March 18, 2021

We at Net Impact are deeply saddened by the horrific shootings that occurred this week in the city of Atlanta, Georgia that targeted Asian Americans, particularly Asian women. We recognize that these crimes are not solitary occurrences. Instead, they represent what has been a disturbing rise in xenophobia, racism, and violence throughout the country against the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community since the start of the COVID pandemic. 

While we are conscious of how our nation’s history is steeped in racism that remains present in our current culture and is wielded by some to divide our communities, we are consequently reminded that our rhetoric matters. Thus, it is crucial for us to voice our condemnation of this violence and stand in solidarity with our AAPI communities. The sad and painful truth is, however, that statements such as ours have become too routine, too normalized. We recognize that we must do more if we want to create a just and equitable future for all people.

We must ask ourselves what this moment demands of us. As the writer Ha Jin states, “Indifference is the strongest contempt.” We ask our Net Impact community and friends to join the conversation and share how we all can better commit to combating anti-Asian discrimination, systemic racism, and oppression, and activate change against these indignities. 

 

Net Impact



At Net Impact, we recommit ourselves to being anti-racist and fight discrimination by amplifying the voices of our AAPI and other BIPOC Net Impact Members, Professionals, Entrepreneurs, and Activists. We also strive to work in dialogue with our AAPI members to acknowledge our own bias and build programs and curriculums to become more authentic partners in the work toward anti-racism.