Anti-Asian/Asian American history in the United States: TCC Campus activity, statements, and events

TACOMA COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
STATEMENT DENOUNCING XENOPHOBIA
AND
ANTI-ASIAN SENTIMENT
July 10, 2020
The Board of Trustees of Tacoma Community College is committed to our core values of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. We are very troubled by what is happening to Asian Pacific Islanders in our community and country. Asian/Pacific Islander communities are suffering acts of discrimination, hate crimes, and
microaggressions due to fears of COVID-19. Some national leaders have used divisive and inflammatory rhetoric, referring at times to the COVID-19 virus as the "Chinese virus," and "Kung-Flu".
Such rhetoric is inaccurate and stigmatizing, tends to incite fear, promote xenophobic discrimination and violence, and puts Asians/Pacific Islanders at risk of harm and retaliation. As the COVID-19 virus has spread, numerous Asians/Pacific Islanders have reported experiencing microaggressions, racial profiling, harassment, and hate violence. Since mid-March, STOP AAPI HATE, has received more than 1,800 reports of pandemic-fueled harassment or violence in 45 states and Washington, D.C.
The Tacoma Community College Board of Trustees affirms our commitment to stand up against
discrimination and racism and intentionally create an environment that honors the well-being and safety
of Asian/Pacific Islander students, employees, and community members. We stand with them so they know they are not alone and that they can speak out to help stop the spread of bigotry and hatred.
President Ivan Harrell issued a strong statement to the campus community on this subject, including resources. Read his statement here: https://tacomacc.edu/_attachments/drhstandbymessage.pdf
The Board of Trustees of Tacoma Community College denounces anti-Asian racism and xenophobia. We condemn the rhetoric and racist remarks and actions of some national leaders regarding the COVID-19 virus. Tacoma Community College joins fellow community colleges, cities, counties, and states across the country in affirming its commitment to the safety and well-being of Asian/Pacific Islanders and in combating harassment, discrimination and hate crimes targeting Asians and Pacific Islanders.
Lois Bernstein Bob Ryan
Liz Dunbar Pat Shuman
Dona Ponepinto

Washington Association of Community and Technical Colleges Board of Presidents

Resolution Denouncing Anti-Asian Discrimination Caused by COVID-19 Pandemic in support of Asian American and
Pacific Islander Students, Faculty, Staff, and Communities

WHEREAS, the Washington Association of Community Technical Colleges represent a group of Presidents and Chancellors of Washington community and technical colleges with a mission of serving a diverse student body;
WHEREAS, the State Board for Community and Technical College Board has committed to leading with racial equity and advancing racial, social and economic justice in service to our diverse communities;
WHEREAS, there have been 5 federally designated Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions in SBCTC system since the establishment of this U.S. Department of Education Minority Serving Institution designation in 2006;
WHEREAS, Asian American and Pacific Islander communities make up 12% of our students across the state and 9% of our faculty and staff;
WHEREAS, the Asian American and Pacific Islander population is more heterogeneous than any other racial group in the U.S., with more than 48 ethnicities, over 300 spoken languages, various socioeconomic statuses, immigration histories, cultures, and religions;
WHEREAS, the COVID-19 Global Pandemic has greatly magnified the many economic, health, and racial inequities in our society, and stoked increasing incidents of xenophobia and racially motivated hate crimes against Asian Americans across the United States since the outbreak began;
WHEREAS, in the harassment and overt attacks of Asian Americans in particular since the outbreak, we see signs of racist ideologies like The Yellow Peril. In the lack of condemnation of these acts, we hear the official sanction of discrimination reminiscent of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882;
WHEREAS, as Presidents we are concerned for our students and colleagues who are at risk of being targeted in this environment in our communities and in their daily lives;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Washington Association of Community and Technical Colleges denounces racism against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in any form; joins communities, cities, counties, and states across the country in affirming its commitment to the safety and well-being of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and in combating acts of aggression and hate crimes targeting these communities. We commit our system to the development of an action plan to dismantle systematic injustices against historically marginalized groups. We commit our campuses to working collectively with allies to combat and disrupt instances of racism and intolerance against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders people in our communities.
APPROVED AND ADOPTED on June 5, 2020.

Friends,

Tacoma Community College Federation of Teachers (TCCFT) Executive Council members often close our communications with the phrase "In Solidarity." This is not an empty phrase; it reflects our never-ending goal of serving our faculty union membership. Today -- and every day -- our TCCFT E-Council and faculty union join Dr. Harrell, the TCC Board of Trustees, and the Asian and Pacific Islanders (API) Committee in voicing our solidarity and reiterating our commitment to our Asian and Pacific Islander community members. Anti-Asian violence affects our entire community, including our union community. You are not alone, and we grieve and stand with you. 

In addition to the excellent support resources that Dr. Harrell, the API Committee, and our faculty counselors have shared with our campus community this week, the TCCFT E-Council also wants to share some union resources that may be of service in this difficult time. 

• AFT, our local union's national organization, provides 24/7 trauma counseling available free-of-charge for all union members. Counseling is available via phone, video, or text. To learn more about AFT trauma counseling services and how to access them, please visit www.aft.org/benefits/trauma or call AFT Trauma Coverage toll-free at 1-855-631-1421.
• The Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA), a fellow AFL-CIO union along with AFT, has created the #WeKeepUsSafe: APALA’s Resource Guide on Anti-Asian Violence, with pulls together resources and actions to help us work together in the face of violence.
• APALA has also created and shared the Asian American Racial Justice Toolkit, an in-depth toolkit made for and by Asian American communities.