The UI Center for the Book stands in solidarity with Asian-American and Pacific Island communities in this time of grief and crisis. The Atlanta shootings horrifyingly extend a year of hostility toward AAPI individuals, who are citizens and neighbors, classmates and teachers, co-workers and colleagues, family and friends. We condemn the hatred motivating the violence, a bigotry made all too normal by national leadership prior to the pandemic. We further insist on acknowledging and fighting the misogyny behind the Atlanta violence, the recurrent theme of male-perpetrated mass shootings. Let us work at sustaining the dignity of AAPI individuals, while working toward reform that makes for a more just and inclusive society.
