Beloved,

VAYLA pays homage and respect to the lives lost yesterday as well as to those who suffer in silence and whose names we may never know.

In the wake of the xenophobic violence that continues across the country–VAYLA reaffirms our commitment to advocacy for our Asian American community in New Orleans, and the state of Louisiana, across the intersections of civic engagement, environmental justice, reproductive justice, and beyond. Today we must remember to be compassionate with ourselves and each other as we heal and push for an end to Asian hate and violence.

I leave you with a statement from our executive director, Jacqueline Thanh:

“Beyond Asian hate and the continual targeting of our elders across the country, the violence and murder of Asian women in Atlanta yesterday illuminates the complex intergenerational traumas of exploitation, sexual violence, poverty, colonialism, and erasure experienced by Asian women. Working-class Asian women are the backbone of families, communities, and our cultures. VAYLA is an Asian Womxn-led organization and we are grieving deeply with our diaspora. We must stop Asian hate. We must continue to speak up and keep each other safe in the face of terrorism.”

We have included anti-Asian hate reporting resources from VAYLA as well as national resources here:

VAYLA English Reporting Form: https://bit.ly/3rY0F71
VAYLA Phiên bản tiếng Việt: https://bit.ly/2OyqtIt
Hollaback!: https://www.ihollaback.org/bystanderintervention/
NQAPIA Healer Network: https://bit.ly/3lodNj6

In compassion and solidarity,

Anthony E. Johnson, Esq.
Deputy Director
​VAYLA New Orleans