For Immediate Release
Monday, May 17, 2021
CONTACT:
Silvia Lew
Co-Chair, Media & Publicity Committee
Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association
communications@apalaweb.org
As the number of COVID-19 cases rise in India, the Asian Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA) relays their deepest sympathies and support to our colleagues, family, and friends in India and to our Indian and South Asian American members. Recognizing the current COVID-19 crisis in India reminds us that recovery is far from near.
As all our Asian American and Pacific Islander communities continue to track the pandemic situation, APALA recognizes the disparate impact of lives lost throughout Asia and the Asian diaspora communities. APALA has watched with concern as the COVID-19 crisis stretched from China, heavily impacted India, and now begins to affect a growing number of nations across South and Southeast Asia as it moves across the globe.
We recognize that our communities are also reeling from an increase in anti-Asian xenophobia and escalating violence, which we will continue to call out and condemn. APALA is community and family, and we stand ready to support our Indian and South Asian American communities during this multifaceted crisis.
The pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on our communities. We ask our APALA members to stay safe, remain vigilant, advocate for our afflicted communities, report hate incidents and support grassroots organizations with donations when possible.
APALA is committed to solidarity with other communities of color and acknowledges that white supremacy pits marginalized groups against each other to create division and hinder movement building. We continue to support our colleagues in the National Associations of Librarians of Color and to advocate for issues that affect us all and urge our library colleagues to stand with us against hate.
###
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.