In the wake of the Lunar New Year mass shootings in Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay, the faculty and staff of the School of Social Work empathize with the pain that so many are feeling. Since the year began, the number of shootings in our nation has already surpassed the number of calendar days. We are feeling grief and compassion for each person impacted by these incidents, and our hearts are particularly with the affected communities.
We also express heartbreak and solidarity with the family and community of Tyre Nichols after his murder. We hope for justice in his case and for all victims of police violence.
The unremitting violence in our nation along with rising hate show multiple cracks in our systems and demonstrate a great need for social workers to continue advocating for social policy reform and equitable access to needed services and resources.
As a community of social workers, researchers and change agents, the UW School of Social Work has a key role to play in advocating for positive community support, increased mental health services and the promotion of non-violence.
- As researchers, we support our associate dean for faculty excellence, David Takeuchi, and his colleagues, who work in broad coalition through the AAPI COVID-19 Needs Assessment Project to document the devastating consequences of hate crimes on those who have been targeted and to call for systemic reforms.
- As members of the UW community, we ask everyone to report acts of discrimination and better understand how to intervene when we witness such acts.
- As individuals, we commit to providing emotional support, safety and care to those who have been subject to these traumatic experiences.