Advancing Justice-Atlanta’s Solidarity Statement
As we have witnessed the compounding horrors in Gaza and the West Bank, we have been in discussions with staff, partners and community members, providing counsel and support where we can. Human rights is the core of our work. We advocate for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander (AANHPI) and Arab, Middle Eastern, Muslim, and South Asian (AMEMSA) communities. We work in solidarity with immigrant and refugee families, and many of our communities bear the scars of violence and share legacies of military occupation, colonization, forced displacement, and struggles for sovereignty. The widespread violence we witness today – from Syria to Venezuela, from Myanmar to China – is a driving force behind much of the migration and displacement we see.
We cannot encapsulate the full extent of the crises that face humanity around the world. Yet, the ongoing situation in Gaza stands out as a stark humanitarian crisis. We condemn the bombing of densely populated regions inhabited by over 2 million people, many of whom are children. Denying essential resources like food, water, and medical aid to Gaza breaches international law. And we are seeing the Palestinian people, already refugees, facing further and perhaps irrevocable displacement.
As a leading Asian-American civil rights organization, our dedication lies in safeguarding the rights of our communities. We mourn the tragic loss of Wadea Al-Fayoume, a 6-year-old Palestinian-American boy in Chicago, whose life was taken by blind hatred. We actively bear witness to unwarranted aggression towards peaceful demonstrators. We elevate and stand by students and individuals penalized for showcasing their solidarity with the Palestinians. The debilitating cycle of global conflicts resulting in increased assaults, harassment, discrimination, surveillance, profiling, and censorship against Asian-Americans is all too familiar to us.
Our plea is straightforward: First, we call on the U.S. government to use their resources towards fostering communities, not devastation. Second, we urgently call on the Biden Administration to fight for and enforce an immediate ceasefire, paving the way for enduring and constructive peace.
We encourage you to explore the resources from local organizations like CAIR-GA, the Georgia Muslim Voter Project, and Project South.
