Solidarity and Support for Black Lives

Breonna Taylor
Botham Shem Jean
Sandra Bland
Tamir Rice
Philando Castile
Eric Garner
Trayvon Martin
Freddie Gray
Akai Gurley
Oscar Grant
Laquan McDonald
Sean Bell
Amadou Diallo
Jordan Davis
Walter Scott
Michael Brown
Alton Sterling
Stephon Clark
Ahmaud Arbery
George Floyd
David McAtee
and many more killed by anti-Black racism….

It’s important to #SayTheirNames. To remind us that each one was a living, breathing person - a human being. And their life mattered. It mattered to their mother, father, daughter, son, brother, sister, wife, husband, girlfriend, boyfriend, grandma, grandpa, grandson, granddaughter, aunt, uncle, nephew, niece, manager, team members, co-workers, clients, students, friends….and if it hadn’t already, it should matter to us too.

Last week, we joined the Coalition of Asian American Leaders, together with over 250+ Asian and Pacific Islander organizations across the U.S., in their call for unity and solidarity with the family of George Floyd and the Black community as they seek and demand justice. With the events of the last several days, the deep pain of the Black community can no longer be suppressed.

It’s a pain that we need to and will willingly share. Silence is no longer an option. Maintaining a neutral position is to ignore anti-black violence and cannot come at the cost of our organizational values. Asian and Pacific Islanders (API) and other diverse communities have enjoyed privileges resulting from the hard-fought civil rights movements of the Black community. Often unrecognized, sometimes vilified, and rarely valued Black leaders are organizing and leading. We want to acknowledge and uplift their leadership and voices as we stand together in solidarity with the Black community, and demand from those in power: justice, respect, accountability and an end to the violence against Black lives.

For all the unconscious bias and diversity trainings that are offered and conducted in companies and organizations, it’s not enough. As an Asian or Pacific Islander, just being a person of color is not enough. We still have more to do. Internally, more self-reflection to challenge and question our privileges and biases and our part in contributing to the systems that might perpetuate racism against people of color and anti-Blackness specifically. Embrace the discomfort. It means we’re ready to learn. Externally, let’s take action by speaking out against anti-blackness in our communities and commit to a movement for black lives by seeking to collaborate as respectful allies in dismantling racist structures. Educate yourself and educate others. Start with this article 20+ Allyship Actions for Asians to Show Up for the Black Community Right Now. Explore this Anti-Racist Reading List and visit Letters for Black Lives for guidance and language on how to have conversations about why we support Black Lives Matter with our parents, grandparent, aunties and uncles. Lastly donate to Color of Change or Black Lives Matter because change needs resources.

"You cannot change any society unless you take responsibility for it, unless you see yourself as belonging to it and responsible for changing it."
~ Grace Lee Boggs, human rights activist

Together, we look forward to collaborating in and outside the API community to achieve justice, equality and peace. All lives can't matter until Black Lives Matter.

Please check out Coalition of Asian American Leaders's statement of solidarity that LEAP has signed on.

With love and in solidarity,

Linda Akutagawa
President & CEO