March 19, 2021
Subject: Bridgewater Stands United - A Message from President Clark
Dear Friends,
Once again, we are mourning lives lost to senseless violence. As you know, on Tuesday in Atlanta, Georgia eight people were murdered; six of these were women of Asian descent. These murders occurred within a national context of dramatic increases in acts of bias and discrimination directed against Asian Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic; the vast majority of these incidents were against Asian women.
Bridgewater State University stands united in our grief due to these deaths, but also in our resolve to work to eliminate all forms of bias, discrimination, racism, xenophobia and misogyny. As individuals and as an institution, BSU will continue to engage in actions intended to actualize its values and create a campus – and country – that is characterized by respect, compassion and equity.
Today at noon, the Office of Institutional Diversity will be hosting a one-hour conversation entitled “Standing as Allies with the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Communities.” This program will allow us to think together about how we can act as allies to the AAPI communities.
For additional information about ways to act as allies, I encourage you to read the Southern Poverty Law Center’s resource: A Guide to Bystander Intervention.
Additional information about how to act as allies with the Asian American Pacific Islander Communities can be found at these links:
asian-nation.org
stopaapihate.org
advancingjustice-aajc.org
Vice President Kamala Harris’ words are ones I am confident each of us echo as we turn to the Asian American and Pacific Island communities and say “we stand with you and understand how this has frightened and shocked and outraged all people….we also want to acknowledge that none of us should ever be silent in the face of any form of hate.”
Warmest regards,
Frederick W. Clark Jr., Esq.
President