May 28, 2020
APARC grieves and stands in solidarity with those who are outraged by the killing of George Floyd. We also denounce the actions of the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) and the four officers whose actions caused George’s brutal death. APARC further applauds the leadership and activism of Undergraduate Student Body President Jael Kerandi and signatories whose demand led to the actions of President Gabel severing ties with MPD for large scale events and specialized services at the University of Minnesota. This state-sanctioned police violence, racism, and systemic oppression that the Black community faces is not something new. What we are witnessing has been in the making for centuries starting with slavery, Jim Crow, the prison industrial complex, school to prison pipelines, and more. It is during these times that we must come together to address these injustices and to heal.
In the midst of this pain and call for change, APARC is committed to working with students, university leaders, staff, and faculty to better our campus and broader community for all students of color.
In addition, APARC would like to acknowledge the anti-blackness sentiments and stereotypes that exist within our own Asian American communities that perpetuate systemic oppression for the African American community. As a diverse community filled with many ethnicities, experiences, and histories, it is imperative that we understand our own roles and privileges and work towards ending oppression and injustice for all communities of color. APARC will continue to educate, support, and affirm our work in addressing this issue with students and our communities.
We are deeply saddened by this tragedy and all of the actions that have followed. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of George Floyd and those affected by this tragedy.
In Solidarity,
The Asian Pacific American Resource Center