AASP Statement of Support in Solidarity with the Asian/Asian-American Community

March 17, 2021

The Association for Applied Sport Psychology stands in support of and solidarity with the Asian/Asian-American community. To our Asian/Asian-American colleagues, we share in your anger and heartbreak and extend our compassion to you. We also extend our condolences to the family and friends of those who lost their lives in yesterday’s tragic shootings in Georgia.

The recent increased incidents of anti-Asian violence including the horrific events that occurred in Georgia yesterday, which resulted in the death of 8 individuals, 6 of whom were Asian women, are stark reminders that there is still much work to be done to address racism, xenophobia and hate and to create a society that values the dignity and worth of all people.

A recent report released by The Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino showed that in 2020, hate crimes toward Asian-Americans increased by 150%. Stop AAPI Hate also recently released a report in which they shared that they have received 3,795 reports of anti-Asian hate incidents in the US between March 2020 – February 2021. Furthermore, the violence against Asian-American elders has also been noted and includes the death of Vicha Ratanpakdee, as well as countless other incidents of physical violence and attacks against elders. These incidents remind us that words matter and viewing others through the lens of stereotypes (e.g., model minority myth) can be harmful, silencing and dehumanizing.   

AASP maintains that racism and other forms and systems of oppression and discrimination have no place in our world, in sport, or within our professional community.  We remain committed to speak, act and resist all forms of injustice to create a more equitable sport culture, society and world.

To assist our membership and the larger community with navigating current events, we have compiled the comprehensive collection of resources below:

Antiracist Resources to Support the Asian and Asian-American Community

Readings, Toolkits, & Trainings
•    AAJC’s Bystander Intervention Virtual Trainings
•    AAJC Tool for Reporting Incidences of Hate
•    Asian American Attacks: What’s Behind the Rise in Violence?
•    Challenging Racism Project: Bystander Anti-Racism Project 
•    Confronting Racism and Supporting Asian American Communities in the Wake of COVID-19
•    Hate Crimes Against Asian-Americans Are on the Rise
•    Hate Is a Virus
•    Hate Magnified, Communities in Crisis Report
•    Hollaback Bystander Intervention
•    How to Respond to Coronavirus Racism
•    Self-Care Tips for Asian Americans Dealing With Racism Amid Coronavirus
•    Racism Is a Virus Toolkit

Organizations
•    Act To Change 
•    AAPI Progressive Action
•    Asian Americans Advancing Justice 
•    Asian Mental Health Collective
•    Communities Against Hate
•    Empowering Pacific Islander Communities (EPIC)
•    National Asian American Asian Pacific Islander Mental Health Association
•    National Council of Asian Pacific Americans 
•    National Council of Asian Pacific Americans Member Organizations 
•    National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance (NQAPIA)
•    South Asian Americans Leading Together
•    Stop AAPI Hate

Videos
•    #AsianAmCovidStories  
•    NBA Together Virtual Roundtable