Like many of you, VPGE and OPA are appalled by the dramatic surge of attacks on the A/AAPI community, and it is a painful reminder that we need to do better. We acknowledge the loss, anger, and fear that you are experiencing. We also understand that anti-Asian sentiment is not new and your experience has been overlooked. This includes and is not limited to:

• From 1863 to 1869, Chinese immigrants were essential to the completion of the first transcontinental railroad that was co-owned by Leland Stanford whose resulting wealth founded Stanford University.
• The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 was the first in a long line of acts targeting immigrants from China, Japan, the Philippines, India, and beyond. These exclusion laws were not repealed until 1943. 
• Fear, not evidence, drove the U.S. to send more than 120,000 Japanese Americans to internment camps for the duration of WWII. Executive Order 9066 inappropriately questioned their loyalty and tore apart families.
• In 1982, two autoworkers who reportedly mistook Vincent Chin to be Japanese, and therefore a threat to the American auto industry, received no jail time for his murder. The murder didn't make national news at the time, but it triggered a push for Asian American rights.

As we pledged in our statement supporting Black Lives Matter on June 12, 2020, we remain committed to eliminating systematic racism through our advocacy, education, and support of graduate students and postdoctoral scholars. In addition, VPGE and OPA will:

• Meaningfully engage with resources and tools to broaden our knowledge about the history of anti-Asian violence.
• Speak up when we have the opportunity to use our positionality to help others. 
• Report and encourage A/AAPI community members to report acts of hate or discrimination when it occurs.
• Continue to take advantage of learning and teaching opportunities for eliminating systemic racism.

You are a vital part of our community. We value you and stand in solidarity with you. It is important that we protect, support, and lift each other up. Together, we can Stop A/AAPI Hate and build a more welcoming, safe, and inclusive community.

Resources for the Stanford Community:

• Asian American Activities Center (A3C)
• Center for the Comparative Study of Race and Ethnicity (CCSRE)
• Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS), Vaden Health Center
• Faculty Staff Help Center
• PBS: The history of identity, contributions, and challenges experienced by Asian Americans
• Postdoc Assistance Program
• RaceWorks toolkit from SPARQtools
• VPSA Resources for Harassment & Hate Towards Asians, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders