We Stand With the AAPI Community
We are committed to doing what’s right to enact permanent, lasting change for a more compassionate world.
We must stand against all forms of hate and work alongside those who have been marginalized. We must listen and work to ensure their voices are heard, both in our movement and in society collectively.
World Animal Protection denounces all anti-Asian hate. Our hearts are with the families of the eight people who were murdered this week and with the entire AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islander) community in Atlanta and beyond who are experiencing real grief and pain today and throughout the past year.
Since the start of the pandemic last Spring, Asian Americans have faced racist violence and hate at a much higher rate than in previous years. Hate crimes have spiked by 150% in major US Cities. In New York City, where crimes spiked the highest, the NYPD reported that hate crimes motivated by anti-Asian sentiment jumped 1,900% in 2020. Stop AAPI Hate, a reporting database created at the beginning of the pandemic, received 3,795 reports of anti-Asian discrimination between March 2020 and Feb 2021. A majority of these incidents were reported by women.
At World Animal Protection, we have witnessed this firsthand. Since last Spring, anti-Asian comments have flooded our social media posts and email inbox whenever we send out messages related to our work to end the global wildlife trade and aid our partners in Asian countries affected by COVID-19.
Let us be clear. The hatred and violence against the AAPI community cannot and should not be tolerated.
One of our core values here at World Animal Protection is “we strive to end injustice.” And part of upholding and living these values is standing in solidarity with others who are facing injustice. Today our thoughts are with our Asian colleagues worldwide and our friends, neighbors, and family members who continue to be targeted in senseless attacks.
We know to build a stronger movement for animals, we must also build a better world for people.
We must stand against all forms of hate and work alongside those who have been marginalized. We must listen and work to ensure their voices are heard, both in our movement and in society collectively. Part of being anti-racist includes acknowledging the Asian American experience and recognizing that anti-Asian racism, alongside other forms of discrimination, is ingrained in this country’s history and systems.
We are committed to doing what’s right to enact permanent, lasting change for a more compassionate world. We continue the work that we committed to last summer in creating a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace, lifting the voices of marginalized community members and supporting their work while using our platform to champion systemic change.
We aim to create a more compassionate world for animals and people.
