Asian racism. While no one was physically hurt, the violence that took place is deeply felt by museum staff, volunteers and throughout the community. The person responsible for vandalizing the museum has been charged with a hate crime.
Earlier last week, media released a disturbing audio recording which captured the vice president of the Seattle Police Officer Guild (SPOG) make devaluing and dehumanizing comments about Jaahnavi Kandula, a graduate student who was struck and killed by a Seattle police officer speeding in their vehicle responding to an emergency back in January. The content of that recording has captured national attention, outcry, and anger. It continues to raise real concerns about law enforcement and a pattern of disregard for the lives of BIPOC and vulnerable community members, especially here in Seattle where the city was recently released from nearly all the requirements of the federal consent decree.
Our hearts are heavy. But our purpose is clear: We take care of us. We keep us safe. We are all we need.
Community leaders have come together demanding that our City listen to and invest resources toward the residents of South Seattle and the Chinatown/International District through petitions, op-eds, and meetings with elected leaders. Our partner organizations have held community safety town halls to listen to the voices and concerns of our elders. Staff of Wing Luke Museum deescalated and restrained the perpetrator until law enforcement arrived. We met with SPD alongside our trusted leader, Indian American Community Services, to demand accountability for recklessly killing one of our South Asian community members.
We are so grateful and honored to be a part of a care network that has so much love, support, and commitment for our communities. We take deep pride not just in our work at ACRS, but the work of our entire community and know that together, we are all we need.
With greater love, purpose, and solidarity, our work continues.
Resources and Information:
SPD Petition for Accountability and Justice for Jaahnavi – Our trusted community partner, Indian American Community Services (formerly IAWW) released a petition for both organizations and individuals who are interested to sign-on. If you have networks that you’d like to share, please do.
Asian American Advancing Justice and Right to be Trainings: AAJC and Right to Be hold trainings on How to Respond to Harassment and Practice Resilience When People Experience Anti-Asian/American Harassment, Bystander Intervention to Stop Anti-Asian/American and Xenophobic Harassment, and Bystander Intervention: Conflict De-Escalation. Learn more and register here.
Seattle Times article: Community leaders wrote an Seattle Times op-ed demanding that our city do more to address anti-Asian violence and racism:
