For Immediate Release
Friday, March 13, 2020
CONTACT:
Molly Higgins
Co-Chair, Media and Publicity Committee
Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association
communications@apalaweb.org
APALA condemns rise in xenophobia and racism due to the novel coronavirus outbreak
The Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA) unequivocally denounces the rise in racism and xenophobia against Asians and Asian/Pacific Americans in wake of the outbreak of COVID-19 (caused by the novel coronavirus). Members of APALA, our library community, and the users we serve have reported a rise in racial discrimination, bigotry, and attacks aimed at people of Asian and Asian/Pacific American backgrounds due to fear, ignorance, and misinformation about the coronavirus.
There is no excuse for discriminatory sentiments and actions towards Asians and Asian/Pacific Americans. APALA rejects coronavirus-related hostility, anti-Asian stereotypes, and racism against Asians, Asian/Pacific Americans, or anyone perceived to be Asian. These issues are not singular or isolated but rather are based on a long history of stereotyping of Asian immigrants and refugees as perpetual foreigners, especially in relation to infectious diseases. The spread of this disease is not linked to race or national origin. Racial profiling, discrimination, and xenophobia are hostile and inappropriate responses to the current coronavirus outbreak. Targeting people of Asian/Pacific descent creates fear and anger instead of raising awareness and knowledge about prevention and protection from novel coronavirus infection.
APALA, one of the six national associations of librarians of color affiliated with the American Library Association, is committed to advancing social justice and providing opportunities for dialogue. Our library and information institutions, as places of learning and knowledge, should support and welcome all members of our community. We strongly urge those in the library community to stand with APALA against xenophobia and racism by signing our pledge (This pledge is now closed. View a list of pledges). Health and safety precautions are important. Providing library workers and library users of Asian and Asian/Pacific American backgrounds with a safe environment, without fear of harassment, is equally important. We encourage library administrations to create policies that hold perpetrators accountable for their racist actions while keeping all of our library communities safe from bigotry.
It is crucial that we share authoritative information to support our Asian and Asian American patrons. APALA has compiled a resource list to help library organizations provide relevant and reliable information to library staff members and patrons. This list also serves as a guide for library workers everywhere to counteract xenophobia and racism.
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Founded in 1980, the Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. All donations to APALA are tax deductible and support our work for library services, programs, scholarships, awards, and grants related to library services benefiting Asian/Pacific Americans and Asian/Pacific American librarians.