A note from National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC) President Doug Bibby on the increased level of violence and discrimination Asian Americans are facing:
On behalf of NMHC and the multifamily industry, we are deeply saddened and disturbed by the spike in discrimination, racism and violence towards Asian Americans, including this week’s shooting in Atlanta where six of the eight people killed were of Asian descent.
Nearly a year ago I wrote about the tragic killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor. Racially motivated attitudes and violence against Asian Americans are, sadly, not new. Since the onset of the pandemic, however, bias, hate speech and violence toward Asian Americans has escalated significantly.
According to media reports and Stop AAPI Hate, a coalition that tracks incidents of violence and harassment against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the U.S., there have been nearly 3,800 instances of discrimination against Asians in the past year alone. Since February 2021, attacks, particularly against elderly Asian Americans have spiked.
NMHC, on behalf of its members and staff, firmly condemns all discrimination and we stand as a strong advocate for inclusive communities. Our members are committed to providing safe, affordable and accessible housing to individuals and families of all backgrounds. More than a decade ago, NMHC created a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Initiative to highlight best practices, provide resources and leverage strategic alliances to help our members create diverse, equitable and inclusive organizations.
Since the unrest last summer, NMHC has directed even more resources to this priority. The tragic events we are witnessing around the country are awful reminders that we have more work to do and that we must continue to approach these issues with urgency, intentionality and accountability.
More information on NMHC’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiative and our commitment to action can be found here.
— Doug Bibby, NMHC President
Staff Resource
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