Dear Members of our Anthropology Community,
My heart aches in the wake of another horrific mass shooting, and I am mad, so mad. I am struggling to find the words that would express this anger, horror, and sadness I feel about the murder of eight people in Atlanta, including seven women, six of whom are of Asian descent. The racist violence in our nation is increasing, especially against Asian-Americans and Asians, and so is violence against women. We have a moral, ethical, and disciplinary obligation to work towards equality for all, to reform the institutions that perpetuate racism and misogyny, to reject acts of hatred, and dedicate ourselves to ending bias and injustice. I write today to express my support for our Asian, Pacific Islander, and Desi American (APIDA) colleagues and communities, and I grieve for the victims of these attacks and their families.
In deep sorrow, but with hope for our future,
Sissel Schroeder
Chair, Department of Anthropology
University of Wisconsin-Madison