Centering the AA/PI Community
Eight people were killed on March 16th in Atlanta, including 6 Asian-American/Pacific Islander (AA/PI) women. This horrific incident is a glaring reminder of how vulnerable BIPOC individuals and communities are in the United States. Recent reports cite that racially motivated extremists pose the greatest threat in our country. This reality is unacceptable and needs to be urgently addressed, while centering those who are being oppressed and marginalized.
There has been a surge in hate crime incidences against AA/PI communities since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Nearly 3,800 instances of discrimination have occurred against Asians in the past year, according to a report from Stop AAPI Hate. We grieve with our AA/PI brothers and sisters and stand in solidarity with them against systemic racism, xenophobia, gender-based violence and hate crimes.
Every day, the Amara Legal Center advocates for a more equitable legal system by looking at our work through the lens of racial justice to support marginalized populations struggling for equity and safety. We provide free trauma-informed legal representation and access to support services, for individuals impacted by sex trafficking or involved in sex work in the DC-metro area. Most of our clients are African-American, U.S.-born cis- and trans-women between the ages of 13 and 29 who are also survivors of sex trafficking. Since 2013, we have stood steadfast beside our clients. We honor their lived experiences and connect them with a continuum of care to help them reach their highest potential.
I ask that you join the Amara Legal Center in this moment to mourn and to center the AA/PI community. Take time to consider how you can be an ally and how you can be an agent of change to create a more just and equitable, violence-free society. Please contact us if you are in need of trauma-informed legal services. We are here to serve you when you need us!
Sincerely,
Carole Bernard
Executive Director
