Statement condemning violence against the Asian American community

Portland, Oregon—Today, Disability Rights Oregon Executive Director Jake Cornett issued the following statement in response to the Atlanta-area shootings and the wave of violence perpetrated against Asian Americans across the country.  

Statement from Jake Cornett, Executive Director, Disability Rights Oregon

We’re heartbroken by the murder of eight individuals that took place in the Atlanta-area earlier this week. Six of the individuals who were killed were women of Asian descent. These murders come amidst a wave of anti-Asian violence sweeping across America, violence fueled by hate, racism and extremism. No one should feel unsafe because of how they look, how they worship, where they come from or whether they have a disability.

We all must call on our nation’s leaders to act to counter anti-Asian hate and extremist ideologies.

We condemn these attacks and the hate and racism that fuels them. Our hearts are with the Asian American and Pacific Islanders communities in this dark moment. We stand together against hate.

About

Disability Rights Oregon

Disability Rights Oregon upholds the civil rights of people with disabilities to live, work, and engage in the community. The nonprofit works to transform systems, policies, and practices to give more people the opportunity to reach their full potential. For more than 40 years, the organization has served as Oregon’s Protection & Advocacy system.